17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country.
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:
17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country,
17 When Moses sent them off to scout out Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and then into the hill country.
17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains,
17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: "Go north through the Negev into the hill country.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 13:17
Commentary on Numbers 13:1-20
(Read Numbers 13:1-20)
A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, and the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness, for their unbelief and murmuring. It appears, Deuteronomy 1:22, that the motion to search out the land came from the people. They had a better opinion of their own policy than of God's wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves by believing the reports and representations of sense rather than Divine revelation. We walk by sight not by faith. Moses gave the spies this charge, Be of good courage. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon, which required good management and resolution; but a great trust was reposed in them, which required that they should be faithful. Courage in such circumstances can only spring from strong faith, which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed.