Chapter commentary
Numbers Chapter 13
서론
Untitled
繁體中文
English original
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 95:7-11, etc., and improved for warning to Christians, Heb 3:7-19, etc. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan, Nu 13:1-16. II. The instructions given to these spies, Nu 13:17-20. III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions, and their return from the search, Nu 13:21-25. IV. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel, Nu 13:26-33, etc.
1-33
Missions of the Twelve Spies (1490 BC)
繁體中文
十二探子的使命（主前 1490 年）
¹ 耶和華對摩西說： ² 「你打發人去窺探我所賜給以色列人的迦南地，他們每支派中要打發一個人，都要作首領的。」 ³ 摩西就照耶和華的吩咐，從巴蘭的曠野打發他們去；他們都是以色列人的首領。 ⁴ 他們的名字：屬流便支派的有撒刻的兒子沙母亞。 ⁵ 屬西緬支派的有何利的兒子沙法。 ⁶ 屬猶大支派的有耶孚尼的兒子迦勒。 ⁷ 屬以薩迦支派的有約瑟的兒子以迦。 ⁸ 屬以法蓮支派的有嫩的兒子何西阿。 ⁹ 屬便雅憫支派的有拉孚的兒子帕提。 ¹⁰ 屬西布倫支派的有梭底的兒子迦疊。 ¹¹ 屬約瑟支派，就是屬瑪拿西支派的有蘇西的兒子迦底。 ¹² 屬但支派的有基瑪利的兒子亞米利。 ¹³ 屬亞設支派的有米迦勒的兒子西帖。 ¹⁴ 屬拿弗他利支派的有縛西的兒子拿比。 ¹⁵ 屬迦得支派的有瑪基的兒子幾珥。 ¹⁶ 這就是摩西所打發去窺探那地之人的名字。摩西稱嫩的兒子何西阿為約書亞。 ¹⁷ 摩西打發他們去窺探迦南地，說：「你們從南地上山地去， ¹⁸ 看那地如何，其中所住的民是強是弱，是多是少， ¹⁹ 所住之地是好是歹，所住的城邑是營盤還是堅壘。 ²⁰ 又看那地是肥沃還是瘠薄，其中有樹木沒有。你們要放開膽量，把那地的果子帶些來。」那時正是葡萄初熟的時候。
此處我們有：一、差派探子去窺探迦南地的命令。此處說，是神吩咐摩西打發他們去的（民 13:1-2），但從後來故事的重述（申 1:22）可以看出，這動議原本來自百姓；他們來見摩西說：「我們要打發人走在我們前面」；這是他們不信的果子。他們不願信神的話說那是一塊好地，也不願信他必定使他們得著那地為業。他們不能信靠雲柱火柱為他們指路，卻對自己的謀略比對神的智慧更有信心。他們竟要打發人去窺探神自己已為他們窺探過的地，又去查問進入那地的路——而神自己已承擔了為他們指路的責任，這是何等荒謬！但我們正是這樣因為更相信感官的報告和描述，而不是相信神的啟示，從而毀了自己；我們憑眼見行事，不憑信心；然而「我們若信人的見證，神的見證更大」。百姓向摩西提出這動議時，摩西（也許沒有察覺其背後的不信）就此求問神；神吩咐他要在這事上隨百姓的意思，在他們前面打發探子：「任憑他們在自己謀略中行走。」然而神絕不是隨後所犯之罪的從犯，因為差派這些探子非但不是那罪的原因，倒若探子盡了自己的本分，百姓也盡了他們的本分，這本可成為他們信心的印證，對他們大有裨益。
二、被選派承擔此任務的人（民 13:4-15 等），每支派一人，以表明這是全體百姓的舉動；且都是首領，是各支派中有名望的人，或是千夫長百夫長中的一些人，以使其使節更有分量。這本是出於好意，但結果卻產生了這樣的壞影響——這些人的身分使他們帶回的惡信更被採信，百姓也更受其影響。有人認為，這十二人都被提名，是為了其中兩位好人——迦勒和約書亞——的緣故。此處也注意到約書亞在此機會中名字的更改（民 13:16）。他是摩西的幫手，雖屬以法蓮支派，卻曾被委任為出兵攻擊亞瑪力人的元帥。在他本支派中通常為人稱呼和認識的名字是「何西阿」，但摩西稱他為「約書亞」，以示對他的愛顧和對他的權柄；如今看來，他吩咐別人也如此稱呼他，並定此為他以後的名字。「何西阿」意為求拯救的禱告——「求你拯救」；「約書亞」意為拯救的應許——「他要拯救」——正是那禱告的答應：禱告與應許的關係何等密切。禱告能求得應許，應許又指引並鼓勵禱告。有人認為，摩西取「耶和華」之名的第一個音節加在他的名字前面，將「何西阿」改為「約書亞」，是要尊榮他，並以神同在的確據鼓勵他承擔這次以及以後一切的服事。然而此後在申 32:44 中他仍被稱為「何西阿」。「耶穌」與「約書亞」是同一個名字，也是我們主基督的名字——約書亞作為摩西的繼承人、以色列的元帥、迦南的征服者，正是基督的預表。另有一個同名的人也是基督的預表（亞 6:11）。約書亞是神百姓從迦南列強手中拯救出來的拯救者，而基督卻是將他們從地獄的權勢中拯救出來的拯救者。
三、給那些探子的指示。他們被差往迦南地，走最近的路，要遍查那地，了解其現狀（民 13:17）。交託他們的調查要點有兩方面：1. 關於那地本身：「看看那地如何」（民 13:18，又見民 13:19），看「是好是歹」（民 13:20），「是肥沃還是瘠薄」。地上各處在肥沃的福分上並不相等；有些國家比別國享有更肥沃的土壤。摩西自己深知迦南是一塊極好的地，但他打發這些探子去帶回消息，是為了使百姓滿意；正如施洗約翰差人去見耶穌，問他是否是基督，不是為了自己得知，而是為了使他所差的人得知。他們當留心那地的空氣是否健康、土壤如何、出產甚麼；並且為了使百姓更滿意，他們當帶回一些果子。2. 關於居民——他們的人數多少、體格身量如何、是強壯的人還是軟弱的、他們的居所是帳棚還是房屋、是敞開的村莊還是有牆的城邑、那地的樹林是因居民無知和怠惰而仍舊存留（如未開化之處那樣），還是已被砍伐、闢為平地以便耕種。這些就是他們當查問的事。也許近年在埃及和迦南之間並不像雅各時代那樣有來往，否則他們本可以不必特地打發人去窺探就能得知這些事。由此可見書籍和學問帶來的益處——它們使那些好奇且好問的人，能得知遠比迦南如今距離以色列更遠的異國情形，而無需此種麻煩和花費。
四、摩西差遣探子時，又加上這話：「你們要放開膽量」，暗示他們不僅自己當為這次旅程的艱難而壯膽，而且當帶回鼓勵百姓的消息，盡量把每件事說得好的一面。這不僅是他們被委以的一項大事業，需要良好的安排和決心，更是一項重大託付，需要他們忠心。
²¹ 他們上去窺探那地，從尋的曠野到利合，直到哈馬口。 ²² 他們從南地上去，到了希伯崙；在那裏有亞希幔、示篩、撻買三人，都是亞衲的後裔。（希伯崙被建造比埃及的鎖安早七年。） ²³ 他們到了以實各谷，從那裏砍了葡萄樹的一枝，上頭有一掛葡萄，兩個人用槓抬著，又帶了些石榴和無花果。 ²⁴ 因為以色列人從那裏砍來的那掛葡萄，所以那地方叫作以實各谷。 ²⁵ 過了四十天，他們窺探那地才回來。
此處我們簡略看到探子對應許之地的勘察。1. 他們走遍全地，從南方的尋直到北方的利合，靠近哈馬（民 13:21）。參民 34:3,8。他們大概沒有全體一同前行，免得被懷疑、被捉拿——迦南人若是知道（他們想必不能不知道）以色列人離他們如此之近，這危險就更大；於是他們分成幾組，作過路人般不被注意地穿過。2. 他們特別留意了希伯崙（民 13:22），也許因為附近就是麥比拉田間的洞穴，列祖葬在那裏（創 23:2），他們的遺體可說是為後裔守住了那地的產業。他們特地前往那墳墓，發現鄰近的城為亞衲的兒子們所佔，他們在此被提名。在他們期望得到最大鼓勵的地方，他們竟遇到最大的阻嚇。他們祖先的遺體為他們守住產業之處，巨人卻對他們佔據了那地。「他們從南地上去，到了希伯崙」——猶太人說，這特別指「迦勒」，因為我們在書 14:9,12-13 明確看到他在那裏的記載。但其他探子也到過那裏，可從他們對亞衲族人的描述看出（民 13:33）。3. 他們帶回一串葡萄和其他那地的果子，作為那地格外美好的證據。他們大概是在離開那地返回時取了這些果子。那串葡萄又大又重，他們把它掛在一根槓上，兩人抬著（民 13:23-24）。他們取這果子的地方因此被稱為「以實各谷」（意即「掛葡萄之谷」）——那串著名的葡萄，對以色列人而言，既是迦南一切果子的憑據，也是樣本。照樣，我們如今與神相交中所得的安慰，不過是天上迦南那豐滿喜樂的預嘗。我們藉著這些就可以窺見天國是何模樣。
²⁶ 他們到了巴蘭曠野的加低斯，見摩西、亞倫，並以色列全會眾，回報摩西、亞倫，並全會眾，又把那地的果子給他們看。 ²⁷ 又告訴摩西說：「我們到了你所打發我們去的那地，果然是流奶與蜜之地，這就是那地的果子。 ²⁸ 然而住那地的民強壯，城邑也堅固寬大，並且我們在那裏看見了亞衲族的人。 ²⁹ 亞瑪力人住在南地；赫人、耶布斯人、亞摩利人住在山地；迦南人住在海邊並約旦河旁。」 ³⁰ 迦勒在摩西面前安撫百姓，說：「我們立刻上去得那地吧！我們足能得勝。」 ³¹ 但那些和他同去的人說：「我們不能上去攻擊那民，因為他們比我們強壯。」 ³² 探子中有人論到所窺探之地，向以色列人報惡信，說：「我們所經過窺探之地，是吞吃居民之地；我們在那裏所看見的人民，都身量高大。 ³³ 我們在那裏看見亞衲族人，就是偉人；他們是偉人的後裔。我們在自己眼中如蚱蜢一樣，在他們眼中也是如此。」
以色列人正要進迦南，在有神權能的一切保證、並迄今伴隨他們的一連串奇蹟之下，竟有耐心等候四十天等候探子回來，這實在令人驚奇；但他們不信神的權能和應許，寧願憑自己的謀略懸而不決，也不願因神的約而達到確定。我們因不信何等虧待自己！如今使者終於回來了，他們的報告卻不一致。
一、多數人勸阻百姓不要向迦南前行；以色列人被交在這試探中實在公義，因為他們有神的話可以信靠，卻過分信任人的判斷。神將那些不願領受真理之愛的人交給強烈的迷惑，實在是公義的。
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請觀察他們的報告。（一）他們不能否認迦南是一塊極其肥沃之地；他們帶回的那串葡萄就是明證（民 13:27）。神曾應許他們一塊流奶與蜜之地，連惡探子自己也承認這正是這樣的地。如此，連仇敵的口中也必使神得榮耀，並為他應許的真實作證。然而後來他們卻自相矛盾地說（民 13:32）：「這是吞吃居民之地」；彷彿那地雖有奶、蜜、葡萄，卻缺少別的必需供應。有人認為他們勘察時那地正有瘟疫盛行；他們本當將此歸於神護理的智慧——如此減少敵人數目，為要便利他們的征服；他們卻嫉妒地歸咎於當地氣候的不健康，並藉此貶損那地。因這對迦南瘟疫的不合理恐懼，他們被公正地立刻以「曠野中的瘟疫」剪除（民 14:37）。但（二）他們將征服之舉描繪為全然不可能，認為嘗試也是徒然。「那民強壯」（民 13:28），「身量高大」（民 13:32），「比我們強壯」（民 13:31）。那些城被描繪為堅不可摧的堡壘：「又堅固又寬大」（民 13:28）。但最能助長他們惡意的，莫過於對巨人的描述，他們對此極力渲染：「我們在那裏看見了亞衲族的人」（民 13:28），又說「我們看見了偉人」，那些身量驚人的人，「就是亞衲族人，也就是偉人的後裔」（民 13:33）。他們說話時彷彿一提這些人就渾身發抖，正如他們見到時的反應。「哦，這些可怕的巨人！我們靠近他們時，自己眼中如蚱蜢一般」——不僅又小又弱，更是戰兢喪膽。參伯 39:20「你豈能使牠跳躍像蝗蟲呢？」「不但如此，在他們眼中我們也是如此；他們看我們，正如我們看他們一樣充滿驚惶戰兢——他們對我們滿懷輕蔑藐視。」因此綜觀全局，他們斷定：「我們不能上去攻擊那民」（民 13:31），所以必須另想辦法。
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如今，即使他們只憑人為的概率判斷，也不能推卸怯懦的罪名。以色列的軍隊豈不是人數眾多嗎？六十萬能征慣戰的壯士，編制嚴整、組織緊密、利益和情誼完全合一——這是一支也許世上前所未有的可怕軍隊；許多更小的軍隊成就了比征服迦南更大的事，亞歷山大的軍隊即為明證。他們的元帥摩西智勇雙全；百姓若能下定決心、英勇行事，有甚麼能阻擋他們呢？誠然迦南人強壯，但他們分散各處（民 13:29）：「有些住在南地，有些住在山地」；因此因著距離他們不能迅速集結，因著利益分歧他們也不能持久合盟來抵擋以色列。那地豐饒，足以供養一支軍隊；那些城雖有城牆，他們若能在野戰中取勝，堅固的營壘自然會落入他們手中。最後，至於那些巨人，他們過人的身量反使他們成為更好的箭靶，而身軀最龐大的人未必最英勇善戰。
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但他們雖該被列為懦夫，這還不是最糟的，聖經更定他們為不信者。他們被要求倚靠的，不是任何人的概率，而是：（一）他們有神同在的明顯、可感知的記號，並有神的權能為他們效力。迦南人比以色列強壯；就算如此，他們比以色列的神更強壯嗎？我們對付不了他們，但全能的神不能嗎？豈不是他在我們中間嗎？豈不是他走在我們前面嗎？在他有甚麼難成的事嗎？我們在巨人面前如蚱蜢，他們在神面前豈不更不如蚱蜢嗎？他們的城牆為抵擋我們而設，但能抵擋天嗎？此外，（二）他們曾親身經歷神為他們所舉起、所彰顯的膀臂有何等的長度和力量。埃及人豈不比他們強壯，正如迦南人一樣嗎？然而以色列未曾拔一劍、未打一仗，埃及的車馬騎兵就全然潰敗覆亡了；亞瑪力人趁他們極大的弱勢攻擊，卻仍被打敗。奇蹟此時乃是他們日用的飲食；即使別無所有，一支如此充足供應的軍隊——如此經常、如此豐富、且完全免費——對任何別的軍隊都有極大的優勢。不但如此，（三）他們有特別的應許，在與迦南人的戰爭中必然得勝。神曾給亞伯拉罕一切可能的保證，說他必使他的後裔得那地為業（創 15:18，17:8）。他又藉摩西明確應許他們，必將迦南人從他們面前「趕出去」（出 33:2），並且要「漸漸」如此行（出 23:30）。在這一切之後，他們竟說「我們不能上去攻擊那民」，實際上就是說：「連神自己也不能使他的話應驗。」這實際上就是使他成為說謊的，並告訴他他承擔了超出他所能履行的事。我們對他們的罪有簡短的記載，這罪傳染了全會眾（詩 106:24）：他們「藐視那美地，不信他的話」。雖然經過勘察，他們發現那地正如神所說的——「流奶與蜜之地」——卻不肯相信那地也如他所說的那樣穩妥，竟對得著那地絕望了，儘管永恆的真理本身已將它應許給他們。這就是那些惡探子的描述。
二、迦勒卻鼓勵他們前行，雖然只有約書亞附和他（民 13:30）：「迦勒在摩西面前安撫百姓」——他看見百姓甚至在摩西面前就已開始騷動，連摩西發光的臉也不能震懾他們，當他們開始不守規矩時。迦勒之名意為「全心」，他也名符其實——他自己全心全意，也願使百姓如此，只要他們肯聽他。若是約書亞先開始抵擋這潮流，必被懷疑偏袒摩西——因他是摩西的幫手；所以他明智地將這事先交給迦勒處理，迦勒屬猶大支派——為首的支派——因此最適合發言。迦勒與同僚一樣看見並觀察了居民的強壯；但綜觀全局：1. 他對成功滿有把握：「我們足能得勝，不管他們多麼強壯。」2. 他激勵百姓前行，他的分地在最前線，他說話像一個決心英勇帶領他們的人：「我們立刻上去得那地吧」——一次大膽的邁步、一次大膽的進攻就能成就我們的事業；只要我們有勇氣，一切都是我們的：「我們立刻上去得那地吧。」他不是說「我們上去征服它」——他看征服已經如同做成了；而是「我們上去得那地」——沒有別的，只要進去、取得那產業，就是神我們的主已預備好賜給我們的。當知：「義人卻膽壯如獅子。」那些擋在得救之路上的困難，在活潑而活躍的信心面前——信那神的權能和應許——就消退無蹤了。「在信的人，凡事都能」——只要那些事是應許過的。
English original
Missions of the Twelve Spies (1490 BC)
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 (Nu 13:1,2), but it appears by the repetition of the story afterwards (De 1:22) 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 (Nu 13:4-15, etc.), 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, Nu 13:16. 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, De 32:44. 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, Zec 6:11. 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, Nu 13:17. Two heads of enquiry were given them in charge, 1. Concerning the land itself: See what that is (Nu 13:18, and again, Nu 13:19), see whether it be good or bad, and (Nu 13:20) 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, Nu 13:21. See Nu 34:3,8. 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 (Nu 13:22), probably because near there was the field of Machpelah, where the patriarchs were buried (Ge 23:2), 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, Jos 14:9,12,13. But that others of the spies were there too appears by their description of the Anakim, Nu 13:33. 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, Nu 13:23,24. 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, Nu 13:27. 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 (Nu 13:32), 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, Nu 14:37. 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 (Nu 13:28), men of a great stature (Nu 13:32), stronger than we, Nu 13:31. The cities are represented as impregnable fortresses: they are walled and very great, Nu 13:28. 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 (Nu 13:28), and again, we saw the giants, those men of a prodigious size, the sons of Anak, who come of the giants, Nu 13:33. 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 39:20, 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 (Nu 13:31), 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 (Nu 13:29): 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, Ge 15:18,17:8. He had expressly promised them by Moses that he would drive out the Canaanites from before them (Ex 33:2), and that he would do it by little and little, Ex 23:30. 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 106:24. 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 (Nu 13:30): 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.
本章與下一章記述了一個令人難忘且極其悲慘的故事：以色列人正要踏入迦南邊境之際卻折返，並因他們的不信與發怨言而被判決在曠野漂流並滅亡。這事在詩 95:7-11 等處被引用，並在來 3:7-19 等處被用以作為對基督徒的警戒。本章內容包括：一、在他們之前差遣十二個探子進入迦南，民 13:1-16。二、給這些探子的指示，民 13:17-20。三、他們按照指示執行任務，並結束偵查歸來，民 13:21-25。四、他們帶回以色列營中的報告，民 13:26-33 等。