It is a memorable and very melancholy story which is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, when they were just ready to set foot in it, and the sentencing of them to wander and perish in the wilderness for their unbelief and murmuring.

Here we have, I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan. It is here said, God directed Moses to send them , but it appears by the repetition of the story afterwards that the motion came originally from the people; they came to Moses, and said, We will send men before us; and it…

We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north, Num. 13:21. See Num. 34:3 Num. 34:8.

It is a wonder how the people of Israel had patience to stay forty days for the return of their spies, when they were just ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the divine power, and a constant series of miracles that had hitherto attended them; but they…