Numbers 13ESV
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Numbers13

English Standard Version

1The Lord to , ,

2 to the of , I am to the of . From of their you shall a , every a among them.

3So them from the of , according the of the Lord, of them who were of the of .

4And were their : From the of , the of ;

5from the of , the of ;

6from the of , the of ;

7from the of , the of ;

8from the of , the of ;

9from the of , the of ;

10from the of , the of ;

11from the of (that is, from the of ), the of ;

12from the of , the of ;

13from the of , the of ;

14from the of , the of ;

15from the of , the of .

16 were the of the to the . And the of .

17 them to the of and to them, into the and into the ,

18and the is, and whether the who it are or , whether they are ,

19and the they is or , and the that they are or ,

20and the is , and whether there in it . Be of and of the of the . Now the was the of the first .

21So they and the the of , near .

22They into the and to . , , and , the of , were there. ( was in .)

23And they the of and cut a with a of , and they it on a between of them; they also brought and .

24That was the of , because the the of cut .

25At the of they from the .

26And they to and and to the of the of in the of , at . They to them and to the , and them the of the .

27And they him, We to the to you us. It with and , and is its .

28 , the who in the are , and the are and . And , we the of .

29The in the of the . The , the , and the in the . And the the , and the .

30But the before and , Let us at and it, we are well to it.

31Then the had gone with him , We are to against the , they are we are.

32So they to the of a bad of the they had , , The , we have to , is a that its , and the we in are great .

33And we the (the of , who the ), and we seemed to like , and we seemed to .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 13.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Twelve men sent to search the land of Canaan, Their instructions. (1–20). Their proceedings. (21–25). Their account of the land. (26–33).

vv1-20

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, De 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.

vv21-25

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.

vv26-33

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.

Cross References

Numbers 13

Shows the request to send spies originated with the people's lack of faith, not God's original directive.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Joshua 14:6-15thematic

Records Caleb's inheritance of Hebron as a reward for his faith during this spying mission.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v28Deuteronomy 1:28thematic

Parallel account of the spies' report exaggerating the strength of the cities and the Anakim.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v16Matthew 1:21-23typology

The change of Joshua's name (Jehoshua) typifies Jesus, the Savior who leads into the land.

Supported by JFB

v28Deuteronomy 9:1thematic

Moses later recalls the formidable, walled cities of Canaan that the spies feared.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Deuteronomy 9:2thematic

Identifies the proverbially formidable stature of the sons of Anak who terrified the spies.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Deuteronomy 1:25thematic

Moses recalls the spies taking of the fruit and bringing it back to show Israel.

Supported by JFB

v25Numbers 14:34thematic

God decrees one year of wandering in the wilderness for each of the forty days of spying.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v30Deuteronomy 1:36thematic

God's promise that Caleb will enter the land because he wholly followed the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v31Hebrews 3:19thematic

New Testament commentary explaining that Israel could not enter because of their unbelief.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Deuteronomy 1:24thematic

Confirms the spies' path through the southern hills and the valley of Eshcol.

Supported by JFB

v28Joshua 14:12thematic

Caleb requests Hebron, specifically mentioning the Anakim and fortified cities he saw there.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v17Numbers 13:22thematic

Detailed geographical coordinate within this chapter connecting the southward journey to Hebron.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v32Ezekiel 36:13thematic

Ezekiel alludes to the spies' slanderous claim that Canaan was 'a land that devoureth men'.

Supported by Matthew Poole