Números 13

Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin

Números 13

Constable - Hebron was a large fortified town. Moses gave it special emphasis here because it was near Hebron that God had promised to give Abraham the land (Gen. 13:14–18). From there Abraham had set out to defeat a coalition of kings (Gen. 14:13). The only piece of real estate Abraham possessed in Canaan was in Hebron, and there he and the other patriarchs lay buried. The spies, of course, knew these historical facts, and memories of these patriarchal events should have strengthened their faith in Yahweh as they passed through Hebron. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) - "The text now provides a brief historical aside for the readers. Zoan was probably the city of Tanis, although that is disputed today by some scholars. It was known in Egypt in the New Kingdom as “the fields of Tanis,” which corresponded to the “fields of Zoar” in the Hebrew Bible (Ps 78:12, 43)." (NET Numbers 13:23 Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs. valley, Nu 13:24 32:9 De 1:24,25 Jdg 16:4 Numbers 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Carrying Cluster of Grapes GRAPES IN VALLEY OF ESCHOL Then - Indicates sequence in their journey. The are heading back home to the camp at Kadesh-Barnea. They came to the valley of Eshcol - means "cluster" (or "valley of grapes"). and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men - A single cluster of grapes was so large it needed to be carried by two men! Even today in Israel clusters grow as large as twelve to twenty pounds! Kitto on carried it on a pole between two men - The cluster was doubtless large; but the fact that it was carried in this manner does not, as usually understood, imply that the bunch was as much as two men could carry, seeing that it was probably so carried to prevent its being bruised in the journey....This valley is now full of vineyards and olive-yards; the former chiefly in the valley itself, the latter up the sides of the enclosing hills. 'These vineyards are still very fine, and produce the finest and largest grapes in all the country.' Faussett adds "A wady in southern Canaan, somewhere in the vinebearing district (miles of hill sides and valleys covered with small stone heaps for training vines) between Hebron (Genesis 13:18; Genesis 14:13) and Kadesh, but nearer Kadesh (Ain-el-Gadis) on the northern frontier of the peninsula, the Negeb or the "south." From Kadesh the spies went and returned with grapes of Eshcol, which cannot be near Hebron, for grapes could not well be brought such a distance as that between Hebron and Kadesh, and the spies would court secrecy and haste (Numbers 13:24). NET Note on staff - The word is related etymologically to the verb for “slip, slide, bend, totter.” This would fit the use very well. A pole that would not bend would be hard to use to carry things, but a pole or stave that was flexible would serve well. Symbol of Israel Constable - A huge cluster of grapes carried on a pole between two men has long been a symbol of the land of Israel. This figure illustrates the great agricultural productivity of the land. It still is a popular symbol of modern Israel today (see depiction above) and is the logo of the Department of Tourism. Pole (04132)(mot) means a shaking, pole, bar (of a yoke). Only 4x in OT - Num. 4:10; Num. 4:12; Num. 13:23; Nah. 1:13. With some of the pomegranates (picture) and the figs (picture) - Pomegranates were a symbol of plenty. Pomegranates - 30x in 25v - Exod. 28:33; Exod. 28:34; Exod. 39:24; Exod. 39:25; Exod. 39:26; Num. 13:23; Num. 20:5; Deut. 8:8; 1 Sam. 14:2; 1 Ki. 7:18; 1 Ki. 7:20; 1 Ki. 7:42; 2 Ki. 25:17; 2 Chr. 3:16; 2 Chr. 4:13; Cant. 4:3; Cant. 4:13; Cant. 6:7; Cant. 6:11; Cant. 7:12; Cant. 8:2; Jer. 52:22; Jer. 52:23; Joel 1:12; Hag. 2:19 Figs - 39x in 35v - Gen. 3:7; Num. 13:23; Num. 20:5; Deut. 8:8; Jdg. 9:10; Jdg. 9:11; 1 Ki. 4:25; 2 Ki. 18:31; 2 Ki. 20:7; Neh. 13:15; Ps. 105:33; Prov. 27:18; Cant. 2:13; Isa. 34:4; Isa. 36:16; Isa. 38:21; Jer. 5:17; Jer. 8:13; Jer. 24:1; Jer. 24:2; Jer. 24:3; Jer. 24:5; Jer. 24:8; Jer. 29:17; Hos. 2:12; Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:7; Joel 1:12; Joel 2:22; Amos 4:9; Mic. 4:4; Nah. 3:12; Hab. 3:17; Hag. 2:19; Zech. 3:10 Related Resources: What is the significance of pomegranates in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org American Tract Society Eshcol Easton's Bible Dictionary Eshcol Fausset Bible Dictionary Eshcol Holman Bible Dictionary Eshcol Hitchcock Bible Names Eshcol Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Eshcol Morrish Bible Dictionary Eshcol, Yalley of Eshcol Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary Eshcol People's Dictionary of the Bible Eshcol Watson's Theological Dictionary Eshcol International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Eshcol (1) Eshcol (2) Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Eshcol McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Eshcol The Jewish Encyclopedia Eshcol Robert Hawker —Numbers 13:23. WAS not this single cluster God’s earnest to the people of the sure possession of the land where those delicious fruits grew? And was not the size and weight of this one branch a sample how full and extensive all the blessings, both of the covenant and of the promised land, should be to the after possessions of God’s people? My soul! dost thou not see in it then a precious representation of Jesus, that one Branch, and of all that cluster of blessings which are in him. Well might the church cry out concerning the Redeemer, “My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.” For whether this camphire, this copher, denotes the vine of Cyprus, or the fruit of the palm-tree, in either, or in both, the soul-strengthening, soul-exhilarating, soul-healing virtues of his unnumbered excellencies, may well be set forth under the beautiful similitude of the cluster of grapes from the brook of Eshcol. Yes! thou dear Lord! thou hast condescended to compare thyself to the vine; and to thy people thou art indeed a cluster of all that is lovely, sweet, gracious, and endearing. In thee dwelleth, like the berries of the richest cluster, all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. In thee is found all the purity, holiness, harmlessness, and perfection of the human nature, as God manifest in flesh. In thee, as God-man Mediator, we behold the cluster of all spiritual graces; all spiritual, temporal, eternal, blessings, all divine promises; all, all are in thee, to give out to thy people. Neither is there a mercy thy people can want, of grace here, or glory hereafter, but what is treasured up in thee, in a fulness perfectly inexhaustible. Precious Jesus! revive my spirits this day with this view of thee. Give me to see when my soul desireth the first ripe fruit, that thou thyself art all my soul can need. Bring me to the brook of Eshcol, and there let my eyes, my heart, my whole soul, and body, and spirit, feast itself in the contemplation and enjoyment of thy Person, thy graces, gifts, and fulness, until under the full satisfaction my soul findeth, in being eternally filled with thy goodness, I cry out with the church, My beloved is unto me as the richest of all the clusters of copher in the vineyards of Engedi. Numbers 13:24 That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the sons of Israel cut down from there. Numbers 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries That place was called the valley of Eshcol - Or "Wadi Eshcol" where wadi is the Hebrew word nachal the path a temporary stream may take. It was like the bed of a river that is dry except during the rainy season, when it becomes a torrent. because of the cluster which the sons of Israel cut down from there - The Hebrew word for cluster is eshkol (0811 - Ge 40:10; Nu 13:23, 24; Dt. 32:32; Song. 1:14, 7:7, 8; Isa 65:8; Mic 7:1) Numbers 13:25 When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, forty days: Nu 14:33,34 Ex 24:18 34:28 Numbers 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SPIES RETURN When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days - It is interesting that Moses nor God had said you must take 40 days t spy out the land but that is the number that they attained in the providence of God. God is in control of everything beloved! Forty days of spying would turn out to be somewhat prophetic for it would be turned into 40 years of wandering as punishment for their unbelief (Nu 14:33). The distance they traversed in 40 days was about 250 miles each way. (Mattoon says "The land was searched for forty days. It was 150 miles by 60 miles in area and took forty days to scout.") Jensen - Their trip of forty days took them, as directed, from the wilderness of Zin in the south to the entrance of Hamath in the far north. In between, they spied on such places as Hebron, south of what was later named Jerusalem, and the nearby valley of Eshcol (literally “cluster”). FSB - Forty is symbolic in the OT and NT as a period of purging and purification, therefore, we expect the report to be a favorable one. However, the spies—except for Caleb and Joshua—return tainted by fear and disbelief. (Mattoon adds "These spies have plenty of time to decide for the Lord, but they don't. When God brings judgment upon men, they can't complain that they did not have time to repent.")

Números 13

Constable - Everything the spies said from this word on was uncalled for. Their commission had been to view the land and to report back on what they saw. It was not their job to determine if the Israelites could overcome the Canaanites. God had promised that He would give the land to His people. Jensen on nevertheless - The report by the spies was made semi-objectively, but the men could not help injecting their own pessimism and defeatism into it. The word “howbeit” (Nu 13:28) indicates this. Also, by the time they finished their report, the people were beginning to catch the spirit of defeatism and violent objection, so much so that Caleb had to still the mob (Nu 13:30). (Ibid) Nevertheless (0657)(ephes from aphes = to cease, fail, come to an end) means a ceasing, then end, extremity, nautht, nonexistence, cessation of, nought. Basically, the noun indicates that a thing "comes to an end" and "is no more." Gilbrant - The first meaning of ʾephes is "end" in the sense of "extremity." The most common phrase using this word, especially in the Psalms, is ʾephes ʾerets, which means "the ends of the earth." The second range of meanings is "end" in the sense of being at the end or "nothing." Isaiah employs ʾephes in this way when speaking of: Edom's kingdom becoming "nothing" (34:12); people being "insignificant" (41:12, 24); "no one" (47:8, 10). Daniel 8:25 notes the defeat of the Antichrist who will be defeated, but "by nothing of hands." In other words, it will not be by human power. The adverbial uses of ʾephes are found in nine places and in three variations. Twice, both in the Balaam account, ʾephes is translated "only" (Num. 22:35, 23:13). Most of the occasions of ʾephes are translated in various ways but are contained in the meaning of "yet" (Num. 13:28, Deut. 15:4, Judg. 4:9, Amos 9:8, 2 Sam. 12:14). Once, in Isa. 54:15, ʾephes means "not." (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Baker - It is used essentially in three ways meaning ceasing, nonexistence, no effect: 1) to cease to exist or effect (Isa. 34:12; 41:29); to act with no effect (Isa. 52:4); 2) a cessation of something, such as until there is no place (Deut. 32:36; 2 Ki. 14:26; Isa. 45:6; Amos 6:10); 3) the idea of limiting, such as only (Num. 22:35; 23:13) or except that (Num. 13:28; Deut. 15:4; Judg. 4:9). The word is also used to mean ceasing in the sense of end or extremity: the ends of the earth (Deut. 33:17; 1 Sam. 2:10; Prov. 30:4; Jer. 16:19; Mic. 5:4[3]). )Complete Word Study Dictionary) Ephes - 42v - dearth(1), ends(14), however(2), lack(1), less...nothing(1), neither(1), nevertheless*(3), no more(1), no one(6), no other(1), non-existent(1), nor(1), nothing(2), only(2), there(1), there is no one(3), there is none(1), without(2), without cause(1), worthless(1). Num. 13:28; Num. 22:35; Num. 23:13; Deut. 15:4; Deut. 32:36; Deut. 33:17; Jdg. 4:9; 1 Sam. 2:10; 2 Sam. 9:3; 2 Sam. 12:14; 2 Ki. 14:26; Job 7:6; Ps. 2:8; Ps. 22:27; Ps. 59:13; Ps. 67:7; Ps. 72:8; Ps. 98:3; Prov. 14:28; Prov. 26:20; Prov. 30:4; Isa. 5:8; Isa. 34:12; Isa. 40:17; Isa. 41:12; Isa. 41:24; Isa. 41:29; Isa. 45:6; Isa. 45:14; Isa. 45:22; Isa. 46:9; Isa. 47:8; Isa. 47:10; Isa. 52:4; Isa. 52:10; Jer. 16:19; Dan. 8:25; Amos 6:10; Amos 9:8; Mic. 5:4; Zeph. 2:15; Zech. 9:10

Números 13

Constable - It was the people and cities in Canaan that discouraged the spies (v. 28). These Hittites (v. 29) were one of the native tribes in Canaan, not the great Anatolian Hittites (cf. Josh. 1:4; Jdg. 1:26). As they had despised God’s provisions and plans (Numbers 11–12), the 10 spies now disbelieved God’s promises that He would give the land and its people into their hands. They reckoned only on their own natural ability and failed to rely on God’s supernatural ability (Nu 13:31).