Numbers 13

Numbers 13:1

In this chapter we have, 1. The sending of twelve spies before Israel into Canaan, ver. 1—16. 2. The instructions given to their spies, ver. 17—20. 3. Their recruiting of their connection, and their return, ver. 21—25. 4. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel, ver. 26—33.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. And thou roan, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of

every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3. And Moses, by the commandment of the LORD, sent them ‘from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4. And these were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5. Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7. Of the tribe of Isfahan, Igal the son of Joseph. 8. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Othea the son of Nun. 9. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10. Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11. Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manafsib, Gaddi the son of Sufi. 12. Of the tribe of Dan, Ammeh the son of Gemalli. 13. Of the tribe of Afsar, Sethur the son of Michael. 14. Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nabib the son of Vophis. 15. Of the tribe of Gali, Gruel the son of Machi. 16. These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Othea the son of Nun, Jehoihua. 17. ¶ And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18. And see the land what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19. And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents or in strong-holds; 20. And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land (now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.)

As they were now on the borders of the land, they had no more to do but to go in and take possession; but their unbelief, Deut. i. 22. Suggested the need of sending spies. They were not satisfied with God’s promise, but would see for themselves. So ready are we to indulge our own wretched matrimings, rather than simply submit to divine revelation. God permits Moses to get by them; choose a made of prayer persons, and their instructions given them concerning the soul, the inhabitants, and cities. Among these Joshua is particularly mentioned, and the change which Moses made in his name; Joshua signifies the same as Jesus, a Saviour, and is the type of him who should come to save his people from their sins, and to bring them to the land of rest in glory everlasting. Moses encourages them in their employment, that boldly acquitting themselves they might be examples of courage to their brethren. Nothing more animating than to follow those whose fidelity and zeal have been tried.

21. ¶ So they went up and searched the land, from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehab, as men come to Hamath. 22. And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where ‘Ahiman, Shefhai, and Talmai, the children of Anak were (now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23. And they came unto the reproach of Eshool, and cut down from thence a branch with one clutter of grapes, and they have it between two upon a staff, and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24. The place was called the brook Eshool, because of the clutter of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

de be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. 29. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the tea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30. And Caleb filled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31. But the men that went up with him, said, We be not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. 32. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched, unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it, are men of a great stature. 33. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which came of the giants: and we were in our own sight at grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:15-21

12, 16.

15. ¶ And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus faith Balak the son of Zippo, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee, from coming unto me: 17. For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayeth unto me: Come therefore, I pray thee, curd me this people. 18. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. 20. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. 21. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

Balak was earned to carry his point, and therefore he spares no pains to accomplish it. If he had been but at half the trouble to secure God’s blessing, and Israel’s friendship, he had succeeded better. 1. He increases his embassy, and adds distinguished honour to his presents. Importance to gain him, he thinks at nothing; let him prescribe his own terms, and Balak will ratify them. Note, (1.) A man’s heart must be flungely fortified by realizing views of the eternal world, who can stand out against the united temptations of gain and honour. (2.) They who would keep from yielding to sin, must refuantly refill and avoid the temptations to it. 2. Balaam receives and entertains the messengers, and which professedly adhering to the command of God, evidently betrays his willingness to go with them. He makes much honourable mention of God, and claims high relation to him, seeming to prefer his honour to the riches of the universe; but his heart was deceitful: he either intended to deceive them with fair speeches, or was deceived himself. Note, (1.) Many claim an interest in

God, whom he will disown for his people. (2.) Sound words do not always speak a found heart. It is easier to learn the language of God’s people, than to show their fidelity. (3.) The sin is already committed, when we are seeking an excuse for running into temptation. 3. God gave him permission to go in anger. He should have been satisfied in our denial: could he imagine there was in God any shadow of changing? Yet, even now he is refreshed, and cannot speak further than he is permitted. God holds the devil’s charm, and neither he nor his instruments can go a step beyond their appointed bounds. 4. Balaam is in haste to be gone: he does not want to be called by the princes of Midian, but runs greedily after the halt of Balak’s offers. Note, When the heart is gone from God, it will not be long ere the conduit betrays it.

22. ¶ And God’s anger was kindled, because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23. ¶ And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. 24. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, the thrust herself into the wall, and cruft Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where near no way to turn either to the right hand, or to the left. 27. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, the fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and the said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29. And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30. And the ass said unto Balaam, she not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine, unto this day? was I ever want to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because the way is perverse before me. 33. And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 34. And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will get me back again. 35. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak: so Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 13:21-25

The spies immediately proceed on their errand, and having passed unsuspected through the land, perhaps in separate parties, they might, on their return, unite at Hebron, a place of great antiquity, and possessed by the sons of Anak; near unto which lay Machpelah, the burying-place of the patriarchs. They bring back with them a specimen of the land, enough to confirm God’s declaration, and to confute their own subsequent evil report. These grapes were a proof of the goodness of that land, and an earnest of their possessing it. Note, When faith goes up to spy out the heavenly Canaan, the present joys of believing are the forearms of eternal bliss.

26. ¶ And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel unto the wilderness of Paran, to ‘Kadeh; and brought back wood unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whether thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28. Nevertheless, the po-

Numbers 13:22-35

Balak’s princes probably were in haste to carry the glad tidings to their matter, and Balaam was now alone with his servants. 1. God’s anger was kindled against him. Sin is not the less provoking to him because permitted. An angel with a flaming sword is sent to obstruct his way. They are God’s ministers, sent to defend the heirs of salvation, and to avenge his quarrel against their enemies. How impotent then their attempts against God’s church and people, guarded by such angelic hosts? 2. The ass he rode upon saw the danger, though Balaam was blind to it. When pride, lust, and covetousness, keep men asleep in the arms of sin, they are insensible, and see not the sword of wrath hanging over their heads. The ass turned aside, and Balaam smote her to bring her into the way. Again, in a narrow part between the vineyards, startled at the same appearance, the beaft, eager to avoid the sword, ran close by the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot. Provoked at which, he smote her a second time. So angry are we often at those who would dare us from ruin; and so little disposed to enquire, whether our ways are not perverse before God, and the cause of the accidents we meet with. At the next place of meeting the angel, a narrow pass precluded all escape, and then his beaft fell under him: at which, still more incensed, he struck her the third time. Thush who are bent on ruin, will take no warning. 3. The dumb ass, speaking with man’s voice, by a wonderful miracle, rebukes the madness

Heb. Bered to not sym.

The people of the people; the complains justly of Balaam’s cruelty: he in rage vindicates it with a wish he had a sword to stay her, because she had knocked, or rather defiled him. Note, (1.) The whole creation groaneth under their sufferings, but God hears the cries of the abused brates, and will remember the cruelty of their tomentors. (2.) The inhumanity wherewith many a poor wretch treats his cattle, proves the wickedness and madness of Balaam in his heart. (3.) They who plead provocation, as an excuse for their passions, will find that a fruitless plea at the bar of God. (4.) He who gave the dumb healt speech, gives her reason also: the expostulates with him on the injustice of the treatment, from his past experience of her serviceableness and care of him; and that never before he had cause of complaint against her. Note, (1.) The usefulness of the creations he us, is a great call upon us to treat them with tenderness. (2.) One undeligned false step must not be treated with rigour, when the general tenor of the conduct hath been upright. (3.) Balaam’s eyes are now opened; the terrible wilms lays him flat on his face, justly apprehensive of that sword which hung over him. When God opens our eyes, then we shall tremble at that danger we were blind to before. The angel rebukes the pervertentness of his way, and shews him how indebted he was to the healt he had so injured. Note, We shall find them at last our best friends, whom we despised, or reviled, for their reproach of our iniquity. (4.) Balaam acknowledges his sin, and professes to be ready to return, willing to escape the danger of the way, though giving no symptom of sorrow for the ambiguity of his intention against Israel. Thus some are terrified into a partial resurrection, whose hearts remain still uncovered from the love of sin. (5.) The angel permits his journey, if his mind still led him on; but he is bound up from uttering a syllable farther than God should give him, and made the unwilling instrument of blessing instead of curing Israel. Thus God hath in his hands the hearts of all men, and can restrain their words and actions, and make the bitterest enemies of his people instruments of good to them.

36. ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly lend unto thee to call thee? Wherefore cameth thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 38. And Balaam said unto Balak, I, o, I am come unto thee? have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-Huzoth. 40. And Balak offered oxen, and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that may with him. 41. And it came to oath on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

37. 2.—a. Balak hastes to welcome Balaam to the borders of Moab; such respect he pays to a false prophet; and shall the messenger of curbs be thus received with honour, and God’s mindless of peace be despised! He surely shales him for his delay to accept those honours he designed him, and now is confident of success. Note, When the dinner, in his own opinion, is nearest the summit of his wishes, then he stands on the precipice of destruction.—Balaam, with evident grief, declares his power limited, and cannot promise much success from his coming; however, he is nobly entertained, sacrifices are offered to the gods of Moab, and, after the first day spent in lethal joy, the ensuing morning they will early to prosecute their impotent designs; and from the high places of Baal devery the most distant part of Israel’s best encamped in the plain beneath. Note, They who will not take warning will be given up, like Balaam, to follow their own hearts.

Numbers 13:26-33

After forty days waiting the spies return, and they who had sent them in unbelief, and tempted God by their difficult, are now justly left to stumble at their own inventions. The men who were sent greatly disagree in report and ferment, and, as is too commonly the case, the few faithful are rejected amidst the multitude of painstayers. Where the things of God are concerned, they who follow the multitude will infallibly err.

1. Ten of the messengers bring a discouraging report. They own the fertility of the soil, though afterwards, to countenance their cowardice, they contradict themselves, and pretend that it was barren and desolate with diseases, their cities impregnable, their inveterate enemies the Amalekites just before them, to obstruct their way, the paffes of the mountains guarded by the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites, all the men great of stature; and the giants of Hebron are dwell upon, as if the bells of Israel might be crushed as grasshoppers under their feet. Observe (1.) The coward heart magnifies every object, and increases every difficulty. (2.) Unbelief says of our spiritual enemies, as they did of the sons of Anak, they are too mighty for us.

2. Caleb rises to contradict to faith and dishonourable a representation, and to encourage the people immediately to go up and possess the land. He affirms they were well able, and well be might; 600,000 men, with Moses at their head, what need they fear: but this is the least of their strength; God is in the midst of them, his pillar leads the way, his power they have repeatedly experienced, miracles for their safety were common, and may be expected, when assurances of their victory from God have been so repeatedly given, and Canaan promised to be their possession. Nate, (1.) Zeal for God dares every danger. (2.) Faith makes men confident of success; though earth and hell, and all the powers of both, conspire against the believing soul, to obstruct his way to heaven, he goes on in the strength of the Lord, and the power of his might, conquering and to conquer.