Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

13:1-19:22 Forty Years near Kadesh. The central section of the book of Numbers brings together events spanning 40 years, when the Israelites lived in and near Kadesh-barnea. Kadesh is a large oasis about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Beersheba (see map). It marked the southern limit of the land of Canaan, according to 34:4. So when Israel reached there, they were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. But as a result of the rebellion prompted by the spies' negative reports, God punished the people by making them wait 40 years to enter the land. A few important episodes from this period are recounted in chs. 13-19.

13:1-14:45 The Mission of the Spies and the National Rebellion. The significance of this episode is indicated by its length. It stands alongside the golden calf episode (Exodus 32-34) as one of the two great apostasies of the wilderness wanderings. On the former occasion, Israel broke the first two commandments (Ex. 20:3-6) and the Lord threatened to annihilate them and create a new people from Moses' descendants (Ex. 32:9-10). Only Moses' intercession persuaded God to relent (Ex. 32:11-14). This time the people turn their backs on the Promised Land and propose returning to Egypt. Again the Lord threatens their destruction, which is averted only by Moses' intercession.

13:1-16 Spies Sent Out. Twelve tribal leaders are selected to go from Paran to "spy out the land of Canaan" (v. 2) and to bring back a report concerning the quality of the land and the morale of its inhabitants, probably with the intention of strengthening the faith of the Israelites.

13:17-24 Mission Accomplished. The spies cover some 220 miles (354 km) from the Negeb, the arid region south of Beersheba, right up to the north, Rehob, near Lebo-hamath, about 47 miles (76 km) north of Damascus (v. 21).

13:25-33 The Spies' Report of Their Mission. This report covers the same ground as the narration in vv. 17-24. But whereas the latter is straightforward and factual, the spies' account is lurid and exaggerated, calculated to dismay the hearers. Notice the description of the cities as fortified and very large (v. 28), and the long list of inhabitants (vv. 28-29). Archaeological excavation has confirmed that Canaanite cities of the Late Bronze Age were large and heavily defended. For example, the city of Hazor consisted of an upper city of 26 acres and a lower city of 160 acres. Estimates put the population at 40,000. Its defense walls were massively built of stone and mud brick; some of the walls measured as wide as 24 feet (7.3 m). The spies claim that the land devours its inhabitants (v. 32) and, to cap it off, that the tall Anakites are descended from the Nephilim (see note on Gen. 6:4) and therefore must be quite invincible. (Given the exaggerated tone of the spies' account, their reference to Nephilim is most likely an expression of their fear and an excuse for their disobedience, rather than an accurate statement indicating that the Nephilim were still living after the flood.) Scholars generally accept that the location of Kadesh is modern Tell ‘Ain el-Qudeirat. This site, however, has revealed no remains before the tenth century b.c. This lack of evidence may be explained in a number of ways: (1) the identification may be incorrect; (2) earlier remains may not have been discovered yet; or (3) groups on the move like the Israelites may have left no remains to be discovered.

14:1-12 The People's Reaction. The people react very strongly to this pessimistic view of their prospects. Their comments challenge both God's purposes and his power. God had promised them the land, but they dismiss it as impossible and suggest choosing a new leader to bring them back to Egypt (vv. 1-4).

14:13-19 Moses' Plea for Forgiveness. Moses prays here, as he did after the making of the golden calf (Exodus 32), acting, as often in the Pentateuch, as a covenant mediator (cf. Num. 12:3-4). He points out that, were God to fulfill his threat to annihilate Israel, the nations would say that the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land (cf. Ex. 32:12). He reminds God that he promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (cf. Ex. 32:13), and finally he quotes God's own description of his character to prove that he ought to forgive (Ex. 34:6-7; Num. 14:18-19).

14:20-35 God's Response to Moses' Prayer. God's response is somewhat surprising. On the one hand, he declares: I have pardoned, according to your word (i.e., he has drawn back from destroying Israel immediately). But that does not mean they can go ahead with their planned entry to Canaan. In fact, the disobedient Israelites will get what they asked for. They wanted to return to Egypt (v. 3); they are told to go into the wilderness by the Red Sea (v. 25). They said they did not want to enter the land because they would die there (vv. 2-3); they are told they will never enter it, but die in the wilderness (vv. 27-38). They feared that their little ones . . . would become a prey (see v. 3); but it is the children who in 40 years' time will enter the land (v. 31).

14:36-38 Death of the Faithless Spies. Though all the adult Israelites were warned that they would die in the wilderness, the 10 faithless spies, who had incited the national apostasy, "died by plague" (v. 37; ironically, this uses one of the same Hebrew words used with reference to the Egyptian plagues--Hb. maggepah, "plague"; cf. Ex. 9:14). A similar fate befell many of those involved in the idolatry of the golden calf (Ex. 32:35). The story of the spies illustrates an important principle: when God forgives sin, he does not always eliminate the consequences of sin. In the case of Israel, God's forgiveness meant that it remained the people of God, in a corporate sense. The covenant made at Sinai--that the Lord would be their God and that Israel would be his people--was maintained. Yet the people still suffered for their sin: they did not enter Canaan, but died in the wilderness.

14:39-45 An Unsuccessful Attempt at Conquest. Despite the death of the spies, and despite Moses telling the people that they must die in the wilderness and not enter the land, they attempt a conquest. Their defeat, ironically at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites (cf. 13:29), fulfills Moses' warning.