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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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It is a memorable and very melancholy story which is related in this
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and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the
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borders of Canaan, when they were just ready to set foot in it, and the
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sentencing of them to wander and perish in the wilderness for their
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unbelief and murmuring. It is referred to
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+95:7-11">Ps. xcv. 7</A>,
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&c., and improved for warning to Christians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+3:7-19">Heb. iii. 7</A>,
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&c. In this chapter we have,
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I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:1-16">ver. 1-16</A>.
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II. The instructions given to these spies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:17-20">ver. 17-20</A>.
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III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions,
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and their return from the search,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:21-25">ver. 21-25</A>.
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IV. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:26-33">ver. 26</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Missions of the Twelve Spies.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which
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I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their
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fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
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3 And Moses by the commandment of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> sent them from the
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wilderness of Paran: all those men <I>were</I> heads of the children
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of Israel.
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4 And these <I>were</I> their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua
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the son of Zaccur.
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5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
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6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
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7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
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8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
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9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
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10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
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11 Of the tribe of Joseph, <I>namely,</I> of the tribe of Manasseh,
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Gaddi the son of Susi.
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12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
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13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
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14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
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15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
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16 These <I>are</I> the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out
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the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
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17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said
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unto them, Get you up this <I>way</I> southward, and go up into the
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mountain:
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18 And see the land, what it <I>is;</I> and the people that dwelleth
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therein, whether they <I>be</I> strong or weak, few or many;
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19 And what the land <I>is</I> that they dwell in, whether it <I>be</I>
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good or bad; and what cities <I>they be</I> that they dwell in,
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whether in tents, or in strong holds;
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20 And what the land <I>is,</I> whether it <I>be</I> fat or lean, whether
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there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and
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bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time <I>was</I> the time of
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the firstripe grapes.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,
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I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan. It is
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here said, God directed Moses to send them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>),
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but it appears by the repetition of the story afterwards
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+1:22">Deut. i. 22</A>)
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that the motion came originally from the people; they came to Moses,
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and said, <I>We will send men before us;</I> and it was the fruit of
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their unbelief. They would not take God's word that it was a good land,
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and that he would, without fail, put them in possession of it. They
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could not trust the pillar of cloud and fire to show them the way to
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it, but had a better opinion of their own politics than of God's
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wisdom. How absurd was it for them to send to spy out a land which God
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himself had spied out for them, to enquire the way into it when God
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himself had undertaken to show them the way! But thus we ruin ourselves
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by giving more credit to the reports and representations of sense than
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to divine revelation; we walk by sight, not by faith; whereas, <I>if
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we</I> will <I>receive the witness of men,</I> without doubt <I>the
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witness of God is greater.</I> The people making this motion to Moses,
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he (perhaps not aware of the unbelief at the bottom of it) consulted
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God in the case, who bade him gratify the people in this matter, and
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send spies before them: "Let them walk in their own counsels." Yet God
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was no way accessory to the sin that followed, for the sending of these
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spies was so far from being the cause of the sin that if the spies had
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done their duty, and the people theirs, it might have been the
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confirmation of their faith, and of good service to them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The persons nominated that were to be employed in this service
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:4-15"><I>v.</I> 4</A>,
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&c.), one of each tribe, that it might appear to be the act of the
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people in general; and rulers, person of figure in their respective
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tribes, some of the rulers of thousands or hundreds, to put the greater
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credit upon their embassy. This was designed for the best, but it
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proved to have this ill effect that the quality of the persons
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occasioned the evil report they brought up to be the more credited and
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the people to be the more influenced by it. Some think that they are
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all named for the sake of two good ones that were among them, Caleb and
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Joshua. Notice is taken of the change of Joshua's name upon this
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occasion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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He was Moses's minister, but had been employed, though of the tribe of
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Ephraim, as general of the forces that were sent out against Amalek.
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The name by which he was generally called and known in his own tribe
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was <I>Oshea,</I> but Moses called him <I>Joshua,</I> in token of his
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affection to him and power over him; and now, it should seem, he
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ordered others to call him so, and fixed that to be his name
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henceforward. <I>Oshea</I> signifies a prayer for salvation, <I>Save
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thou; Joshua</I> signifies a promise of salvation, <I>He will save,</I>
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in answer to that prayer: so near is the relation between prayers and
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promises. Prayers prevail for promises, and promises direct and
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encourage prayers. Some think that Moses designed, by taking the first
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syllable of the name Jehovah and prefixing it to his name, which turned
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<I>Hoshea</I> into <I>Jehoshua,</I> to put an honour upon him, and to
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encourage him in this and all his future services with the assurances
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of God's presence. Yet after this he is called <I>Hoshea,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:44">Deut. xxxii. 44</A>.
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<I>Jesus</I> is the same name with <I>Joshua,</I> and it is the name of
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our Lord Christ, of whom Joshua was a type as successor to Moses,
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Israel's captain, and conqueror of Canaan. There was another of the
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same name, who was also a type of Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+6:11">Zech. vi. 11</A>.
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Joshua was the saviour of God's people from the powers of Canaan, but
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Christ is their Saviour from the powers of hell.</P>
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<P>
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III. The instructions given to those spies. They were sent into the
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land of Canaan the nearest way, to traverse the country, and to take
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account of its present state,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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Two heads of enquiry were given them in charge,
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1. Concerning the land itself: <I>See what that is</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>,
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and again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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see whether it be <I>good or bad,</I> and
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>)
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<I>whether it be fat or lean.</I> All parts of the earth do not share
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alike in the blessing of fruitfulness; some countries are blessed with
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a richer soil than others. Moses himself was well satisfied that Canaan
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was a very good land, but he sent these spies to bring an account of it
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for the satisfaction of the people; as John Baptist sent to Jesus, to
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ask whether he was the Christ, not to inform himself, but to inform
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those he sent. They must take notice whether the air was healthful or
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no, what the soil was, and what the productions; and, for the better
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satisfaction of the people, they must bring with them some of the
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fruits.
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2. Concerning the inhabitants--their number, few or many--their size
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and stature, whether strong able-bodied men or weak,--their
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habitations, whether they lived in tents or houses, whether in open
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villages or in walled towns,--whether the woods were standing as in
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those countries that are uncultivated, through the unskillfulness and
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slothfulness of the inhabitants, or whether the woods were cut down,
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and the country made champaign, for the convenience of tillage. These
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were the things they were to enquire about. Perhaps there had not been
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of late years such commerce between Egypt and Canaan as there was in
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Jacob's time, else they might have informed themselves of these things
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without sending men on purpose to search. See the advantage we may
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derive from books and learning, which acquaint those that are curious
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and inquisitive with the state of foreign countries, at a much greater
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distance than Canaan was now from Israel, without this trouble and
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expense.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Moses dismisses the spies with this charge, <I>Be of good
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courage,</I> intimating, not only that they should be themselves
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encouraged against the difficulties of this expedition, but that they
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should bring an encouraging account to the people and make the best of
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every thing. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon,
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which required good management and resolution, but it was a great trust
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that was reposed in them, which required that they should be
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faithful.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu13_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_25"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness
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of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
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22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where
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Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, <I>were.</I> (Now
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Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
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23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from
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thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it
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between two upon a staff; and <I>they brought</I> of the pomegranates,
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and of the figs.
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24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the
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cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from
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thence.
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25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty
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days.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the
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promised land.
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1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near
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Hamath, in the north,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+34:3,8"><I>ch.</I> xxxiv. 3, 8</A>.
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It is probable that they did not go altogether in a body, lest they
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should be suspected and taken up, which there would be the more danger
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of if the Canaanites knew (and one would think they could not but know)
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how near the Israelites were to them; but they divided themselves into
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several companies, and so passed unsuspected, as way-faring men.
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2. They took particular notice of Hebron
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
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probably because near there was the field of Machpelah, where the
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patriarchs were buried
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:2">Gen. xxiii. 2</A>),
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whose dead bodies did, as it were, keep possession of that land for
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their posterity. To this sepulchre they made a particular visit, and
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found the adjoining city in the possession of the sons of Anak, who are
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here named. In that place where they expected the greatest
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encouragements they met with the greatest discouragements. Where the
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bodies of their ancestors kept possession for them the giants kept
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possession against them. <I>They ascended by the south, and came to
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Hebron,</I> that is, "Caleb," say the Jews, "in particular," for to his
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being there we find express reference,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+14:9,12,13">Josh. xiv. 9, 12, 13</A>.
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But that others of the spies were there too appears by their
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description of the Anakim,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
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3. They brought a bunch of grapes with them, and some other of the
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fruits of the land, as a proof of the extraordinary goodness of the
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country. Probably they furnished themselves with these fruits when they
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were leaving the country and returning. The cluster of grapes was so
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large and so heavy that they hung it upon a bar, and carried it between
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two of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.
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The place whence they took it was, from this circumstance, called the
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<I>valley of the cluster,</I> that famous cluster which was to Israel
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both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are
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the present comforts which we have in communion with God, foretastes of
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the fulness of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan. We may see by
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them what heaven is.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu13_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu13_33"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all
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the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness
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of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto
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all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
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27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither
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thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and
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this <I>is</I> the fruit of it.
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28 Nevertheless the people <I>be</I> strong that dwell in the land,
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and the cities <I>are</I> walled, <I>and</I> very great: and moreover we
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saw the children of Anak there.
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29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the
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Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the
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mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast
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of Jordan.
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30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us
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go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome
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it.
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31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go
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up against the people; for they <I>are</I> stronger than we.
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32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they
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had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land,
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|
through which we have gone to search it, <I>is</I> a land that eateth
|
|
up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it
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<I>are</I> men of a great stature.
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33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, <I>which come</I>
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of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and
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so we were in their sight.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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|
|
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It is a wonder how the people of Israel had patience to stay forty days
|
|
for the return of their spies, when they were just ready to enter
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|
Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the
|
|
divine power, and a constant series of miracles that had hitherto
|
|
attended them; but they distrusted God's power and promise, and were
|
|
willing to be held in suspense by their own counsels, rather than be
|
|
brought to a certainty by God's covenant. How much do we stand in our
|
|
own light by our unbelief! Well, at length the messengers return, but
|
|
they agree not in their report.</P>
|
|
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<P>
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|
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|
I. The major part discourage the people from going forward to Canaan;
|
|
and justly are the Israelites left to this temptation, for putting so
|
|
much confidence in the judgment of men, when they had the word of God
|
|
to trust to. It is a righteous thing with God to give those up to
|
|
strong delusions who will not receive his truth in the love of it.</P>
|
|
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<P>
|
|
|
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1. Observe their report.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They could not deny but that the land of Canaan was a very
|
|
fruitful land; the bunch of grapes they brought with them was an ocular
|
|
demonstration of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
God had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and the evil
|
|
spies themselves own that it is such a land. Thus even out of the mouth
|
|
of adversaries will God be glorified and the truth of his promise
|
|
attested. And yet afterwards they contradict themselves, when they say
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>It is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof;</I> as if,
|
|
though it had milk, and honey, and grapes, yet it wanted other
|
|
necessary provision; some think that there was a great plague in the
|
|
country at the time they surveyed it, which they ought to have imputed
|
|
to the wisdom of the divine Providence, which thus lessened the numbers
|
|
of their enemies, to facilitate their conquests; but they invidiously
|
|
imputed it to the unwholesomeness of the air, and thence took occasion
|
|
to disparage the country. For this unreasonable fear of a plague in
|
|
Canaan, they were justly cut off immediately by a <I>plague in the
|
|
wilderness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:37"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) They represented the conquest of it as altogether impracticable,
|
|
and that it was to no purpose to attempt it. The people are strong
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
men of a <I>great stature</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>stronger than we,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
The cities are represented as impregnable fortresses: they <I>are
|
|
walled</I> and <I>very great,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
But nothing served their ill purpose more than a description of the
|
|
giants, on whom they lay a great stress: <I>We saw the children of Anak
|
|
there</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
and again, we <I>saw the giants,</I> those men of a prodigious size,
|
|
the <I>sons of Anak,</I> who <I>come of the giants,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
They spoke as if they were ready to tremble at the mention of them, as
|
|
they had done at the sight of them. "O these tremendous giants! when we
|
|
were near them, <I>we were in our own sight as grasshoppers,</I> not
|
|
only little and weak, but trembling and daunted." Compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+39:20">Job xxxix. 20</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?</I> "Nay, and <I>so we
|
|
were in their sight;</I> they looked upon us with as much scorn and
|
|
disdain as we did upon them with fear and trembling." So that upon the
|
|
whole matter they gave it in as their judgment, <I>We are not able to
|
|
go up against them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore must think of taking some other course.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Now, even if they had been to judge only by human probabilities,
|
|
they could not have been excused from the imputation of cowardice. Were
|
|
not the hosts of Israel very numerous? 600,000 effective men, well
|
|
marshalled and modelled, closely embodied, and entirely united in
|
|
interest and affection, constituted as formidable an army as perhaps
|
|
was ever brought into the field; many a less has done more than perhaps
|
|
the conquering of Canaan was, witness Alexander's army. Moses, their
|
|
commander-in-chief, was wise and brave; and if the people had put on
|
|
resolution, and behaved themselves valiantly, what could have stood
|
|
before them? It is true the Canaanites were strong, but they were
|
|
dispersed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Some dwell in the south and others in the mountains;</I> so that by
|
|
reason of their distance they could not soon get together, and by
|
|
reason of their divided interests they could not long keep together, to
|
|
oppose Israel. The country being plentiful would subsist an army, and,
|
|
though the cities were walled, if they could beat them in the field the
|
|
strong-holds would fall of course into their hands. And, lastly, as for
|
|
the giants, their overgrown stature would but make them the better
|
|
mark, and the bulkiest men have not always the best mettle.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. But, though they deserved to be posted for cowards, this was not the
|
|
worst, the scripture brands them for unbelievers. It was not any human
|
|
probabilities they were required to depend upon, but,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They had the manifest and sensible tokens of God's presence with
|
|
them, and the engagement of his power for them. The Canaanites were
|
|
stronger than Israel; suppose they were, but were they stronger than
|
|
the God of Israel? We are not able to deal with them, but is not God
|
|
Almighty able? Have we not him in the midst of us? Does not he go
|
|
before us? And is any thing too hard for him? Were we as grasshoppers
|
|
before the giants, and are not they less than grasshoppers before God?
|
|
Their cities are walled against us, but can they be walled against
|
|
heaven? Besides this,
|
|
|
|
(2.) They had had very great experience of the length and strength of
|
|
God's arm, lifted up and made bare on their behalf. Were not the
|
|
Egyptians as much stronger than they as the Canaanites were? And yet,
|
|
without a sword drawn by Israel or a stroke struck, the chariots and
|
|
horsemen of Egypt were quite routed and ruined; the Amalekites took
|
|
them at great disadvantages, and yet they were discomfited. Miracles
|
|
were at this time their daily bread; were there nothing else, an army
|
|
so well victualled as theirs was, so constantly, so plentifully, and
|
|
all on free cost, would have a might advantage against any other force.
|
|
Nay,
|
|
|
|
(3.) They had particular promises made them of victory and success in
|
|
their wars against the Canaanites. God had given Abraham all possible
|
|
assurances that he would put his seed into possession of that land,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:18,17:8">Gen. xv. 18; xvii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had expressly promised them by Moses that he would <I>drive out the
|
|
Canaanites</I> from <I>before them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+33:2">Exod. xxxiii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and that he would do it <I>by little and little,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:30">Exod. xxiii. 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, after all this, for them to say, <I>We are not able to go up
|
|
against them,</I> was in effect to say, "God himself is not able to
|
|
make his words good." It was in effect to give him the lie, and to tell
|
|
him he had undertaken more than he could perform. We have a short
|
|
account of their sin, with which they infected the whole congregation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:24">Ps. cvi. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
They <I>despised the land, they believed not his word.</I> Though, upon
|
|
search, they had found it as good as he had said, <I>a land flowing
|
|
with milk and honey,</I> yet they would not believe it as sure as he
|
|
had said, but despaired of having it, though eternal truth itself had
|
|
engaged it to them. And now this is the representation of the evil
|
|
spies.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Caleb encouraged them to go forward, though he was seconded by
|
|
Joshua only
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Caleb stilled the people,</I> whom he saw already put into a ferment
|
|
even <I>before Moses</I> himself, whose shining face could not daunt
|
|
them, when they began to grow unruly. <I>Caleb</I> signifies <I>all
|
|
heart,</I> and he answered his name, was hearty himself, and would have
|
|
made the people so if they would have hearkened to him. If Joshua had
|
|
begun to stem the tide, he would have been suspected of partiality to
|
|
Moses, whose minister he was; and therefore he prudently left it to
|
|
Caleb's management at first, who was of the tribe of Judah, the leading
|
|
tribe, and therefore the fittest to be heard. Caleb had seen and
|
|
observed the strength of the inhabitants as much as his fellows, and
|
|
upon the whole matter,
|
|
|
|
1. He speaks very confidently of success: <I>We are well able to
|
|
overcome them,</I> as strong as they are.
|
|
|
|
2. He animates the people to go on, and, his lot lying in the van, he
|
|
speaks as one resolved to lead them on with bravery: "<I>Let us go up
|
|
at once,</I> one bold step, one bold stroke more, will do our business;
|
|
it is all our own if we have but courage to make it so: <I>Let us go up
|
|
and possess it.</I>" He does not say, "Let us go up and conquer it;" he
|
|
looks upon that to be as good as done already; but, "Let us go up and
|
|
possess it; there is nothing to be done but to enter, and take the
|
|
possession which God our great Lord is ready to give us." Note, <I>The
|
|
righteous are bold as a lion.</I> Difficulties that lie in the way of
|
|
salvation dwindle and vanish before a lively active faith in the power
|
|
and promise of God. <I>All things are possible,</I> if they be but
|
|
promised, <I>to him that believes.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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