Numbers 13

3 by the commandment. The proposal to search the land, according to Deut. i. 22-25, originated with the people, and “pleased” Moses also, as in itself natural and reasonable. As, however, the issue too plainly showed, there was a latent feeling of unbelief, making them unfit for so arduous a task as the conquest of Canaan, which could be successful only when undertaken in cheerful faith. This desire of the people was sanctioned by Jehovah, both as a concession to their weakness and to show the power and danger of unbelief. They were now at Kadesh-barnea, at the southern border of the promised land, between the deserts of Paran (et-Tih) and Zin (el-Arabah), on the borders of Edom, a little north-west of Mount Hor. It was afterwards the south-eastern point of the portion of Judah.

16 called. Or, “had called,” at the time of his victory over Amalek (Exod. xvii. 9-13). Hoshea means “salvation”; Jehoshua, “the salvation of Jehovah.”

17 southward. Not southward from the place where they were now encamped, but into the southern part of Canaan (the Negeb).

21. Zin. On the south-east of Palestine. It is a part of the long desert valley stretching from the Elanitic Gulf, at Elath, or Exion-geber, to the Dead Sea, now called el-Ghor and el-Arabah. Kadesh lies on its border.—Rehob. Rehob was on the north of Palestine; a city and chieftaincy of Syria, near Mount Hermon. Hamath was a large city on the river Orontes, lying still farther north.

22. Anak. The Anakim were descended from Arba, who gave his name to Kirjath-arba, or Hebron. The date of the foundation of Hebron indicates the time when the Anakim had taken possession of the district; probably extending their settlements to Zoan (or Tanis) in Lower Egypt, called also Avaris (“place of departure,” i.e., of caravans leaving Egypt), between the Tanitic and Pelusiae mouths of the Nile. They seem to have been numerous at this period; but in the time of David only a few individuals remained.

23 brook. Rather, valley (R.V.), now called a wady. The water of these valleys is soon exhausted in the dry season.—upon a staff. Lest the berries should be injured. The grapes of Palestine are still very large, and bunches have been known to weigh twelve pounds each.

30. Caleb. And Joshua with him: see xiv. 30.

32 an evil report. There were two reports—the minority report of Caleb and Joshua and the majority report of the other spies. Cp. Josh. xiv. 8, 9.