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简体中文
영문 원문
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)
简体中文
十二探子的使命（公元前1490年）
¹ 耶和华晓谕摩西说： ² "你打发人去窥探我所赐给以色列人的迦南地；每支派中要打发一个人，都要作首领的。" ³ 摩西就照耶和华的吩咐，从巴兰的旷野打发他们去；这些人都是以色列人的首领。 ⁴ 他们的名字：属流便支派的有撒刻的儿子沙母亚； ⁵ 属西缅支派的有何利的儿子沙法； ⁶ 属犹大支派的有耶孚尼的儿子迦勒； ⁷ 属以萨迦支派的有约瑟的儿子以迦； ⁸ 属以法莲支派的有嫩的儿子何西阿； ⁹ 属便雅悯支派的有拉孚的儿子帕提； ¹⁰ 属西布伦支派的有梭底的儿子迦叠； ¹¹ 属约瑟支派，即属玛拿西支派的有苏西的儿子迦底； ¹² 属但支派的有基玛利的儿子亚米利； ¹³ 属亚设支派的有米迦勒的儿子西帖； ¹⁴ 属拿弗他利支派的有沃弗西的儿子拿比； ¹⁵ 属迦得支派的有玛基的儿子谷珥。 ¹⁶ 这就是摩西所打发去窥探那地之人的名字。摩西称嫩的儿子何西阿为约书亚。 ¹⁷ 摩西打发他们去窥探迦南地，说："你们从南地上山地去， ¹⁸ 看那地如何，其中所住的民是强是弱，是多是少， ¹⁹ 所住之地是好是歹，所住的城邑是营盘是坚城； ²⁰ 又看那地是肥美是瘠薄，其中有树木没有。你们要放开胆量，把那地的果子带些来。"那时正是葡萄初熟的时候。
此处可见，I. 关于差派探子窥探迦南地的命令。此处说，是神指示摩西打发他们去（民13:1,2），但从其后此故事的复述（申1:22）可知，此事最初是出于百姓的动议；他们到摩西那里，说：我们要打发人先去；这是他们不信的果子。他们不肯信神的话，相信那是一块好地，他必使他们得地为业。他们不能信靠云柱火柱为他们指路，倒对自己的策略评价更高，胜过对神智慧的信靠。神自己已为他们窥探了那地，他们却要再派人去窥探；神自己已承担为他们指路，他们却要查问进那地的路——这是何等荒谬！但我们正是如此自取毁灭：我们更信感官的报告和表象，过于神圣的启示；我们凭眼见而行，不凭信心而行；然而我们若肯领受人的见证，神的见证更该领受了。百姓既向摩西提出此议，摩西（也许未察其底层的不信）便就此事求问神；神吩咐他在这事上顺从百姓，在他们前面打发探子去："任凭他们随自己的计谋而行。"然而神绝无分于随后所犯的罪，因为差派这些探子远非犯罪之因——探子若尽了自己的本分，百姓也尽了他们的本分，此事原可成为他们信心的印证，对他们大有裨益。
II. 被选派从事此使命的人选（民13:4-15等），每支派一人，为要显明这是全会众之举；并且都是首领——各支派中有名望的人，有作千夫长或百夫长的，为要使其使命更有信誉。此举本意是好的，却产生了一个不良后果：因这些人的身分尊贵，他们所报的恶信就更被人采信，百姓就更容易受其影响。有人认为他们之所以一一被列名，是为了其中两个好人——迦勒和约书亚。此处特别提到约书亚名字的更改，民13:16。他是摩西的助手，虽属以法莲支派，却曾被任为出战亚玛力人之军队的统帅。他在本支派中通常被称为何西阿，但摩西称他为约书亚，作为对他 affection 的标记，也是权柄的表明；如今看来，他吩咐别人也如此称呼他，并定此为他今后的名字。何西阿意为求拯救的祷告——"愿你拯救"；约书亚意为拯救的应许——"他必拯救"，正是那祷告的答允：可见祷告与应许之间的关系何等紧密。祷告为应许铺路，应许又指引并鼓励祷告。有人认为，摩西特意取耶和华（Jehovah）名的第一个音节，加在他的名字之前，将何西阿（Hoshea）变为耶何书亚（Jehoshua），是为要尊荣他，并以神同在的保证鼓励他从事这次和将来一切的事奉。然而此后他仍被称为何西阿，申32:44。耶稣（Jesus）与约书亚（Joshua）是同一个名字，也是我们主基督的名字——约书亚作为摩西的继承者、以色列的元帅、迦南的征服者，正是基督的预表。另有一位同名者也是基督的预表，亚6:11。约书亚将神的百姓从迦南诸权势中拯救出来，基督却是将他们从地狱的权势中拯救出来的救主。
III. 给这些探子的指示。他们被差往迦南地，取最近的路，要遍行全境，记下其现今的状况，民13:17。交托他们两项调查要点：1. 关于那地本身：看那地如何（民13:18，又民13:19），看是好是歹，并（民13:20）是肥美是瘠薄。地上各处得着结果丰盛之福并不均等；有些国家的土壤比别人更肥沃。摩西自己深知迦南是一块极美的地，但他差遣这些探子去，是为要得着记述使百姓满足；正如施洗约翰差人去问耶稣是不是基督，不是为使自己知道，而是为使他所差的人知道。他们当留意气候是否健康，土质如何，出产什么；并为使百姓更加满意，他们当带些那地的果子回来。2. 关于居民——他们的人数，是多是少——他们的身材体格，是强壮能干的人，还是软弱的人——他们的居所，是住帐棚还是住房屋，是住在敞开的乡村，还是住在有城墙的城镇——那里的树林是否像那些因居民无知懒惰而未开垦之地那样仍然茂密，还是已被砍伐，国土成为平原，便于耕作。这些就是他们当查问的事。也许埃及与迦南之间，近年来已不如雅各时代那样有频繁的往来，否则他们本可不必专程派人去窥探，就能获悉这些事。请看书籍和学问带给我们的益处：它们使好奇好问之人得知远方异国的情形——远比迦南离以色列如今更远——而无需这番麻烦和花费。
IV. 摩西送别探子，并以此话嘱咐：要放开胆量——这不仅暗示他们在这次征程的艰难中当自加鼓励，也暗示他们当向百姓带回令人鼓舞的报告，凡事要看好的一面。他们所承担的乃是一项大事，需要善理与决断；所托付于他们的也是一项大信，要求他们必须忠心。
²¹ 他们上去窥探那地，从寻的旷野到利合，直到哈马口。 ²² 他们从南地上去，到了希伯仑；在那里有亚希幔、示筛、挞买——就是亚衲的子孙。（希伯仑城被建造早于埃及的锁安城七年。） ²³ 他们到了以实各谷，从那里砍了一根枝子，上头有一挂葡萄，两个人用杠抬着；又带了些石榴和无花果。 ²⁴ 因为以色列人从那里砍来的那挂葡萄，所以那地方叫以实各谷。 ²⁵ 四十天后，他们窥探那地才回来。
我们在此看见探子对那应许之地所作考察的简要记述。1. 他们走遍全境，从南方的寻到北方靠近哈马的利合，民13:21。参 民34:3,8。他们可能不是一起整体行动，免得被怀疑和捉拿——迦南人若知道（他们也必定知道）以色列人离他们如此之近，这种危险就更大；他们分成几组，如此作为过路客不引人怀疑地经过。2. 他们特别留意希伯仑（民13:22），可能因为附近就是麦比拉田，先祖们葬在那里（创23:2），他们的遗体仿佛在那里为他们的后裔守住对那地的占有。他们特地到此墓地访问，却发现邻近的城在亚衲子孙手中，此处一一列出其名。在他们期望得着最大鼓励的地方，他们却遇见最大的挫折。他们先祖的遗体为他们守住的地方，巨人却与他们作对守住。他们从南地上去，到了希伯仑——犹太人说这是指"迦勒"——因为他曾在那里，我们看见有明文提及，书14:9,12,13。但其他探子显然也在那里，从他们对亚衲人的描述可见，民13:33。3. 他们带了一挂葡萄和那地的一些其他果子回来，作为那地格外美好的证据。他们大概是在离境返回时取得这些果子的。那挂葡萄又大又重，他们把它挂在一根杆子上，由两人抬着，民13:23,24。他们取走那挂葡萄的地方，由此情景得名为以实各谷——那挂著名的葡萄，对以色列人而言，既是迦南一切果子的凭据，也是其样本。照样，我们与神相交中所得的现今安慰，也是我们期望在天上迦南那满足的喜乐的预尝。我们借此可以窥见天堂是怎样。
²⁶ 他们到了摩西、亚伦和以色列全会众那里，在巴兰旷野的加低斯，向他们回报，又向全会众展示那地的果子。 ²⁷ 他们告诉摩西说："我们到了你所打发我们去的那地，果然是流奶与蜜之地；这就是那地的果子。 ²⁸ 然而住那地的民强壮，城邑也坚固宽大；并且我们在那里看见了亚衲族的人。 ²⁹ 亚玛力人住在南地；赫人、耶布斯人、亚摩利人住在山地；迦南人住在海边并约旦河旁。" ³⁰ 迦勒在摩西面前安抚百姓，说："我们立刻上去得那地吧，我们足能得胜。" ³¹ 但那些与他同去的人说："我们不能上去攻击那民，因为他们比我们强壮。" ³² 探子中有人论到所窥探之地，向以色列人报恶信，说："我们所窥探经过之地，是吞吃居民之地；我们在那里所看见的人民，都身量高大。 ³³ 我们在那里看见亚衲族人，就是巨人；他们是巨人的后裔。我们看自己就如蚱蜢一样，他们看我们也是如此。"
奇怪以色列人既已万事俱备、可以进迦南——有神圣大能所能给他们的一切得胜保证，又有迄今一路相伴的神迹相伴——竟还能耐着性子等探子四十天回来；他们不信神的大能和应许，宁愿被自己的计谋悬而不决，也不愿被神的圣约带入确据之中。我们因不信而如何自挡己路啊！终于使者们回来了，但他们报告的意见却不一致。
I. 多数人拦阻百姓前进迦南；以色列人如此受诱，正是公义的——他们既然放着神的话不信，却如此信赖人的判断。神将那些不愿在爱中领受他真理的人交给强烈的迷惑，乃是公义之事。
1. 请观察他们的报告。(1) 他们不能不承认迦南是一片肥美之地；他们所带回来的那挂葡萄就是明证，民13:27。神应许他们一片流奶与蜜之地，连那些报恶信的探子自己也承认正是这样。如此，连仇敌之口也必使神得荣耀，使他的应许得证。然而其后他们却自相矛盾，说（民13:32）这是吞吃居民之地；仿佛那地虽有奶、蜜和葡萄，却缺少其他必需的供应；有人认为他们考察之时正逢国内瘟疫大作——这本当归于神圣智慧之护理，使敌人人数减少，便利他们的征服；他们却恶意归咎于气候的不卫生，并借此贬损那地。正因他们如此无理地惧怕迦南的瘟疫，他们也被公义地在旷野的瘟疫中立即剪除，民14:37。但是，(2) 他们把攻取那地说成全然不可行，任何尝试都是徒劳。那民强壮（民13:28），身量高大（民13:32），比我们强壮，民13:31。那些城被描绘为无法攻克的堡垒：又宽大又坚固，民13:28。但最能服务于他们恶毒目的的，莫过于对巨人的描述，他们在此大加渲染：我们在那里看见了亚衲族的人（民13:28），又说，我们看见了巨人——那些身材奇伟的人，亚衲的子孙，就是巨人的后裔，民13:33。他们说话如同一提到这些人就颤抖一样，正如他们一看见他们时那样。"哦，这些可怕的巨人！我们在他们附近时，我们看自己就如蚱蜢一样——不仅渺小软弱，而且颤抖胆怯。"参 伯39:20，你能使它跳跃如蝗虫吗？"不，并且他们看我们也是如此；他们看我们带着何等的蔑视和轻看，正如我们看他们带着何等的恐惧和颤抖。"所以总结起来，他们下了这样的判语：我们不能上去攻击那民（民13:31），所以必须另想他法。
2. 即使他们只按人的可能性来判断，也不能推卸怯懦之名。以色列的军队难道不是人数众多吗？六十万能战的壮丁，编制整齐、组织严密、紧密团结、利益和感情完全一致——这也许是历史上曾出现在战场上最令人生畏的军队；许多更小的军队所成就的，也许比征服迦南还更大，亚历山大的军队便是明证。他们的总司令摩西既智慧又勇敢；若百姓决心振作、奋勇作战，什么能抵挡他们呢？迦南人固然强壮，但他们分散（民13:29）：有的住在南地，有的住在山地；因相距遥远，他们不能迅速集结；因利益分歧，他们也不能长久合力对抗以色列。那地出产丰盛，足以供养一支军队；城虽有城墙，但只要他们在旷野打败他们，堡垒自然落入其手。最后，至于那些巨人，他们过于高大的身材反而使他们成为更好的靶子，而且最魁梧的人未必最有胆色。
3. 然而，即便他们当被列在怯懦者之中，这还不是最糟的——圣经给他们打上不信者的烙印。他们被要求依靠的，不是任何人的可能性，而是：(1) 他们有神同在的明显而可感的记号，以及他大能为他们施展的承诺。迦南人比以色列人强壮；就算如此，难道他们比以色列的神还强壮吗？我们不能对付他们，但全能的神难道不能吗？我们岂不是有他在我们中间吗？他岂不是在我们前面行吗？在他岂有难成的事吗？我们在巨人面前如蚱蜢，他们岂不更在神面前还不如蚱蜢吗？他们的城向我们设防，难道能向天设防吗？除此之外，(2) 他们对神那为他们举起、为他们显露的膀臂的长度与力量，有极其丰富的经历。埃及人岂不也曾和他们所面对的迦南人一样强壮吗？然而以色列未拔一剑、未击一拳，埃及的车马便全军覆没；亚玛力人在极其不利于以色列的条件下进攻，他们仍被击溃。神迹此刻是他们的日粮；即便没有别的，一支像他们那样供应充足、不断、丰富、且全免费用的军队，对任何别的力量而言都有巨大的优势。不，(3) 他们对与迦南人争战得胜、得享亨通，更有明确的应许。神已给亚伯拉罕一切可能的保证，要将他的后裔带入那地得业，创15:18，17:8。他已藉摩西明确应许他们，他必将迦南人从他们面前赶出去（出33:2），且要渐渐而行，出23:30。在这一切之后，他们竟说我们不能上去攻击那民，实际上就是说："连神自己也无法兑现他的话。"这无异于说他是说谎的，并告诉他，他承担的超过了所能行的。我们对其罪有简短记述——他们以这罪感染了全会众，诗106:24：他们藐视那美地，不信他的话。他们既已考察发现那地正如他所说——流奶与蜜之地——却仍不肯相信那地如他所说那样稳为他们所有；尽管永恒的真理本身已将其应许给他们，他们仍对得着它绝望。这就是那些恶探子的陈述。
II. 迦勒鼓励他们前进，然而只有约书亚一人支持他（民13:30）：迦勒……安抚百姓——他看见他们已激动起来，甚至在摩西面前——摩西发光的脸也不能震慑他们，当他们开始不受约束时。迦勒之名意为全心，他名副其实——他全心投入，若百姓肯听，也必使他们如此。若是约书亚先出来阻挡潮流，他必被怀疑偏袒摩西——因他是摩西的助手；所以他明智地把这事先交给迦勒办理，迦勒属犹大支派——是领先的支派，因此最宜被人听从。迦勒与他的同伴们同样看见并观察了居民的强悍，但统观全局，1. 他对得胜充满信心：我们足能得胜，任凭他们怎样强壮。2. 他激励百姓前进，因他的分在前锋，他说话如同决心勇猛地率领他们的人："我们立刻上去得那地吧——再走一步大胆的路、再下一着大胆的棋，事就成了；只要我们有勇气使之成为我们的，一切尽属我们：我们立刻上去得那地吧。"他不是说"我们上去征服它吧"——他看这事如同已经作成；而是说"我们上去得那地吧"——除了进去、取得我们的大主所要赐给我们的为业之外，再无需别的事了。注意，义人却胆壮如狮子。在得救之路上的一切艰难，在活泼而活跃地信神的大能和应许的人面前，便缩小消散。在信的人，凡事都能——只要是应许给他的。
영문 원문
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.
民数记第十三章
本章与下一章所记，乃是一段令人难忘、且极为忧伤的故事：以色列人到了迦南的边界，正要踏足其地之际，竟因不信与怨言而折返，被判罚在旷野中漂流并灭亡。此事在诗 95:7-11 等处被引用，并在来 3:7-19 等处被用以警戒基督徒。本章记载：
I. 在他们面前差遣十二位探子进入迦南，民 13:1-16。
II. 给这些探子的指示，民 13:17-20。
III. 他们遵照指示履行使命，并从窥探之地返回，民 13:21-25。
IV. 他们向以色列营中所带回来的报告，民 13:26-33 等。