MPV Commentary

1-2 The Lord spoke to Moses, "Send men to explore the land of Canaan." This proposal had originated with the people who asked for it, but God gave his special approval as a test and punishment for their distrust (compare Deuteronomy 1:22).

3 These men were leaders among the Israelites, not the princes listed in Numbers 10:14-16, 18-20, 22-27.

16 Oshea means "a desire of salvation." Jehoshua, by adding God's name, means "divinely appointed" or "Saviour," equivalent to Jesus (Matthew 1:21).

17 The scouts were instructed to go up into the mountain range of Seir (Deuteronomy 1:2), which lay directly from Sinai across the wilderness of Paran, in a northeasterly direction into the southern parts of the promised land.

20 The time was late summer, when the first grapes are gathered. The second harvest takes place in September, and the third in October. Since they were away for 40 days, the grapes they brought from Eshcol must have been from the second harvest.

21-24 They explored the entire region, advancing from south to north. The wilderness of Zin is a long, level plain or deep valley of sand with some tamarisk and rethem trees. It forms part of the Jordan Valley, extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba.

Rehob was a city and district situated eastward of Sidon, according to some, or at the foot of Anti-libanus, near Paneas, according to others. As men come to Hamath refers to the valley of Balbeck, a mountain pass or opening in the northern frontier, which formed the extreme limit of Israel's inheritance.

22 They came to Hebron, situated in the heart of Judah's mountains, in southern Palestine. The town consists of several sheikdoms at the foot of hills surrounding it. "The children of Anak" were likely chiefs of townships, and this coincidence of polity is remarkable.

Zoan was an ancient city on one of the Nile's eastern branches, near Lake Menzala, boasting a higher antiquity than any other Egyptian city. Its name means "flat and level," describing its situation in the Delta's low grounds.

23 They came to the brook of Eshcol (the torrent of the cluster), located southwest of Hebron. The valley is still covered with vineyards producing magnificent grapes, some weighing ten or twelve pounds.

24-25 They cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes as a specimen of the promised land's productions. This would have made an impressive sight for the Israelites familiar only with Egypt's small vines and grapes.

26 They came to Kadesh, an important Israelite encampment, but its exact location is unknown. It may be identical with Ain-el-Weibeh or Petra.

27-28 The scouts reported back to Moses, saying they had come to the land as instructed and that it flowed with milk and honey (Numbers 13:27). Their report began by praising the natural fertility of the country, making their subsequent slanders more believable.

29 The Amalekites lived in the southern region, between the Dead and Red Seas. The Hittites dwelled in the mountains, while the Canaanites were settled near the sea.

32 They described the land as one that "eats up its inhabitants," likely due to an unhealthy climate or country (Numbers 13:32). Jewish writers suggest they saw many funerals during their travels, with vast numbers of Canaanites being cut off by a plague or the hornet (Joshua 24:12).

33 They reported seeing giants, the sons of Anak, and claimed to be like grasshoppers in comparison. This was an exaggerated report, likely due to timidity or malicious artifice, representing what was true of a few as descriptive of the people generally.

We were in our own sight as grasshoppers (Numbers 13:33).