Numbers 13

God command that twelve spies, of every tribe one, should be sent for to take a view of the land of Canaan, verse 1.etc. their Names, 5. Their charge and instruction, 15. The execution thereof, 22. Their Return and Report, together with the exhibition of the fruits of the land, 26. Caleb encourageth the people for to go and take possession of the Land, 31, but ten of his fellow-spies dissuade it, and dishearten the people, 32.

1. And the LORD spake unto Moseh, saying: [viz. after they had journeyed so long in the Wilderness of Paran, until they were come to Kades-barnea, a City that lay at the North-end of the Wilderness, close to the southern hills of the Land of Canaan.]

2. Send the men forth to spy (or discover) the Land of Canaan, which I will give to the children of Israel: [This command them Lord gave unto Moseh, after that the people had desired of him, that it might be done, as appeareth, Deuteronomy 1:12.] of each Tribe of his fathers one man, [Hebrew one man, one man, i.e. of every Tribe one: See Genesis7. On verse 2.] every one being a chief among them.

3. Moseh then sent them out of the Wilderness of Paran: according to the mouth [i.e. command. So above, chapter.9.18.] of the LORD: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.

4. And these are their Names: of the Tribe of Reuben Sammua, the son of Zaccur.

5. Of the Tribe of Simeon, Saphat the son of Hori.

6. Of the Tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of Jephunne.

7. Of the Tribe of Issachar, Iigeal the son of Joseph.

8. Of the Tribe of Ephraim, Hosea [Otherwise called Josua, verse 16. and for the most part throughout] the son of Nun.

9. Of the Tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Rapha.

10. Of the Tribe of Zebulon, Gaddiel, the son of Sodi.

11. Of the Tribe of Joseph, for the Tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susie.

12. Of the Tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13. Of the Tribe of Asser, Sethur the son of Michael.

14. Of the Tribe of Naphtali, Nabbi, the son of Voshi.

15. Of the Tribe of Gad, Guel [Hebrew Geuel,] the son of Machi.

16. These are the names of the men whom Moseh sent: [Twelve in number according to the number of the twelve Tribes to spy that land: i.e. to find out and discover the condition, not only of the Country, but also of the inhabitants thereof. See the following verses, 18.19,etc.] and Moseh called Hosea the son of Nun Joshua.

17. Moseh sent them for to spy out the Land of Canaan; and he said to them: Go up this way towards the south, [In regard namely, not of the Camp of the Israelites, which was at Kades-Barnea, and had the Land of Canaan Northwards before them, but in respect of the situation of the Canaan it self] and get up the hills.

18. And take a view of the Land how it is conditioned, and the people that dwell therein, whether they be strong, or weak, whether there be few or many.

19. And how the Land is conditioned wherein they inhabit, whether it be good or bad; and how the Cities are conditioned, wherein they dwell; whether in Camps [i.e. in open fields without walls, as Camps use to be: and this hath reference to the custom of the Arabians, who have no strong nor certain place of abode, but remove and pitch now here now there, as their occasions lead them] or in strong holds.

20. Also how the land (or soil) is conditioned, whether it be fat or lean; whether there be trees in it or not; and strengthen your selves, [i.e. be of good cheer and undaunted] and take of the fruit of the Land: those days now were the days of the first fruits of the vine Grapes. [i.e. it was just about the time, when the first Grapes ripened.]

21. Thus they went up and spied out the land, from the wilderness of Zin, [Hebrew. Tsin. The name of a certain Wilderness, called Kadesh, otherwise lying on the borders of Palestina; below chap.3. verse36.] (even) unto Rebob, [a City which lay on the North-border of the inheritance allotted afterwards unto the tribe of Asser Jos.19.28.] where one goeth to Hamath. [the name of a city likewise on the North-border of the East-part of Canaan, which afterwards fell to the share of Naphtali, Jos.19.35. (Where it is called Hammath) 2 King.14.25 and 17.24.]

22. And they went up into the south, and came unto Hebron, [The name of a City, of which see Genesis 23. On v. 2.] and there were Ahiman, Sesai, and Talmai, children of Enak: [the name of a great and famous Giant; which name is common to others, and so some would have it also in this place; and Genesis v.28. and 33.) See Duet.1.28.] now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. [Hebrew Tsoan, which is the name of a very ancient City, which is held to be the same City with Tanis, one of the principal Cities of Egypt wherein the Kings and Princes used to keep their residence. See Psalms.78.12.]

23. After that they came to the Vale [Or brook, for the Hebrew word signifieth either] of Escol; [see the reason, of this denomination in the next verse, and compare Deut.1.24.] and cut off a branch thence with a cluster of Grapes, which two of them carried upon a bearing- staff: likewise of the Pomegranates and of the figs.

24. That same place was called the vale of Escol, by reason of the cluster, [The Hebrew Word Escol, signifying grapes, or, a cluster of grapes] which the children of Israel cut off thence.

25. Then they returned from spying of the Land, at the end of fourty days;

26. And they went (their way) and came to Moseh and to Aaron, and to the whole Congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, [See Genesis.14. on verse 6.] unto Kades: [understand Kades Barnea, which lays in the wilderness of Paran, by the camping place of Rithma, and is to be distinguished from Kades in the wilderness of zin. Whereof see Genesis 14. On verse 7.] and brought report again unto them, and unto the whole congregation, and caused them to see the fruit of the land.

27. And they related to him, [viz. to Moseh, as the chief of the Congregation, yet in the presence and audience, not onely of Aaron, but also of the whole Congregation, whence arose the uproar or mutiny described in the sequel here] and said: We came to that land, whither thou didst send us, and verily, it is flowing with milk and honey; [see Exodus 3. On v.8.] and this is the fruit thereof.

28. Besides that it is a strong people, [viz. in bodies, means and number] which dwell in the Land, and the cities are fenced, (and) very great, and we likewise, saw the children of Enak there. [see above, verse 22.]

29. The Amalekites, [Of which people see Genesis 14:17.] inhabit in the South-country: but the Hethites [of these see Genesis 10. On verse 15. And of the rest together, Genesis.15. on v.19.] and the Jebulites, and the Amorites dwell on the hills; and the Canaanites dwell at the Sea, and at the bank of Jordan. [Hebrew at the hand.]

30. Then Caleb quieted the people, [i.e. he made them hold their peace that he might be heard. There is no mention made here of Joshua, not that he fainted through fear, or that he was not like affected with Caleb; but that either he was absent, during this mutinies, or (being Moseh his servant) held his peace then for other considerable reason. As for his faithfulness in this matter, the same is recorded below, Chapter 14. 6, 7.etc. and of his being rewarded for it, in the same chapter, verse 30.] before Moseh: [others, toward Moseh, viz. clamouring or murmuring against him] and said; Letus march up courageously [Hebrew marching up, march up] and hereditarily possess that; [viz. the land of Canaan] for we shall assuredly subdue the same. [Hebrew subduing subdue, etc.]

31. But the man that were gone up with him, [To wit, the other ten, which together with Caleb and Joshua had been discovering of the land Canaan] said; We shall not be able to march up to that people, for they are stronger then we.

32. Thus they brought forth an evil report of the land, which they had spied, unto the children of Israel, saying; That land, through which we passed for to spy it, is a land that consumeth its inhabitants, [Implying, that it was a land in the cultivating and husbanding whereof, men were sain to waste and consume all their vigour by hard and continue all labour for the enjoying of some fruit: or that the fruit it self was so ill conditioned, that it devoured and consumed the inhabitants, which nevertheless was untrue; some do understand this consuming of the intestine wares which were ever and anyone amongst the inhabitants of Canaan. Compare Ezech. 36. On verse 12. 13.] and all the people which we have seen in the midst thereof are men of great tallness. [Hebrew of measure, as 1 Chronicles, 12.23. and 20. 6. Isaiah 45:14.]

33. We likewise saw the Giants there, [Hebrew Nephilim, of which word, see Genesis 6. On verse 4.] the children of Enak of the Giants, [viz. descending] and we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes.