Num. 13 God commandeth Moses to send spies to search out the land of Canaan, Num. 13:1–3. Their names, Num. 13:4–16. Moses’s commandment where to go, and what to do, Num. 13:17–20. Their return with the fruits of the land, and their report, Num. 13:23–29. They are encouraged by Caleb, Num.

Do as the people press thee to do. Of every tribe of their fathers, i.e. which comes from their several parents or patriarchs. A ruler; a person of wisdom and authority, which might make his witness more considerable with the people.

i.e. Of that part of the tribe of Joseph which is peculiarly called the tribe of Manasseh, as the other part of it was called the tribe of Ephraim, Num. 13:8. The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim, as Ezek. 37:16, Ezek. 37:19, Rev.

Oshea notes a desire of salvation, signifying, Save, we pray thee, but Jehoshua, or Joshua, includes a promise of salvation, that he should save, or that God by his hands should save the people. So this was a prophecy of his succession to Moses in the government, and of the success of his arms.

Southward, i.e. into the southern part of Canaan, which was the nearest part, and the worst too, being dry and desert, Josh. 15:1, Josh. 15:3, Judg. 1:15, Ps. 126:4, and therefore fittest for them to enter and pass through with less observation. Into the mountain, i.e.

What it is, both for largeness, and for nature and quality; as is more particularly expressed, Num. 13:19–20.

Good or bad, healthful or unwholesome, fruitful or barren. In tents, as the Arabians did; or in unwalled villages, which, like tents, are exposed to an enemy.

Fat; rich and fertile. Be ye of good courage; doubt not but God will preserve you in this dangerous journey, and be not dismayed nor discouraged if you find the people numerous, potent, and well fortified.

The wilderness of Zin, in the south of Canaan, Num. 34:3, Josh. 15:3; differing from the wilderness of Sin, which was nigh unto Egypt, Ex. 16:1. To Hamath; i.e. from the south they passed through the whole land even to the northern parts of it, Rehob, a city in the northwest part, Josh.

Here Moses having generally described their process and course from south to north, now returns more particularly to relate some memorable places and passages, as that having entered the land in the southern parts, they travelled then till they came to Hebron. Came, Heb.

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.

Kadesh; so called by way of abbreviation, which is frequent in Hebrew names, for Kadesh-barnea, Deut. 1:19, which some rashly confound with Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, Num. 20:1, Num. 27:14, Num.

They told him in the audience of the people, as appears from Num. 13:30. They craftily begin their relation with commendations, that their following slanders might be more easily believed.

Strong; potent for the strength of their body, and the valour of their minds.

The south, where we are to enter the land; and they who were so eager and 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, and are about to settle in their neighbourhood, the rather, to revenge themselves for their…

Caleb, together with Joshua, as is manifest from Num. 14:6–7, Num. 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 speak only…

The men that went up with him; all of them, Joshua excepted. They are stronger than we, both in stature of body and numbers of people. Thus they wickedly question the power, and truth, and goodness of God, of all which they had such ample testimonies.

They brought up, Heb. brought forth, to wit, out of their mouths; they uttered a reproach, or reproachful words. Of the land i.e. against it, or concerning the land. It is the genitive case of the object, as Matt. 10:1, Matt. 14:1.

i.e. Small and contemptible.