Numbers 13
BBCNumbers 13:1
D. Spying out the Promised Land (Chaps. 13, 14)13:1-20 In this chapter sending out the spies was ordered by the LORD. In Deu_1:19-22 it was suggested by the people. Doubtless God’s instruction was in response to the people’s request, even if their attitude was one of unbelief. The names of the twelve spies are given in verses 4-15. Notice particularly Caleb (v. 6) and Hoshea (v. 8). Moses called Hoshea by the name Joshua (v. 16). Moses asked the twelve spies to bring back a complete report concerning the land and its inhabitants (vv. 17-20). First they were to go to the Negev in the South, then to the hill country in the central part of the land. 13:21-29 The spies searched the land from the Wilderness of Zin in the south to Rehob in the north (v. 21). Verses 22-24 describe the spying operation in the South. At Hebron they saw three sons of Anak, who were giants, according to Deu_2:10-11. Near Hebron they came to a valley of vineyards. They cut down a large cluster of grapes and, suspending it on a pole . . . between two men, carried it back to the camp of Israel, together with pomegranates and figs. The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, meaning “cluster.” The majority report of the spies pictured a beautiful land with dangerous inhabitants. The spies doubted the ability of Israel to conquer the inhabitants (in spite of God’s promise to drive them out). 13:30-32 Reference to Nephilim (v. 33, Heb.) does not mean that these giants survived the Flood. The Israelites had heard about the Nephilim that lived before the Flood, and they identified these giants with them. Caleb (speaking for Joshua and himself) expressed confidence that Israel would be victorious. But the others flatly denied this. The expression “a land that devours its inhabitants” means that the present inhabitants would destroy any others who tried to settle there. 13:33 Ten of the spies had the wrong perspective. They saw themselves as the inhabitants of Canaan saw them (like grasshoppers). Joshua and Caleb saw Israel from God’s point of view, well able to conquer the land. To the ten unbelieving spies the problem of giants was insurmountable. To the two believing spies the presence of giants was insignificant.