Numbers 13:31
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But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
But his companions were of an opposite opinion, and declared that the people in Canaan were stronger than the Israelites, and therefore it was impossible to go up to it.
Open source ↗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 Psa 95:7, etc., and improved for warning to Christians, Heb 3:7, etc. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan (v. 1-16). II. The instructions given to these spies (Num 13:17-20). III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions, and their return from the search (Num 13:21-25). IV. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel (Num 13:26, etc.).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”
Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.
So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.
For when your fathers went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them.
Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.