Numbers 13 - Introduction
_TWELVE SPIES ARE SENT INTO CANAAN; WHO, AFTER FORTY DAYS, RETURN, AND BRING AN EVIL REPORT UPON THE LAND: CALEB STILLETH THE PEOPLE._ _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
_TWELVE SPIES ARE SENT INTO CANAAN; WHO, AFTER FORTY DAYS, RETURN, AND BRING AN EVIL REPORT UPON THE LAND: CALEB STILLETH THE PEOPLE._ _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND THOU MEN, THAT, &C.— It appears from Deuteronomy 1:22; Deuteronomy 9:23 that this motion to search the land of Canaan was made by the unbelieving multitude. Being come near to the borders of the land, God ordered them by Moses to go up, and take possession of it; but, forgetting the power and p... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH, &C.— That is to say, of that part of the tribe of Joseph whereof Manasseh was the chief. Mention is made of the tribe of Ephraim, the other branch of the tribe of Joseph, in the 8th verse. The name of Joseph was common to each; but Poole is of opinion, that it is given in thi... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES CALLED OSHEA—JEHOSHUA— Upon what occasion Moses gave him this name, is uncertain; but we find him called Joshua, Exodus 17:9 when he went to fight with the Amalekites. The exchange of a person's name was a mark of honour, as appears from Genesis 17:5; Genesis 17:15 and Genesis 32:28. Moses, th... [ Continue Reading ]
GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN:— See chap. Numbers 12:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER IN TENTS, OR IN STRONG HOLDS— This is rendered by the Vulgate and the LXX. _whether in cities with walls or without walls._ Houbigant renders it, after the Samaritan, _whether they be weak or strong,_ referring to the cities, and to the mode of expression in these verses, _strong or weak, fe... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE TIME WAS THE TIME OF THE FIRST RIPE GRAPES— The spies were forty days in searching the land; so that this time refers to that of their return, not of their setting out; see note on Numbers 13:2. REFLECTIONS.—As they were now on the borders of the land, they had no more to do, than to go in a... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE WILDERNESS OF ZIN, &C.— Not that which is called the Wilderness of _Sin,_ Exodus 16:1 for that lay near to Egypt, south-west of Canaan; but this was a wilderness on the south-east of Canaan, not far from Kadesh Barnea, chap. Numbers 34:3.Joshua 1:3. Rehob was a city in the north of Canaan n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAME UNTO HEBRON— See Genesis 13:18. The clause respecting Hebron in this verse appears to be thrown in to humble the pride of the Egyptians, who boasted themselves as the first of mortals, and their nation as of the greatest antiquity; see Ezekiel 29:3. Diod. Sic. lib. i. Justin, lib. ii. c. 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAME UNTO THE BROOK OF ESHCOL— The original word signifies _a brook or valley. Valley_ appears much more proper for this place, as it seems rather uncouth to say, _they cut down a branch from a brook._ The reason for the name _Eshcol_ is given in the 24th verse. Some have thought that _they bar... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KADESH— Or _Kadesh Barnea:_ thus the place is marked out from whence they were sent; see the note on chap. Numbers 12:16 and Numbers 20:1. "A late ingenious author," says Dr. Shaw, "has situated _Kadesh Barnea_ at eight hours, or twenty miles, distance only from _Mount Sinai;_ which, I presume, c... [ Continue Reading ]
FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY— See Exodus 3:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SAW THE CHILDREN OF ANAK THERE— See Numbers 13:32 and Genesis 6:4. This exaggerated account of the cities and of the inhabitants was given with a view to discourage the people from attempting a country thus defended by walls almost impregnable, and by inhabitants as formidable in number as gigant... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CALEB STILLED THE PEOPLE, &C.— In the next chapter we have a more full account of the consequences of the report made by the spies, and of Caleb's and Joshua's behaviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BROUGHT UP AN EVIL REPORT OF THE LAND— The evil report consisted of the particulars immediately following: they said, that it was a _land which ate up the inhabitants thereof;_ an expression which cannot mean, as some have supposed, that the country was unfertile, and apt to eat up and cons... [ Continue Reading ]