The spies search the land, A: M. 2514 An. Exod. Isr. A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 2. came unto Hebron; where "Ahi-| 27 And they told him, and said, » Hebron was built seven years before a Zoan 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. 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. : Josh. xi. 21, 22; xv. 13, 14; Judg. i. 10.— Ver. 33. P Josh. xxi. 11- Psa. Ixxviii. 12; Isa. xix, 11; xXX. 4. Deut. i. 24, 25. Or, valley; chap. xxxii. 9; Judg. xvi. 4. Or, valley.u That is, a cluster of grapes. ▾ Ver. 3, in Egypt.] The Zoan of the Scriptures is allowed to be the Tanis of the heathen historians, which was the capital of Lower Egypt. Some think it was to humble the pride of the Egyptians, who boasted the highest antiquity, that this note concerning the higher antiguity of Hebron was introduced by Moses. Some have supposed that it is more likely to have been originally a marginal note, which în process of time crept into the text; but all the versions and all the MSS. that have as yet been collated, acknowledge it. 4 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great; and moreover we saw a 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 nien that went up with him, said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. W Chap. xx. 1, 16; xxxii. 8; xxxii. 36; Deut. i. 19; Josh. xiv. 6.- - Exod. iii. 8; xxxiH. 3.- Deut. i. 25. Deut. i. 28; ix. 1, 2.. - Ver. 33.- b Exod. xvii. 8 chap. xiv. 43; Judg. vi. 3; 1 Sam. xiv. 48; xv. 3, &c. See chap. xiv. 6, 24; Josh. xiv. 7. Chap. xxxii. 9; Deut. i. 28; Josh. xiv. 8. From what is mentioned ver. 20, Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes, it is very probable that the spies received their orders about the begin ning of August, and returned about the middle of September, as in those countries grapes, pomegranates, and figs, are ripe about this time; see Harmer, vol. i., p. 108-110. At Sheeraz, in Persia, I find from a MS. journal, that the small white grape, askerie, came into season August 6; and pomegranates September 6; and the large red grape, sahibi, September 10. Verse 23. They bare it between two upon a staff} The spies' carrying the bunch of grapes on a staff It would be very easy to produce a great number of between two men was probably not rendered neceswitnesses to prove that grapes in the promised land, sary by the size, of the bunch or cluster; but to preand indeed in various other hot countries, grow to a serve it from being bruised, that the Israelites might. prodigious size. By Calmet, Scheuchzer, and Harmer, have a fair specimen of the fruit. As Joshua and this subject has been exhausted, and to these I may Caleb were the only persons who gave a favourable refer the reader. Pliny mentions bunches of grapes account of the land, it is most likely that they were in Africa each of which was larger than an infant.—the persons who had gathered these fruits, and who Radzvil saw at Rhodes bunches of grapes three quarters brought them to the Israelitish camp. And it is likely of an ell in length, each grape as large as a plum. they were gathered as short a time as possible before Dandini saw grapes of this size at Mount Libanus; their return, that they might not be injured by the and Paul Lucas mentions some bunches which he saw length of the time they had been separated from their at Damascus that weighed above forty-five pounds. respective trees. From the most authentic accounts the Egyptian grape is very small, and this being the only one with which the Israelites were acquainted, the great size of the grapes of Hebron would appear still more extraordinary. I myself once eut down a bunch of grapes nearly twenty pounds in weight. Those who live in cold climates can scarcely have any conception to what perfection both grapes and other fruits grow in climates that are warm, and where the soil is suitable to them. Verse 27. We came unto the land, &c.] It is astonishing that men so dastardly as these should have had courage enough to risk their persons in searching the land. But probably though destitute of valour they had a sufficiency of cunning, and this carried them through. The report they brought was exceedingly discouraging, and naturally tended to produce the effect mentioned in the next chapter. The conduct of Joshua and Caleb was alone magnanimous, and worthy of the cause in which they were embarked. The spies persist in their A. M. 2514. An. Exod. Isr. в 32 And they brought up an | that we saw in it are men of a evil report of the land which great stature. 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 Chap. xiv. 36, 37. Amos ii. 9.- Heb. men of statures. Verse 32. Men of a great stature] WIN anshey middoth, men of measures-two men's height; i. e., exceedingly tall men. Verse 33. There we saw the giants] nephilim. It is evident that they had seen a robust, sturdy, warlike race of men, and of great stature; for the asserted fact is not denied by Joshua or Caleb. A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. An. Exod. Isr. 2. 1 Sam. xvii. 42. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants : and we were in our own sight as i grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. h Deut. i. 28; ii. 10; ix. 2.- - Isa. xl. 22. wilderness through which the Israelites passed, of the difficulties and trials to be met with in the present world. The promise of the kingdom of God is given to every believer; but how many are discouraged by the difficulties in the way! A slothful heart sees dangers, lions, and giants, 'every where; and therefore refuses to proceed in the heavenly path. Many of -Tales of gigantic men are frequent in all countries, the spies contribute to this by the bad reports they but they are generally of such as have lived in times bring of the heavenly country. Certain preachers alvery remote from those in which such tales are told. low "that the land is good, that it flows with milk That there have been giants at different times, in va- and honey," and go so far as to show some of its rious parts of the earth, there can be no doubt; but fruits; but they discourage the people by stating the that there ever was a nation of men twelve and four-impossibility of overcoming their enemies. "Sin," teen feet high, we cannot, should not believe. Goli- say they, "cannot be destroyed in this life-it will alath appears to have been at least nine feet high; this ways dwell in you—the Anakim cannot be conquered was very extraordinary. I knew three young men in-we are but as grasshoppers against the Anakim,” my own neighbourhood, two of them brothers, each &c., &c. Here and there a Joshua and a Caleb, trustof whom was upwards of seven feet, the third was ing alone in the power of God, armed with faith in the eight feet six inches, and these men were very well infinite efficacy of that blood which cleanses from all proportioned. Others I have seen of extraordinary unrighteousness, boldly stand forth and say: "Their stature, but they were generally disproportioned, espe- defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with cially in their limbs. These instances serve to prove us; let us go up at once and possess the land, for we the possibility of eases of this nature. The Anakim are well able to overcome.". We can do all things might appear to the Israelites as a very tall, robust through Christ strengthening us: he will purify us nation; and in comparison of the latter it is very pro- unto himself, and give us that rest from sin here which bable that they were so, as it is very likely that the his death has procured and his word has promised. growth of the Israelites had been greatly cramped Reader, canst thou not take God at his word? He with their long and severe servitude in Egypt. And has never yet failed thee. Surely then thou hast no this may in some measure account for their alarm. reason to doubt. Thou hast never yet tried him to On this subject the reader is desired to turn back to the uttermost. Thou knowest not how far and how the note on Gen. vi. 4, fully he can save. Do not be dispirited: the sons of Anak shall fall before thee, if thou meet them in the CANAAN was a type of the kingdom of God; the name of the LORD of HOSTS. CHAPTER XIV. The whole congregation weep at the account brought by the spies, 1. They murmur, 2, 3; and propose to make themselves a captain, and go back to Egypt, 4. Moses and Aaron are greatly affected, 5. Joshua and Caleb endeavour to appease and encourage the people, 6-9. The congregation are about to stone them, 10. The glory of the Lord appears, and he is about to smite the rebels with the pestilence, 11, 12. Moses makes a long and pathetic intercession in their behalf, 13-19. The Lord hears and forbears to punish, 20; but purposes that not one of that generation shall enter into the promised land save Joshua and Caleb, 21-24. Moses is commanded to turn and get into the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, 25. The Lord repeats his purpose that none of that generation shall enter into the promised land—that their carcasses shall fall in the wilderness, and that their children alone, with Joshua and Caleb, shall possess the land of the Canaanites, &c., 26–32. As many days as they have searched the land shall they wander years in the desert, until they shall be utterly consumed, 33-35. All the spies save Joshua and Caleb die by a plague, 36-38. Moses declares God's purpose to the people, at which they are greatly affected, 39. They acknowledge their sin, and purpose to go up at once and possess the land, 40. Moses cautions them against resisting the purpose of God, 41-43. They, notwithstanding, presume to go, but Moses and the ark abide in the camp, 44. The Amalekites and Canaanites come down from the mountains, and defeat them, 45. The people murmur, and A. M. 2514. An. Exod, Isr. b 2. CHAP. XIV. AND all the congregation lifted up propose to return to Egypt. we passed through to search it, i 8 If the LORD delight in us, A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. An. Exod. Isr. 2. then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. n 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, e would God we had died in this wilderness!m neither fear ye the people of the land: for 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us they are bread for us; their defence is deunto this land, to fall by the sword, that our parted from them, and the LORD is with us: wives and our children should be a prey? were fear them not. it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt: 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nung and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, "The land, which a évi. 25. Chap. xi. 4.- b Exod. xvi. 2; xvii. 3; chap. xvi. 41; Psa. - See ver. 28, 29. d Neh. ix. 17.— eSee Deut. xvii. 16; Acts vii. 39.- Chap. xvi. 4, 22.- - Ver. 24, 30, 38; chap. xiii. 6, 8.- h Chap. xiii. 27; Deut. i. 25. Deut. x. 15; 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26; xxii. 20; 1 Kings x. 9; Psa. xxii. 8; cxlvii. 10, 11; Isa, Ixii. 4. Chap. xiii. 27. Deut. ix. 7, 23, 24.- Deut, vii. 18; xx. 3. Chap. xxiv. 8: Heb. shadow; Psa. exxi. 5; Isa. xxx. 2, 3; Jer. xlviii. 45. n NOTES ON CHAP. XIV. Verse 1. Cried; and-wept that night.] In almost every case this people gave deplorable evidence of the degraded state of their minds. With scarcely any mental firmness, and with almost no religion, they could bear no reverses, and were ever at their wit's end. They were headstrong, presumptuous, pusillanimous, indecisive, and fickle. And because they were such, 11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them. 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.. P-Gen. xlviii. 21; Exod. xxxiii. 16; Deut. xx. 1, 3, 4; xxxi. 6, 8; Josh. i. 5; Judg. i. 22; 2 Chron. xiii. 12; xv. 2; xx. 17; xxxii. 8; Psa. xlvi. 7, 11; Isa. xli. 10; Amos v. 14; Zech. viii. 23. 9 Exod. xvii. 4.- Exod. xvi. 10; xxiv. 16, 17; xl. 34; Lev. ix. 23; chap. xvi. 19, 42; xx. 6.- Ver. 23; Deut. ix. 7, 8, 22. Psa. xcv. 8; Heb. iii. 8, 16. Deut. i. 32; ix. 23; Psa. xxviii. 22, 32, 42; evi. 24; John xii. 37; Heb. iii. 18." Exod. nemayeed دولت بر مفارق خیر خواهن محدود باد therefore the power and wisdom of God appeared the more conspicuously in the whole of their history. Verse 4. Let us make a captain] Here was a formal renunciation of the authority of Moses, and flat rebellion against God. And it seems from Neh. ix. 17 that they had actually appointed another leader, under whose direction they were about to return to Egypt. How astonishing is this! Their lives were made bitter, because of the rigour with which they were made to serve in the land of Egypt; and yet they are willing, yea eager, to get back into the same circumstances again! Great evils, when once some time past, affect the mind less than present ills, though much inferior. They had partly forgot their Egyptian bondage, and now smart under a little discouragement, having totally lost sight of their high calling, and of the power and goodness of God. zulli doulet ber mufareki khayr_khwahen_mamdood bad. "May the shadow of thy prosperity be spread over the heads of thy well-wishers!" They have also the following elegant distich: سایدات کم مباد از سرما بسط الله ظلكم ابدا Sayahat kem mubad az seri ma Bast Allah zullikem abeda. "May thy protection never be removed from my head! May God extend thy shadow eternally!" Here the Arabic zull answers exactly to the Hebrew by tsel, both signifying that which overspreads or overshadows. See the note on ver. 14. Verse 10. The glory of the Lord appeared] This timely appearance of the Divine glory prevented these Verse 6. And Joshua, &c.] See on the preceding faithful servants of God from being stoned to death by chapter, ver. 33. Verse 9. Their defence] tsillam, their shadow, a metaphor highly expressive of protection and support this base and treacherous multitude. "Every man is immortal till his work is done," while in simplicity of heart he is following his God. The murmurers are excluded A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490, 2. W NUMBERS. generation. с from the promised land A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 2. 13 And Moses said unto the | iniquity of the fathers upon the An. Exod. Isr. LORD, Then the Egyptians shall children unto the third and fourth An. Exod. Isr. hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them ;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land; for they have heard that thou LORD art- among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day-time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 19 b Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. 15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore. he hath slain them. in the wilderness, 17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, 18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, a visiting the Exod. xxxii. 12; Psa, cvi. 23; Deut. ix, 26, 27, 28; `xxxii, 27; Ezek. xx. 9, 14.- - Exod. xv. 14; Josh. ii. 9, 10; v. 1. * Exod. xiii, 21; xl. 38; chap. x. 34; Neh, ix. 12; Psa, lxxviii. 14; cv. 39. Deut. ix. 28; Josh. vii. 9.- - Exod. xxxiv. 6,7; Psa, ciii. 8; cxlv, 8; Jonah iv, 2.- a Exod. xx.5; xxxiv. 7.- b Exod. xxxiv. 9. Verse 14. That thy cloud standeth over them] This cloud, the symbol of the Divine glory, and proof of the Divine presence, appears to have assumed three different forms for three important purposes.. 1. It appeared by day in the form of a pillar of a sufficient height to be seen by all the camp, and thus went before them to point out their way in the desert. Exod. xl. 38. 2. It appeared by night as a pillar of fire to give them light while travelling by night, which they probably sometimes did; (see chap. ix. 21;) or to illuminate their tents in their encampments; Exod. xiii. 21, 22. 3. It stood at certain times above the whole congregation, overshadowing them from the scorching rays of the sun; and probably at other times condensed the vapours, and precipitated rain or dew for the refreshment of the people. He spread a cloud for their covering; and fire to give light in the night; Psa. cv. 39. It was probably from this circumstance that the shadow of the Lord was used to signify the Divine protection, not only by the Jews, but also by other Asiatic nations. See the note on ver. 9, and see particularly the note on Exod. xiii. 21. Verse 18. The Lord is longsuffering] See the note on Exod. xxxiv. 6. Verse 19. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people] From ver, 13 to ver, 19 inclusive we have 20. And the LORD said, I have pardoned faccording to thy word : 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice, i 1 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoke me see it: 24 But my servant m Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites Psa, cvi. 45.- d Psa. lxxviii, 38.- eOr, hitherto. Psa cvi. 23; James v. 16; 1 John v. 14, 15, 16. 8 Psa. lxxii. 19. ↳ Deut, i, 35; Psa. xcv. 11; evi. 26; Heb. iii. 17, 18.- iGen. xxxi. 7.- Chap. xxxii, 11; Ezek. xx. 15.Heb. if they see the land. mDeut. i. 36; Josh. xiv. 6, 8, 9, 14.- Chap xxxii, 12. the words of Moses's intercession; they need no explanation, they are full of simplicity and energy; his arguments with God (for he did reason and argue with his Maker) are pointed, cogent, and respectful; and while they show a heart full of humanity, they evidence the deepest concern for the glory of God. The argumentum ad hominem is here used in the most unexceptionable manner, and with the fullest effect. Verse 20. I have pardoned] That is, They shall not be cut off as they deserve, because thou hast interceded for their lives. Verse 21. All the earth shall be filled, &c.] pinaba kol haarets, all THIS land, i. e., the land of Canaan; which was only fulfilled to the letter when the preaching of Christ and his apostles was heard through all the cities and villages of Judea. It does not appear that the whole of the terraqueous globe is meant by this expression in any of the places where it occurs connected with this promise of the diffusion of the Divine light. See Psa. lxxii. 19; Isa. xl. 5; Hab. i. 14. Verse 24. But my servant Caleb, &c.] Caleb had another spirit-not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit; but the Spirit and influence of the God of heaven thus raised him aboye human inquietudes and earthly fears, therefore he followed God fully; vaimalle acharai, literally, he filled after me: God showed him the way he was to ́take, and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled Red Sea. wilderness, b in this An. Exod. Isr. с 2. a 33 And your children shall wander in the 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and wilderness forty years, and bear your whoreunto Aaron, saying, doms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me; in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.. 36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned; and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb b See Deut. ii. 14. Ezek. xxiii. 35 Psa. xcv. 10; Ezek. iy. 6. See 1 Kings 8; ev. 42; Heb. iv. 1. Or, altering of Chap. xxiii. 19. Ver. 27, 29; chap. xxvi. Chap. xiii. 31, 32. 1 Cor. x. 10; Heb. Chap. xxvi. 65; Josh. xiv. 6, 10. m Deut. i. 40.- Ver. 11; Exod. xvi. 28; Matt. xvii. 7.13; Psa. evii. 40.9 Exod. xvi. 12. Ver. 23; chap. xxvi. 65; xxxii. 1; Deut. Chap. xiii. 25.i. 35; Heb. iii. 17. See ver. 2.- Chap. i. 45; xxvi. 64. viii. 56; Psa. lxxvii. "Heb. lifted up my hand; Gen. xiv. 22. - Ver. 38; chap. xxvi. my purpose.65; xxxii. 12; Deut. i. 36, 38.- Deut. i. 39.- Psa. cvi. 65; 1 Cor. x. 5.24. 1 Cor. x. 5; Heb. iii, 17.- Or, feed. Chap. xxxii. ii. 17; Jude 5.up this line, and in all things followed the will of his kind, but in the pursuit of earthly good they lose them, Maker. He therefore shall see the promised land, and often lose the others also! If ye be willing and and his seed shall possess it. A dastardly spirit in obedient, ye shall eat the fruit of the land, but not the things of God is a heavy curse. How many are otherwise; unless for your farther punishment God retarded in their course, and fall short of the blessings give you your portion in THIS life, and ye get none in of the Gospel, through magnifying the number and the life to come. From so great a curse may God strength of their adversaries, their own weakness and save thee, thou money-loving, honour-hunting, pleathe difficulties of the way, with which we may connect sure-taking, thoughtless, godless man! their distrust of the power, faithfulness, and goodness of God! And how many are prevented from receiving the higher degrees of salvation by foolishly attributing insurmountable power, either to their inward corruptions or outward enemies! Only such men as Joshua and Caleb, who take God at his word, and who know that against his wisdom no cunning can stand, and against his might no strength can prevail, are likely to follow God fully, and receive the heights, lengths, breadths, and depths of the salvation of God. Verse 34. After the number of the days] The spies were forty days in searching the land, and the people who rebelled on their evil report are condemned to wander forty years in the wilderness! Now let them make them a captain and go back to Egypt if they can. God had so hedged them about with his power and providence that they could neither go back to Egypt nor get forward to the promised land! God has provided innumerable spiritual blessings for man And ye shall know my breach of promise.] This is certainly a most harsh expression; and most learned men agree that the words 'n eth tenuathi should be translated my vengeance, which is the rendering of the Septuagint, Vulgate, Coptic, and Anglo-Saxon; and which is followed by álmost all our ancient English translations. The meaning however appears to be this: As God had promised to bring them into the good land, provided they kept his statutes, ordinances, &c., and they had now broken their engagements, he was no longer held by his covenant; and therefore, by excluding them from the promised land, he showed them at once his annulling of the covenant, which they had broken, and his vengeance because they had broken it. Verse 37. Those men that did bring up the evil report-died] Thus ten of the twelve that searched out the land were struck dead, by the justice of God, on the spot! Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, and Joshua, of the tribe of Ephraim, alone escaped, because they had |