Numbers 13:22

KJV

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.)

KJV (with Strong's)

And they ascended {H5927} by the south {H5045}, and came {H935} unto Hebron {H2275}; where Ahiman {H289}, Sheshai {H8344}, and Talmai {H8526}, the children {H3211} of Anak {H6061}, were.(Now Hebron {H2275} was built {H1129} seven {H7651} years {H8141} before {H6440} Zoan {H6814} in Egypt {H4714}.)

Complete Jewish Bible

They went up into the Negev and arrived at Hevron; Achiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the 'Anakim, lived there. (Hevron was built seven years before Tzo'an in Egypt.)

Berean Standard Bible

They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

American Standard Version

And they went up by the South, and came unto Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 13:22 recounts a pivotal moment during the Israelite spies' reconnaissance mission into Canaan, specifically detailing their arrival at Hebron and the formidable inhabitants they encountered there. This verse not only identifies the "children of Anak"—a group known for their immense stature—as residents of this ancient city but also provides a unique historical marker, noting Hebron's antiquity by comparing its founding to that of Zoan in Egypt. This information was crucial for the spies' report, setting the stage for the nation's crisis of faith regarding the conquest of the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 13:22 is situated within the narrative of Moses sending twelve tribal leaders to spy out the land of Canaan, as commanded by the Lord in [Numbers 13:1-2](/numbers/13-1 "Numbers 13:1-2 - Moses Sends Spies"). The spies' mission, detailed in [Numbers 13:17-25](/numbers/13-17 "Numbers 13:17-25 - The Spies' Mission and Exploration"), required them to assess the land's fertility, its inhabitants' strength, and the nature of their cities. This verse marks a significant geographical point reached by the spies, as Hebron was a major city in the southern highlands of Canaan. The information gathered here, particularly concerning the Anakim, directly contributes to the fearful report delivered by ten of the spies upon their return to Kadesh-barnea, found in [Numbers 13:26-33](/numbers/13-26 "Numbers 13:26-33 - The Spies' Report and the Fearful Response"), which ultimately led to Israel's forty-year wandering in the wilderness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this point in their journey, the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh-barnea, on the southern border of Canaan, poised to enter the Promised Land. The act of sending spies was a common military and strategic practice in the ancient Near East, designed to gather intelligence before an invasion. Hebron, known in earlier times as Kirjath-arba ([Genesis 23:2](/genesis/23-2 "Genesis 23:2 - Sarah's Death and Burial in Kirjath-arba")), was an exceptionally ancient and significant city, deeply rooted in the history of the patriarchs as a burial place for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The mention of the Anakim, a people renowned for their great stature and strength, would have immediately signaled a formidable challenge to any invading force. The comparison of Hebron's age to Zoan (Tanis), a prominent capital city in the Nile Delta of Egypt, underscores Hebron's immense antiquity and established importance, providing a recognizable benchmark for the Israelite audience familiar with Egyptian history and geography.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Numbers and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **the formidability of the land's inhabitants**, particularly the Anakim, who were perceived as "giants" and became a major source of fear and doubt for the Israelites, as evidenced in [Numbers 13:33](/numbers/13-33 "Numbers 13:33 - The Giants' Report"). This directly challenges Israel's **faith and obedience** to God's promise to give them the land, regardless of the obstacles. Secondly, the historical note about Hebron's age emphasizes the **deep-rooted nature of the Canaanite presence**, underscoring that the conquest would not be a trivial undertaking but a divine act of displacement. This detail also subtly reinforces the theme of **God's faithfulness to His covenant promises**, as Hebron was a place intimately connected to Abraham's covenant in [Genesis 13:14-18](/genesis/13-14 "Genesis 13:14-18 - God's Promise to Abraham and His Dwelling in Hebron"). The encounter with the Anakim serves as a crucial **test of Israel's resolve**, revealing their tendency to rely on sight rather than divine assurance, a recurring motif throughout their wilderness journey.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Anakim (Hebrew, _‘Ănāqîm'_):** This term refers to the descendants of Anak, a pre-Israelite people group known for their extraordinary height and strength. They are often described as "giants" (e.g., [Deuteronomy 2:10-11](/deuteronomy/2-10 "Deuteronomy 2:10-11 - The Emim and Anakim")). Their presence in Hebron, a key city, immediately signifies the formidable nature of the inhabitants the Israelites would face. The spies' report heavily emphasized the Anakim, portraying them as insurmountable obstacles, leading to the people's despair and rebellion.
* **Zoan (Hebrew, _Ṣō‘an'_):** Also known as Tanis, Zoan was a major ancient city in the northeastern Nile Delta, serving as a capital city during various periods of Egyptian history, particularly during the Hyksos and Ramesside dynasties. Its mention here as a chronological benchmark ("Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt") highlights Hebron's extreme antiquity and established importance, providing a familiar and significant reference point for the Israelite audience who had recently exited Egypt.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron;":** This phrase describes the spies' journey from the Negeb (southern desert region) northward into the central highlands of Canaan. "Ascended" accurately reflects the topographical reality of moving from the lower desert plains to the higher elevation of the Judean hills where Hebron is situated. Their arrival at Hebron marks a significant penetration into the heart of the Promised Land, reaching a city of immense historical and strategic importance.
* **"where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, [were].":** This clause provides specific and alarming intelligence. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai are named as prominent figures among the Anakim, emphasizing their presence in Hebron. The direct mention of "the children of Anak" immediately conjures images of powerful, giant-like warriors, confirming the formidable nature of the land's inhabitants and validating the fears that would soon grip the Israelite camp. This detail would be central to the negative report.
* **"(Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)":** This parenthetical note is a crucial historical aside. It serves to underscore Hebron's ancient origins and deep-rooted establishment. By comparing its founding to Zoan, a well-known and ancient Egyptian city, the text emphasizes Hebron's venerable age and, by extension, the long-standing presence of its inhabitants, including the Anakim. This detail adds weight and credibility to the spies' findings, suggesting that the people they encountered were not recent settlers but an entrenched, powerful population.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 13:22 employs several effective literary devices. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, as the verse places the formidable presence of the Anakim immediately alongside a historical note emphasizing Hebron's extreme antiquity. This contrast highlights the deep-rooted and powerful nature of the obstacles Israel faced, making the challenge seem even more daunting. This detailed description of the Anakim also serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the fear and lack of faith that will soon paralyze the Israelite nation, leading to their rebellion and subsequent judgment. The Anakim themselves function as **Symbolism**, representing the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand between God's people and the fulfillment of His promises. Their physical stature symbolizes the spiritual and psychological giants that challenge faith, testing whether God's people will trust in His power or succumb to human fear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 13:22 powerfully illustrates the tension between God's unwavering promise and humanity's wavering faith. The presence of the Anakim in Hebron represents the "giants" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles that often stand in the way of God's people inheriting His blessings. The theological implication is that God's promises are not contingent on the absence of challenges, but rather require a faith that trusts in His power to overcome any adversary, no matter how formidable. This verse sets the stage for Israel's failure to trust God, leading to a generation's wilderness wandering, but also foreshadows the eventual triumph through faith, as seen in Caleb's determination to conquer Hebron. It reminds us that divine promises often involve human struggle, but the victory is ultimately God's.

* [Deuteronomy 1:28](/deuteronomy/1-28 "Deuteronomy 1:28 - The People's Fear and Rebellion")
* [Joshua 14:12](/joshua/14-12 "Joshua 14:12 - Caleb Claims Hebron and Defeats the Anakim")
* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 13:22 serves as a timeless reminder that the path to receiving God's promises is rarely without formidable challenges. The "giants" encountered by the spies in Hebron—the Anakim—represent the overwhelming obstacles, fears, and entrenched problems that can stand between us and God's intended blessings. This verse challenges us to examine our own responses when faced with seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Do we, like the ten fearful spies, allow the size of our adversaries to dictate our faith and paralyze us with doubt? Or do we, like Caleb and Joshua, fix our gaze on the faithfulness and power of God, trusting that He is greater than any "giant" we may face? True faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to move forward in obedience despite it, knowing that God has already promised the victory. Our spiritual journey often requires us to "ascend by the south" into territories that appear hostile, but God's presence guarantees our ultimate inheritance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "giants" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles are currently standing between you and God's promises in your life?**
* **How does your initial reaction to these challenges compare to that of the fearful spies versus Caleb's resolute faith?**
* **In what practical ways can you choose to trust God's power over the perceived strength of your adversaries this week?**

### FAQ

**Who were the Anakim, and why were they so significant to the spies' report?**

Answer: The Anakim were a group of people known for their immense stature and strength, often described as "giants" in biblical texts (e.g., [Deuteronomy 9:2](/deuteronomy/9-2 "Deuteronomy 9:2 - A People Great and Tall")). Their presence in Hebron and other parts of Canaan was significant because they represented a formidable military and psychological challenge to the Israelites. The spies' report heavily emphasized the Anakim, portraying them as insurmountable obstacles that made the Israelites feel like "grasshoppers" in comparison ([Numbers 13:33](/numbers/13-33 "Numbers 13:33 - The Spies' Fearful Report")). This fearful description directly contributed to the people's lack of faith and their subsequent rebellion against God's command to enter and conquer the land.

**Why does the verse include the detail that "Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt"?**

Answer: This seemingly parenthetical note serves a crucial purpose: to emphasize Hebron's extreme antiquity and established importance. Zoan (Tanis) was a well-known and ancient capital city in Egypt, a civilization with which the Israelites were intimately familiar. By stating that Hebron predated Zoan by seven years, the text highlights that Hebron was not a newly settled outpost but a venerable, deeply entrenched city with a long history. This detail underscored the formidable and long-standing presence of its inhabitants, including the Anakim, making the challenge of conquest even more daunting and lending credibility to the spies' findings about the strength of the Canaanite presence. It adds historical weight to the narrative, grounding it in the ancient world.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 13:22, with its depiction of formidable "giants" in the Promised Land, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Anakim represented the seemingly insurmountable obstacles to Israel's inheritance; similarly, sin, death, and the power of evil are the spiritual "giants" that prevent humanity from inheriting eternal life and fellowship with God. Just as the Israelites were called to trust God for victory over physical adversaries, believers are called to trust Christ for victory over spiritual ones. Jesus, the true and greater Joshua, did not merely scout the land; He entered into our fallen world, confronted the spiritual powers of darkness head-on, and decisively conquered them on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")). Through His resurrection, He triumphed over death itself, the ultimate "giant" ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")). Our inheritance in Christ is not a physical land but a spiritual kingdom and eternal life, secured not by our strength or courage, but by His finished work ([Ephesians 1:3-14](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3-14 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). He is the one who enables us to overcome the "giants" of fear, doubt, and sin in our lives, leading us into the true rest and inheritance found only in Him ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Rest of God's People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 78:43

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

Psalms 78:12

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.

Isaiah 19:11

Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Joshua 15:13

¶ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, [even] the city of Arba the father of Anak, which [city is] Hebron.

Joshua 15:14

And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

Judges 1:10

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Joshua 11:21

And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.