Numbers 13:30

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Kalev silenced the people around Moshe and said, "We ought to go up immediately and take possession of it; there is no question that we can conquer it."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Caleb^{H3612} stilled^{H2013} the people^{H5971} before Moses^{H4872}, and said^{H559}, Let us go up^{H5927} at once^{H5927}, and possess^{H3423} it; for we are well able^{H3201} to overcome^{H3201} it.

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Commentary for Numbers 13:30

1. **Themes:**
- **Faith and Courage:** Caleb demonstrates unwavering faith in God's promise and the courage to act upon it, despite the challenges ahead.
- **Leadership and Influence:** Caleb's attempt to calm the people and persuade them to trust in God's power shows his leadership qualities and his ability to influence others.
- **Obedience to God:** Caleb's willingness to obey God's command to possess the land reflects the theme of obedience to divine will.
- **Perseverance:** Despite the majority's lack of faith, Caleb perseveres in his conviction that the Israelites can overcome the obstacles in their path.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings:** The Israelites, having been freed from slavery in Egypt, are in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. God has led them to the border of Canaan.
- **The Spies' Mission:** In Numbers 13, Moses sends twelve spies, one from each tribe, to scout the land of Canaan. They are to assess the land's fertility, the strength of its inhabitants, and the fortifications of its cities.
- **The Report:** Upon their return, ten of the spies report that the land is indeed fertile but that its inhabitants are too powerful and their cities too well-fortified for the Israelites to conquer (Numbers 13:27-29, 31-33).
- **Caleb's Dissent:** Caleb, one of the spies, disagrees with the majority report. His statement in Numbers 13:30 is a direct contrast to the prevailing sentiment of fear and doubt among the Israelites. He believes that with God's help, they can successfully enter and possess the land.
- **Consequences:** The people's lack of faith leads to God's decree that they would wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the generation that did not trust in God's promise had passed away (Numbers 14:26-35). Only Caleb and Joshua, the other faithful spy, would enter the Promised Land from that generation.

In summary, Numbers 13:30 encapsulates the tension between faith and fear, obedience and rebellion, as the Israelites stand on the brink of entering the land God promised to their ancestors. Caleb's words serve as a counterpoint to the prevailing lack of faith and highlight the importance of trusting in God's power and promises, even in the face of daunting challenges.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3612
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּלֵב
   Transliteration: Kâlêb
   Pronunciation: kaw-labe'
   Description: perhaps a form of כֶּלֶב, or else from the same root in the sense of forcible; Caleb, the name of three Israelites; Caleb.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2013
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָסָה
   Transliteration: hâçâh
   Pronunciation: haw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to hush; hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5927
   There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלָה
   Transliteration: ʻâlâh
   Pronunciation: aw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3423
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרַשׁ
   Transliteration: yârash
   Pronunciation: yaw-rash'
   Description: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.