Numbers 13 - Introduction
_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ The sending of the spies into Canaan, Numbers 13:1. The instructions given them, Numbers 13:18. Their journey and return, Numbers 13:21. Their report, Numbers 13:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ The sending of the spies into Canaan, Numbers 13:1. The instructions given them, Numbers 13:18. Their journey and return, Numbers 13:21. Their report, Numbers 13:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Israelites being now come to the borders of Canaan, Moses commanded them, in the name of God, to _go up and possess it_, reminding them of his promise to give them the possession of it, and exhorting them not to fear nor be discouraged, Deuteronomy 1:21. But the unbelieving and distrustful multi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oshea_ Called also Joshua, Numbers 13:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Joseph_ The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim, here to Manasseh; possibly to aggravate the sin of the ruler of this tribe, who did so basely degenerate from his noble ancestor.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoshua_ Oshea denotes a desire of salvation, signifying, _Save, we pray thee;_ but Jehoshua, or Joshua, includes a promise of salvation, _He will save._ So this was a prophecy of his succession to Moses in the government, and of the success of his arms. Joshua is the same name with Jesus, of whom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Southward_ Into the southern part of Canaan, which was the nearest part, and the worst too, being dry and desert, and therefore fit for them to enter and pass through with less observation. _Into the mountain_ Into the mountainous country, and thence into the valleys, and so take a survey of the wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_In tents_ As the Arabians did; or in unwalled villages, which, like tents, are exposed to an enemy. _Fat_ Rich and fertile.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zin_ In the south of Canaan, differing from the wilderness of Sin, which was nigh unto Egypt. _To Hamath_ From the south they passed through the whole land to the northern parts of it; Rehob was a city in the north-west part, Hamath a city in the north-east.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By the south_ Moses having described their progress from south to north, more particularly relates some memorable places and passages. _They came_ Hebrew, _He came;_ namely, Caleb, as appears from Joshua 14:9; Joshua 14:12; Joshua 14:14. For the spies distributed their work among them, and went eit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon a staff_ Either for the weight of it, considering the length of the way they were to carry it, or for the preservation of it whole and entire. In those eastern and southern countries there are vines and grapes of an extraordinary bigness, as Strabo and Pliny affirm. _Eshcol_ That is, a cluster... [ Continue Reading ]
_They returned after forty days_ It is a wonder the people had patience to stay forty days, when they were just ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the divine power, proved by a constant series of miracles, that had hitherto attended them. But they distrus... [ Continue Reading ]
_They told him_ In the audience of the people. _The Amalekites in the south_ Where we are to enter the land; and they who were so fierce against us that they came into the wilderness to fight with us, will, without doubt, oppose us when we come close by their land, the rather, to revenge themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
_Caleb_ Together with Joshua, as is manifest from chap. Numbers 14:6; Numbers 14:30; but Caleb alone is here mentioned, possibly because he spake first and most, which he might better do, because he might be presumed to be more impartial than Joshua, who, being Moses's minister, might be thought to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men_ All of them, Joshua excepted. _Stronger_ Both in stature of body and numbers of people. Thus they question the power, and truth, and goodness of God, of all which they had such ample testimonies.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eateth up its inhabitants_ Not so much by civil wars, for that was likely to make their conquest more easy; but rather by the unwholesomeness of the air and place, which they guessed from the many funerals which, as some Hebrew writers, not without probability, affirm they observed in their travels... [ Continue Reading ]
_We were in our own sight as grasshoppers_ Thus their fear magnified these sons of Anak above measure, so that in comparison of them they thought themselves as weak and contemptible as insignificant insects. _And so we were in their sight_ An hyperbole, signifying that the Anakims looked down upon t... [ Continue Reading ]