Numbers 13
DOYLYNumbers 13:11
- Of the tribe of Joseph.] That is, of the other branch of Joseph’s family, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 13:16
16.—Jehoshua.] In short, Joshua; or as the Seventy, and Josephus, and the New Testament, in Acts vii. 45, and Hebrews iv. 8, call him Jesus; that is, a saviour; he being appointed to save the people, and bring them into possession of the promised land: in which he was a type of our blessed Saviour. Bp. Kidder. He was called by this name soon after they came out of Egypt, when he fought with and conquered Amalek, Exod. xvii. 9, 10. Moses considered this as a proof that he should save and deliver the people of Israel, and then called him by this name. Bp. Patrick. This name was questioned by God’s providence, or by Moses, by Divine instinct, first produced with relation to the Messiah. For of all the ancient types, Joshua did most exactly, in office and performance, represent and prefigure the Messiah; and his actions wonderfully agree with those, which we attribute to Jesus, the Son of God. Dr. Isaac Barrow.
Numbers 13:17
17.—into the mountain.] Or mountainous tract, which lies next to the wilderness of Zin. Dr. Wells.
Numbers 13:19
19.—whether in tents or in strong holds.] Whether they lived in tents, as the Arabians did, and the Israelites at this time; or in houses; and whether they were fortified. Or rather, whether in open villages, or in walled cities. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 13:21
21.—from—Zin unto Rehob.] From the south to the most northern part of the land, where Rehob was situated, something toward the west. Bp. Kidder.
— Hamath.] In the north toward the west.
Numbers 13:22
- And they ascended by the south.] In their return from searching the country. Bp. Patrick.
— Hebron.] A city, in the south part of the country, which fell to the tribe of Judah. Bp. Kidder.
— Anak.] He was the son of Arba, who gave name to Kirjath-arba, or the city of Arba, afterwards called Hebron. Compare Gen. xxiii. 2, with Josh. xv. 13. Bp. Kidder.
— Zoan] A principal city of the Egyptians, who vaunted of their great antiquity, Is. xix. 11.
Numbers 13:23
- and they bare it between two] On account of its great size, and to preserve the grapes from being bruised. The vines and grapes are prodigiously large in those eastern and southern parts of the world. Strabo says, that in Margiana, and other places, the vines were so big, that two men could scarce compass them; and that they produced bunches of grapes two cubits long. Olearius tells us, that not far from Astracan, in Persia, he saw vines, that a man could hardly grasp with both arms. And Hnetius affirms, that in Crete, Chios, and other islands of the Archipelago, there are bunches of grapes from ten to forty pounds in weight. Stackhouse.
Dandini, though an Italian, seems to have been surprised at the extraordinary size of the grapes of mount Libanus, which he describes as equal to a prune. It is no wonder the Israelites were struck with them; because, according to Norden, the grapes of Egypt, though excellent, are very small. Harmer.
Numbers 13:24
- The place was called the brook Eshcol.] That is, when the Israelites got possession of the land, they called this brook, or valley, “Eshcol,” in memory of
Their relation. The people murmur at the news. grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
Numbers 13:26
- And they went] Up the mountain from Eahcol, and came down on the other side to Moses, &c. Dr. Wells.
Numbers 13:29
- — by the sea,] Meaning either the Mediterranean sea, westward, emphatically called “the sea,” as being the greatest near Canaan. Dr. Wells. Or possibly, from its connexion here with the river Jordan, it may mean the Dead sea. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 13:31
- — We be not able to go up] Forty days they spent in this search; and their cowardly unbelief in the search cost them forty years’ delay of the fruition. Who can bear to see the rulers of Israel so basely timorous? They commend the land; the fruit commends itself; and yet they plead difficulty: “We be not able to go up.” It is an unworthy thing to plead hardness in the achievement, where the benefit will more than require the endeavour. Our land of promise is above: we know the fruit thereof is sweet and glorious, the passage difficult. The gigantick sons of Anak, “the powers of darkness,” stand in our way; if we sit down and complain, we shall hereafter be convinced, that “without shall be the fearful and unbelieving.” See Rev. xxi. 8; xxii. 15. Bp. Hall.
Numbers 13:32
- — The land — is a land that eateth up the inhabitants] Either the air is unwholesome and wastes the inhabitants with disease; or the soil is so stubborn and harsh to work upon, that it consumes their bodies with the difficulty of their labours. Bp. Hall. In the heat of their opposition, these men now disparage the country which they had before praised; and also stretch their
report of the inhabitants beyond the truth. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 13:33
- And there we saw the giants,] Although we read of giants before Noah’s flood, Gen. vi. 4, and more plainly afterwards in Numbers, yet there is great reason to think the ordinary size of man was always the same from the creation. For as to the “Nephilim,” or “giants,” in Gen. vi, the ancients vary about them; some taking them for great atheists, and monsters of impiety, rapine, tyranny, and all wickedness, as well as of monstrous stature, as indeed the Hebrew signification allows. And as for the “Nephilim” in Numbers, which were evidently men of a gigantick stature, it must be considered, that it is very probable the fears and discontent of the spies may have added something to their height. But be the matter as it will, it is very manifest, that in both these places giants are spoken of as rarities and wonders of the age, not as of common stature. But as for the ordinary size of mankind, it was always, in all probability, the same, as may appear from the monuments, mummies, armour, vessels, and other utensils to be seen at this day. Dr. Derham.
— we were in our own sight as grasshoppers,] For stature and strength there seemed to be no less difference betwixt them and us, than betwixt grasshoppers and men. Bp. Hall. They had no confidence in the promise and power of God, on which Caleb and Joshua relied; but measured all things by human strength. Bp. Patrick. When we measure our spiritual success by our own power, we are vanquished before we fight. He, that would overcome, must neither look upon his own arm, nor the arm of his enemy, but the mouth and