Numbers 13

Numbers 13:2

SEnd] After the people had required it of Moses, as it is Deuteronomy 1:22. and Moses had consulted with the Lord about their motion, he gave order so to do.

send thou] That is, Moses was to give them their charge and warrant from the Lord, vers. 3. to take a surveigh of the land.

of their fathers] That is, of the Israelites.

shall ye send] The number being changed from the singular to the plurall, we must understand Aaron as joyned with Moses, or that the people were to make choyce of fit men, and present them unto Moses, by him to be sent to view the land.

Numbers 13:16

Jehoshua] His name before was Oshea, which signifieth, to save, Jehoshua he shall save in Hebrew, which in Greek and Latine Authours is rendred Jesus; and therefore many of the Ancient Writers call Joshua Jesus: this name might give him heart and hope of good successe in battell, thereby to save Gods people, and destroy their enemies, as our Jesus did.

Numbers 13:18

see the land] It is like, they went not all together, but rather each man severally; or two and two, went to divers quarters, that with more speed, and lesse suspition, they might make the discovery.

Numbers 13:19

good or bad] As for situation whether pleasant, or wholesome, (or to the contrary) or for store, whether plentifull, or barren of fruit, of wood, and water; and for the breeding of cattell, whether they were great, or little, apt to miscarry, or usually prosperous: see 2 Kings 2:19. text and margine, and the 20. vers. This might be learned by inquirie, but not upon a sudden view.

Numbers 13:21

Zin] Which was in the wildernesse of Paran.

Rehob] A Citie in the West part of the land of Canaan, belonging to the lot and Tribe of Ashur, and coasting towards Sidon, Joshua 19:28.

Numbers 13:22

Hebron] The place where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with their wives were buried, Genesis 23:19. & Genesis 49:31. this was also called Kiriatharba, Genesis 23:2.

Numbers 13:23

betweene two] These two are thought to be Caleb and Joshua, because they were most forward to commend the fruitfulnesse of the land: but what need two to carry one cluster of grapes? Answ. They might be best carried whole between two; though they were not too heavie for one to carry, yet one might be weary in carrying them farre; since it is like they were great, and bigger haply then those which grow in some part of Asia, as big as a Cowes udder, or little childe, Plin. lib. 14. cap. 1.

Numbers 13:27

him] That is, Moses.

Numbers 13:28

children of Anak] Which are taken to be a generation of Giants, vers. 33.

Numbers 13:29

Amalekites dwell] Not in the Land of Canaan, but they so neerely border upon it, that they may hinder the Israelites passage into it, or be ill neighbours to them when they are in it; or they might be said to dwell there, if they lodged in their Tents, pitched in a convenient place, to withstand the passage of the Israelites. This is spoken for discouragement, to which end they tell some very great untruths, vers. 32, 33. and therefore we need not labour much, to make good these words.

Numbers 13:30

Caleb stilled] They began to murmur against Moses upon that report; and Caleb (who with Joshua) was of the number of the spies, pacified them.

Numbers 13:32

eateth up] Meaning the Giants were so cruell, that they spoiled and killed one another, and those that came to them; or they might by that imply, that the land was so barren, that with the great paines, and small returne for their seed and tillage, the Inhabitants were toyled out, and in a manner eaten up; or that the ayre was unwholesome, and so the people were destroyed by diseases.

Numbers 13:33

giants] See Annot. on Genesis 6:4.