Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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;
Verse 18. See the land, what it is] What sort of a COUNTRY it is; how situated; its natural advantages or disadvantages.
And the people – whether they be strong or weak] Healthy, robust, hardy men; or little, weak, and pusillanimous.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
What it is, both for largeness, and for nature and quality; as is more particularly expressed, Num 13:19,20.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And see the land what it [is], and the people that dwelleth therein,…. The situation and condition of the country, and the nature, temper, disposition, and constitution of the inhabitants, by which it might be judged whether it was a desirable thing to possess it, and whether it was practicable to subdue and take it;
whether they [be] strong or weak, few or many; whether able-bodied men fit for war, and of spirit, strength, and courage, or feeble and pusillanimous, weak and timorous; and whether their number was small or great, by which they would be capable of judging whether they were in a state and condition to defend themselves or not, and whether a conquest of them was easy or not; the last of the two things in the preceding clause is first particularly explained and enlarged upon, as is usual in the Hebrew language.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. And see the land what it is. The counsel of Moses had this object, that the people might be made aware how rich and fertile the land was; for a barren country does not support a large population; and the healthfulness of a locality is inferred from the rigor of its inhabitants, tie, therefore, chiefly insists on the goodness of the land and its abundant production of fruits. Still, perhaps, God would intentionally have the Israelites forewarned, that they would have to do with strong and powerful enemies; lest they might be alarmed and discouraged at suddenly beholding them. But the main point was, that the pleasantness and fertility of the land might allure them to take possession of it.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) And see the land.Or, inspect the land. The same word is used of the inspection of the leper by the priest in Lev. 13:3; Lev. 13:5-6; Lev. 13:10; Lev. 13:13, &c.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Strong or weak Before the power of God, who had promised the complete conquest of Canaan, this distinction vanishes; the strong become weak, and the many are as the few. But since only the ultimate fact of conquest was revealed to the faith of Israel, and not the method, it was natural that Moses should proceed to the conflict with all the caution which characterizes the worldly commander who trusts solely in his battalions.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 13:18 And see the land, what it [is]; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they [be] strong or weak, few or many;
Ver. 18. See the land. ] Two and two likely he sent them, and by several ways: as our Lord also did his seventy disciples.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 3:8, Eze 34:14