18 "See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak , whether they are few or many . 19 "How is the land in which they live , is it good or bad ? And how are the cities in which they live , are they like open camps or with fortifications ? 20 " How is the land , is it fat or lean ? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land ." Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes .
21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob , at Lebo-hamath . 22 When they had gone up into the Negev , they came to Hebron where Ahiman , Sheshai and Talmai , the descendants of Anak were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt .) 23 Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes ; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs . 24 That place was called the valley of Eshcol , because e of the cluster which the sons of Israel cut down from there . 25 When they returned from spying out the land , at the end of forty days ,
26 they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran , at Kadesh ; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land . 27 Thus they told him, and said , "We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey , and this is its fruit . 28 "Nevertheless e , the people who live in the land are strong , and the cities are fortified and very large ; and moreover , we saw the descendants of Anak there . 29 "Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country , and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan ." 30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said , "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said , " We are not able to go up against the people , for they are too strong for us."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 13:18-31
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.
Commentary on Numbers 13:21-25
(Read Numbers 13:21-25)
The searchers of the land brought a bunch of grapes with them, and other fruits, as proofs of the goodness of the country; which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are the present comforts we have in communion with God, foretastes of the fulness of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan. We may see by them what heaven is.
Commentary on Numbers 13:26-33
(Read Numbers 13:26-33)
We may wonder that the people of Israel staid forty days for the return of their spies, when they were ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the Divine power, and the miracles that had hitherto attended them. But they distrusted God's power and promise. How much we stand in our own light by our unbelief! At length the messengers returned; but the greater part discouraged the people from going forward to Canaan. Justly are the Israelites left to this temptation, for putting confidence in the judgment of men, when they had the word of God to trust in. Though they had found the land as good as God had said, yet they would not believe it to be as sure as he had said, but despaired of having it, though Eternal Truth had engaged it to them. This was the representation of the evil spies. Caleb, however, encouraged them to go forward, though seconded by Joshua only. He does not say, Let us go up and conquer it; but, Let us go and possess it. Difficulties that are in the way of salvation, dwindle and vanish before a lively, active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they are promised, to him that believes; but carnal sense and carnal professors are not to be trusted. Unbelief overlooks the promises and power of God, magnifies every danger and difficulty, and fills the heart with discouragement. May the Lord help us to believe! we shall then find all things possible.