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July. Thus far they were successful. Eluding theCanaanites, they entered Palestine,
and searched the land to its northernmost boundary., "untoRehob, as men come to
Hamath," that is, as far as the plain of Coele-Syria. On their way back,coming from
the north, they would of course not be suspected. Accordingly they now descended
byHebron, and explored the route which led into the Negeb by the western edge of the
mountains. "Inone of these extensive valleys -perhaps in Wady Hanein, where miles
of grape-mounds even nowmeet the eye - they cut the gigantic cluster of grapes, and
gathered the pomegranates and figs, toshow how goodly was the land which the Lord
had promised for their inheritance."
After forty days absence the spies returned to camp. The report and the evidence of
the fruitfulnessof the land which they brought, fully confirmed the original promise of
God to Israel. (Exodus 3:8)But they added: (Numbers 13:28) "Only that the people is
strong which occupieth the land, and thecities fortified, very great, and also
descendants of the Anak have we seen there," whom, in theirfear, they seem to have
identified (ver. 33) with the Nephilim of the antediluvian world.
This account produced immediate terror, which Caleb sought in vain to allay. His
opposition onlyelicited stronger language on the part of the other "spies," culminating
in their assertion, that, even ifIsrael were to possess the land, it was one "that eateth up
its inhabitants," that is, a countrysurrounded and peopled by fierce races in a state of
constant warfare for its possession. Thus themost trustworthy and the bravest from
among their tribes, with only the exception of Caleb and ofJoshua (whose testimony
might be set aside on the ground of his intimate relationship to Moses),now declared
their inability either to conquer or to hold the land, for the sake of which they had
leftthe comforts of Egypt and endured the hardships and dangers of "the great and
terrible wilderness. Anight of complete demoralization followed - the result being
open revolt against Moses and Aaron,direct rebellion against Jehovah, and a proposal
to elect a fresh leader and return to Egypt! In vainMoses and Aaron "fell on their
faces" before God in sight of all the congregation; in vain Joshua andCaleb "rent their
clothes" in token of mourning, and besought the people to remember that thePresence
of Jehovah with them implied certain success. The excited people only "spake" of
stoningthem, when of a sudden "the glory of Jehovah visibly appeared in the tent of
meeting to all thechildren of Israel." (Numbers 14:10) Almost had the Lord destroyed
the whole people on the spot,when Moses again interposed - a type of the great Leader
and Mediator of His people. Withpleadings more urgent than ever before, he wrestled
with God - his language in its intensity consistingof short, abrupt sentences, piled, as it
were, petition on petition, but all founded on the glory of God,on His past dealings,
and especially on the greatness of His mercy, repeating in reference to this thevery
words in which the Lord had formerly condescended to reveal His inmost Being,
whenproclaiming His "Name" before Moses. (Exodus 33:17, 19) Such plea could not
remain unheeded; itwas typical of the great plea and the great Pleader. But as, when
(^)