Numbers 32:8

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.

Thus did {H6213} your fathers {H1}, when I sent {H7971} them from Kadeshbarnea {H6947} to see {H7200} the land {H776}.

This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land.

This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land.

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.

Commentary

Commentary on Numbers 32:8 (KJV)

Numbers 32:8 is part of Moses's stern rebuke and warning to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, who had requested to settle in the fertile land east of the Jordan River instead of crossing into Canaan with the other tribes. Moses fears their request stems from a similar lack of faith that afflicted the previous generation of Israelites.

Context

The verse "Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land" directly references a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the sending of twelve spies into Canaan from Kadeshbarnea. This event, detailed in Numbers 13, led to a catastrophic failure of faith by the majority of the spies and, subsequently, by the Israelite community. Ten of the twelve spies brought back a fearful report, emphasizing the strength of the Canaanites and the fortified cities, which discouraged the people and made them unwilling to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13:31-33). This act of disobedience and unbelief resulted in God's judgment: the entire generation of adult Israelites, except for Joshua and Caleb, was condemned to die in the wilderness, wandering for 40 years until that generation passed away (Numbers 14:28-35). Moses uses this historical precedent to highlight the severe consequences of wavering faith and to warn the Reubenites and Gadites against repeating such a pattern.

Key Themes

  • The Peril of Unbelief: The central message is a stark reminder of how a lack of faith in God's promises and power can lead to severe consequences, hindering divine plans and bringing judgment. The previous generation's failure at Kadeshbarnea serves as a powerful example of how fear and doubt can override God's clear instruction.
  • Learning from History: Moses's words emphasize the importance of remembering past mistakes and learning from them. He challenges the current generation to avoid the pitfalls that led to their fathers' downfall, urging them to demonstrate genuine trust and obedience where their predecessors failed.
  • Generational Responsibility: While the new generation is not held accountable for the sins of their fathers, they are responsible for their own choices. Moses warns that if they follow a similar path of self-interest or doubt, they risk bringing similar delays and divine displeasure upon the entire community (Numbers 32:15).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Kadeshbarnea" (Hebrew: קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ, Qadesh Barne'a) refers to a significant oasis and encampment site on the southern border of Canaan. It was a crucial staging ground for the Israelites and the place from which the spies were sent, making it synonymous with the turning point of Israel's wilderness journey. The term "to see the land" (לָתוּר אֶת־הָאָרֶץ, latūr et ha'aretz) implies not just a casual glance, but a thorough reconnaissance, which the spies indeed performed, albeit with a detrimental outcome due to their perspective.

Practical Application

Numbers 32:8 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. We are called to learn from the mistakes of the past, both in biblical history and in our personal lives. When faced with challenges or opportunities, it is crucial to exercise faith in God's promises rather than succumbing to fear or doubt. Our decisions, driven by faith or unbelief, have ripple effects, not only for ourselves but also for those around us and for the progress of God's work. This verse encourages us to choose the path of courageous obedience, trusting that God is faithful to fulfill His word, even when circumstances seem daunting.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 14:6

    ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

  • Joshua 14:7

    Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as [it was] in mine heart.

  • Numbers 13:2

    Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

  • Numbers 13:26

    ¶ And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

  • Deuteronomy 1:19

    ¶ And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

  • Deuteronomy 1:25

    And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought [it] down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, [It is] a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

  • Numbers 14:2

    And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
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