N
U M B E R S
CHAP. XIII.
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 Ps. xcv. 7, &c., and improved for warning to Christians, Heb.
iii. 7, &c. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before
them into Canaan, ver. 1-16. II. The instructions given to these spies, ver.
17-20. III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions,
and their return from the search, ver. 21-25. IV. The report they brought back
to the camp of Israel, ver. 26, &c.
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Missions
of the Twelve Spies.
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B.
C. 1490.
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1 And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search
the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe
of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD
sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the
children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: of the
tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of
Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb
the son of Jephunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of
Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10 Of the
tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of
Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13 Of the tribe
of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali,
Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of
Machi. 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent
to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
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: 18
And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein,
whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what
the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and
what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong
holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or
lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and
bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the
firstripe grapes.
Here we have, I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan.
It is here said, God directed Moses to send them (v. 1, 2), but it
appears by the repetition of the story afterwards (Deut. i. 22) that the
motion came originally from the people; they came to Moses, and said, We
will send men before us; and it was the fruit of their unbelief. They
would not take God's word that it was a good land, and that he would, without
fail, put them in possession of it. They could not trust the pillar of cloud
and fire to show them the way to it, but had a better opinion of their own
politics than of God's wisdom. How absurd was it for them to send to spy out a
land which God himself had spied out for them, to enquire the way into it when
God himself had undertaken to show them the way! But thus we ruin ourselves by
giving more credit to the reports and representations of sense than to divine
revelation; we walk by sight, not by faith; whereas, if we will receive
the witness of men, without doubt the witness of God is greater.
The people making this motion to Moses, he (perhaps not aware of the unbelief
at the bottom of it) consulted God in the case, who bade him gratify the
people in this matter, and send spies before them: "Let them walk in
their own counsels." Yet God was no way accessory to the sin that
followed, for the sending of these spies was so far from being the cause of
the sin that if the spies had done their duty, and the people theirs, it might
have been the confirmation of their faith, and of good service to them.
II. The persons nominated that were to be employed in this service (v.
4, &c.), one of each tribe, that it might appear to be the act of the
people in general; and rulers, person of figure in their respective tribes,
some of the rulers of thousands or hundreds, to put the greater credit upon
their embassy. This was designed for the best, but it proved to have this ill
effect that the quality of the persons occasioned the evil report they brought
up to be the more credited and the people to be the more influenced by it.
Some think that they are all named for the sake of two good ones that were
among them, Caleb and Joshua. Notice is taken of the change of Joshua's name
upon this occasion, v. 16. He was Moses's minister, but had been
employed, though of the tribe of Ephraim, as general of the forces that were
sent out against Amalek. The name by which he was generally called and known
in his own tribe was Oshea, but Moses called him Joshua, in
token of his affection to him and power over him; and now, it should seem, he
ordered others to call him so, and fixed that to be his name henceforward. Oshea
signifies a prayer for salvation, Save thou; Joshua signifies a promise
of salvation, He will save, in answer to that prayer: so near is the
relation between prayers and promises. Prayers prevail for promises, and
promises direct and encourage prayers. Some think that Moses designed, by
taking the first syllable of the name Jehovah and prefixing it to his name,
which turned Hoshea into Jehoshua, to put an honour upon him,
and to encourage him in this and all his future services with the assurances
of God's presence. Yet after this he is called Hoshea, Deut. xxxii. 44.
Jesus is the same name with Joshua, and it is the name of our
Lord Christ, of whom Joshua was a type as successor to Moses, Israel's
captain, and conqueror of Canaan. There was another of the same name, who was
also a type of Christ, Zech. vi. 11. Joshua was the saviour of God's people
from the powers of Canaan, but Christ is their Saviour from the powers of
hell.
III. The instructions given to those spies. They were sent into the land of
Canaan the nearest way, to traverse the country, and to take account of its
present state, v. 17. Two heads of enquiry were given them in charge,
1. Concerning the land itself: See what that is (v. 18, and
again, v. 19), see whether it be good or bad, and (v. 20)
whether it be fat or lean. All parts of the earth do not share alike in
the blessing of fruitfulness; some countries are blessed with a richer soil
than others. Moses himself was well satisfied that Canaan was a very good
land, but he sent these spies to bring an account of it for the satisfaction
of the people; as John Baptist sent to Jesus, to ask whether he was the
Christ, not to inform himself, but to inform those he sent. They must take
notice whether the air was healthful or no, what the soil was, and what the
productions; and, for the better satisfaction of the people, they must bring
with them some of the fruits. 2. Concerning the inhabitants--their number, few
or many--their size and stature, whether strong able-bodied men or
weak,--their habitations, whether they lived in tents or houses, whether in
open villages or in walled towns,--whether the woods were standing as in those
countries that are uncultivated, through the unskillfulness and slothfulness
of the inhabitants, or whether the woods were cut down, and the country made
champaign, for the convenience of tillage. These were the things they were to
enquire about. Perhaps there had not been of late years such commerce between
Egypt and Canaan as there was in Jacob's time, else they might have informed
themselves of these things without sending men on purpose to search. See the
advantage we may derive from books and learning, which acquaint those that are
curious and inquisitive with the state of foreign countries, at a much greater
distance than Canaan was now from Israel, without this trouble and expense.
IV. Moses dismisses the spies with this charge, Be of good courage,
intimating, not only that they should be themselves encouraged against the
difficulties of this expedition, but that they should bring an encouraging
account to the people and make the best of every thing. It was not only a
great undertaking they were put upon, which required good management and
resolution, but it was a great trust that was reposed in them, which required
that they should be faithful.
21 So they went up, and
searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai,
and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven
years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of
Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they
bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates,
and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because
of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from
thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after
forty days.
We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the
promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob,
near Hamath, in the north, v. 21. See ch. xxxiv. 3, 8. It is
probable that they did not go altogether in a body, lest they should be
suspected and taken up, which there would be the more danger of if the
Canaanites knew (and one would think they could not but know) how near the
Israelites were to them; but they divided themselves into several companies,
and so passed unsuspected, as way-faring men. 2. They took particular notice
of Hebron (v. 22), probably because near there was the field of
Machpelah, where the patriarchs were buried (Gen. xxiii. 2), whose dead bodies
did, as it were, keep possession of that land for their posterity. To this
sepulchre they made a particular visit, and found the adjoining city in the
possession of the sons of Anak, who are here named. In that place where they
expected the greatest encouragements they met with the greatest
discouragements. Where the bodies of their ancestors kept possession for them
the giants kept possession against them. They ascended by the south, and
came to Hebron, that is, "Caleb," say the Jews, "in
particular," for to his being there we find express reference, Josh. xiv.
9, 12, 13. But that others of the spies were there too appears by their
description of the Anakim, v. 33. 3. They brought a bunch of grapes
with them, and some other of the fruits of the land, as a proof of the
extraordinary goodness of the country. Probably they furnished themselves with
these fruits when they were leaving the country and returning. The cluster of
grapes was so large and so heavy that they hung it upon a bar, and carried it
between two of them, v. 23, 24. The place whence they took it was, from
this circumstance, called the valley of the cluster, that famous
cluster which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the
fruits of Canaan. Such are the present comforts which 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.
26 And they went and came
to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel,
unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and
unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us,
and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of
it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the
land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we
saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the
land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites,
dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast
of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said,
Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome
it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to
go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto
the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search
it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the
people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And
there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants:
and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
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 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.
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.
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, v. 27. 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 (v. 32), It is a land that eateth up the inhabitants
thereof; 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 plague in the wilderness, ch. xiv. 37. 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 (v. 28), men
of a great stature (v. 32), stronger than we, v.
31. The cities are represented as impregnable fortresses: they are walled
and very great, v. 28. But nothing served their ill purpose more
than a description of the giants, on whom they lay a great stress: We saw
the children of Anak there (v. 28), and again, we saw the
giants, those men of a prodigious size, the sons of Anak, who come
of the giants, v. 33. 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, we were in our own sight as
grasshoppers, not only little and weak, but trembling and daunted."
Compare Job xxxix. 20, Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?
"Nay, and so we were in their sight; 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, We are not
able to go up against them (v. 31), and therefore must think of
taking some other course.
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 (v.
29): Some dwell in the south and others in the mountains; 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.
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,
Gen. xv. 18; xvii. 8. He had expressly promised them by Moses that he would drive
out the Canaanites from before them (Exod. xxxiii. 2), and that he
would do it by little and little, Exod. xxiii. 30. And, after all this,
for them to say, We are not able to go up against them, 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, Ps. cvi. 24. They despised the land, they believed
not his word. Though, upon search, they had found it as good as he had
said, a land flowing with milk and honey, 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.
II. Caleb encouraged them to go forward, though he was seconded by Joshua only
(v. 30): Caleb stilled the people, whom he saw already put into
a ferment even before Moses himself, whose shining face could not daunt
them, when they began to grow unruly. Caleb signifies all heart,
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: We
are well able to overcome them, 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: "Let us go up at once, 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: Let us go up and possess it." 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, The righteous are bold as a lion.
Difficulties that lie 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 be but promised, to him that believes.
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