Numbers 13:18

And see the land, what it [is]; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they [be] strong or weak, few or many;

And see {H7200} the land {H776}, what it is; and the people {H5971} that dwelleth {H3427} therein, whether they be strong {H2389} or weak {H7504}, few {H4592} or many {H7227};

and see what the land is like. Notice the people living there, whether they are strong or weak, few or many;

See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.

and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

Commentary

Numbers 13:18 is part of Moses' detailed instructions to the twelve spies he sent to scout the land of Canaan before the Israelites entered. This specific verse highlights a crucial aspect of their mission: observing the characteristics of the land itself and, more importantly, assessing the strength and numbers of its inhabitants.

Context

Following the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites arrived at Kadesh-barnea, on the border of the Promised Land. At this pivotal moment, Moses, at the Lord's command, selected one leader from each of the twelve tribes to go ahead and explore Canaan (Numbers 13:2). The purpose of this reconnaissance mission was to gather intelligence that would aid in the impending conquest. Moses' instructions were comprehensive, covering the fertility of the land, its produce, and the nature of its cities. Verse 18 specifically directs the spies to focus on the people living there, laying the groundwork for the critical, and ultimately divisive, report they would bring back.

Key Themes

  • Strategic Reconnaissance: The verse underscores the importance of gathering detailed information and performing due diligence before undertaking a significant endeavor, especially one involving a military campaign.
  • Assessment of Obstacles: Moses instructed the spies to directly evaluate the perceived strength ("strong or weak") and numerical superiority ("few or many") of the Canaanite inhabitants. This was a practical step to understand the challenges that lay ahead.
  • Preparation and Planning: The directive to "see the land, what it [is]" and assess its people emphasizes the need for thoughtful preparation and an understanding of the environment and adversaries. This assessment, however, quickly became a source of fear rather than faith, as the spies focused on the physical might of the inhabitants rather than God's promise to deliver the land, a theme echoed in the importance of walking by faith, not by sight.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for "strong" (ื—ึธื–ึธืง - chazaq) and "weak" (ืจึธืคึถื” - rapheh) are straightforward, emphasizing a qualitative assessment of military or physical capability. Similarly, "few" (ืžึฐืขึทื˜ - me'at) and "many" (ืจึธื‘ - rav) refer to the quantitative aspect of the population. The phrasing indicates a thorough, binary evaluation that left no room for ambiguity in their observations. The KJV's use of "[is]" and "[be]" are supplied words to ensure a natural English flow, clarifying the implied verbs in the original Hebrew structure.

Related Scriptures

This instruction laid the groundwork for the mixed report the spies would later bring back, particularly concerning the formidable inhabitants (Numbers 13:28), which ultimately led to widespread fear and unbelief among the Israelites (Numbers 14:1). Moses later recounted this event, highlighting the people's request to send spies as a desire for reassurance (Deuteronomy 1:22).

Practical Application

Numbers 13:18 offers timeless lessons for believers today. While it speaks to military strategy, its principles extend to all areas of life:

  • Due Diligence: It reminds us of the importance of gathering information and understanding challenges before making significant decisions. Wise planning is encouraged.
  • Discerning Truth: We are called to observe and assess situations realistically, but also to discern facts from fear. The spies saw the giants and focused on their own weakness, rather than God's strength and promise.
  • Faith Over Fear: While assessing challenges is prudent, this verse's outcome in Numbers serves as a powerful reminder not to let the perceived strength of obstacles overshadow our faith in God's power and faithfulness to His promises. Our focus should be on God's ability to deliver, not solely on the size of the challenge, as demonstrated by Caleb's and Joshua's differing perspective (Numbers 14:9).
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:8 (2 votes)

    And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

  • Ezekiel 34:14 (2 votes)

    I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.