Numbers 13
Numbers 13 is part of “At Kadesh: The Great Rebellion” (13–14) in the outline of Numbers.
Numbers 13 summary
It is a memorable and very melancholy story which is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, when they were just ready to set foot in it, and the sentencing of them to wander and perish in the wilderness for their unbelief and murmuring. It is referred to Psa 95:7, etc., and improved for warning to Christians, Heb 3:7, etc. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan (v. 1-16).
Read the full introduction
It is a memorable and very melancholy story which is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, when they were just ready to set foot in it, and the sentencing of them to wander and perish in the wilderness for their unbelief and murmuring. It is referred to Psa 95:7, etc., and improved for warning to Christians, Heb 3:7, etc. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan (v. 1-16). II. The instructions given to these spies (Num 13:17-20). III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions, and their return from the search (Num 13:21-25). IV. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel (Num 13:26, etc.).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Numbers 13 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
The Twelve Spies
1Then afterwarde the people remooued from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wildernesse of Paran. 2And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying, 3Sende thou men out to search the lande of Canaan which I giue vnto the children of Israel: of euery tribe of their fathers shall ye sende a man, such as are all rulers among them. 4Then Moses sent them out of the wildernesse of Paran at the commandement of the Lord: all those men were heades of the children of Israel. 5Also their names are these: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the sonne of Zaccur: 6Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the sonne of Hori: 7Of the tribe of Iudah, Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh: 8Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the sonne of Ioseph: 9Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the sone of Nun: 10Of the tribe of Beniamin, Palti the sonne of Raphu: 11Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the sone of Sodi: 12Of the tribe of Ioseph, to wit, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the sonne of Susi: 13Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the sonne of Gemalli: 14Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the sonne of Michael: 15Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the sonne of Vophsi: 16Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the sonne of Machi. 17These are the names of the men, which Moses sent to spie out the lande: and Moses called ye name of Oshea the sonne of Nun, Iehoshua. 18So Moses sent them to spie out the lande of Canaan, and said vnto them, Go vp this way toward the South, and go vp into the moutaines, 19And consider the land what it is, and the people that dwel therein, whether they be strong or weake, either fewe or many, 20Also what the lande is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad: and what cities they be, that they dwell in, whether they dwell in tents, or in walled townes: 21And what the land is: whether it be fat or leane, whether there be trees therein, or not. And be of good courage, and bring of the fruite of the lande (for then was the time of the first ripe grapes) 22So they went vp, and searched out the lande, from the wildernesse of Zin vnto Rehob, to go to Hamath, 23And they ascended toward the South, and came vnto Hebron, where were Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the sonnes of Anak. And Hebron was built seuen yeere before Zoan in Egypt. 24Then they came to the riuer of Eshcol, and cut downe thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it vpon a barre betweene two, and brought of the pomegranates and of the figges.
The Spies' Report
25That place was called the riuer Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes, which the children of Israel cut downe thence. 26Then after fourtie dayes, they turned againe from searching of the land. 27And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and vnto al the Congregation of the children of Israel, in the wildernesse of Paran, to Kadesh, and brought to the, and to all the Congregation tydings, and shewed them the fruite of the lande. 28And they tolde him, and saide, We came vnto the land whither thou hast sent vs, and surely it floweth with milke and honie: and here is of the fruite of it. 29Neuerthelesse the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and exceeding great: and moreouer, we sawe the sonnes of Anak there. 30The Amalekites dwell in the South countrey, and the Hittites, and the Iebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountaines, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Iorden. 31Then Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and saide, Let vs go vp at once, and possesse it: for vndoubtedly we shall ouercome it. 32But the men, that went vp with him, saide, we be not able to goe vp against the people: for they are stronger then we. 33So they brought vp an euill report of the land which they had searched for the children of Israel, saying, The lande which we haue gone through to search it out, is a land that eateth vp the inhabitants thereof: for all the people that we sawe in it, are men of great stature. 34For there we sawe gyants, the sonnes of Anak, which come of the gyants, so that we seemed in our sight like grashoppers: and so wee were in their sight.