Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 13:20
And what the land [is], whether it [be] fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time [was] the time of the firstripe grapes.
The time … of the firstripe grapes – The first grapes ripen in Palestine in July and August: the vintage is gathered in September and October. This indication of date tallies with what we should have inferred from the previous narrative. For the Israelite host had quitted Sinai on the 20th day of the second month Num 13:10, Num 13:11, or about the middle of May: since then they had spent a month at Kibroth-hattaavah and a week at Hazeroth, and had accomplished, in all, from 150 to 200 miles of march: it therefore must have been at least the beginning of July, and may have been a month later, when the spies were despatched into the land of promise.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. The land – whether it be fat or lean] Whether the SOIL be rich or poor; which might be known by its being well wooded, and by the fruits it produced; and therefore they were desired to examine it as to the trees, &c., and to bring some of the fruits with them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Fat; rich and fertile.
Be ye of good courage; doubt not but God will preserve you in this dangerous journey, and be not dismayed nor discouraged if you find the people numerous, potent, and well fortified.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. Now the time was the time of thefirst grapesThis was in August, when the first clusters aregathered. The second are gathered in September, and the third inOctober. The spies’ absence for a period of forty days determines thegrapes they brought from Eshcol to have been of the second period.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And what the land [is], whether it be fat or lean,…. That is, what the soil of it is, whether it be rich and fertile, or whether it be poor and barren, which would be seen by the fruits it produced, this being now the fruitful season of the year; and so the Targum of Jonathan,
“and what is the praise of the land, whether its fruits are fat or lean;”
plump and full, rich and juicy, or otherwise, as their grapes, olives, c. whether it was a land flowing with milk and honey, Ex 33:3, abounding with all good things, and those of the best sort, or not:
whether there be wood thereon or not timber for building, and other manual operations, or wood for fuel, which are great conveniences in a country; though the Targum of Jonathan interprets it of fruit-bearing trees, which bear fruits fit for eating, or not, as apples, pears, figs, pomegranates, c.
and be ye of good courage and not be afraid of being taken up for spies, suggesting, that the power and providence of God would protect and preserve them, in which they should put their trust, and be of good heart:
and bring of the fruit of the land; as a sample and specimen of what it brought forth, which would serve to encourage and animate the people in general, to go up and possess it:
now the time [was] the time of the first ripe grapes; when they and the other summer fruits were coming to their perfection; and which was a proper season to see them in, and bring a sample of them; though Chaskuni suggests, that it was a more dangerous time to bring off fruit, because the keepers of the vineyards were then there; and hence they needed strengthening, and are bid to be of good courage; the Targum of Jonathan is,
“the day on which they went was the twenty ninth of the month Sivan, the time of the first ripe grapes;”
and as this month answers to part of our May and part of June, and it being at the latter end of that month, it must be about the middle of June; by which we may observe the forwardness of grapes in the land of Canaan, the time of vintage now drawing nigh.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Now the time . . . The first grapes ripen in Palestine as early as August, or even July, although the vintage does not take place until September or October.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Wood Hebrew, trees. Either fruit trees or other trees for making military engines, for houses, or for fuel.
Be ye of good courage Literally, encourage yourselves. Their perilous enterprise demanded great coolness and courage. No mercy is shown to a convicted spy. It required courage also to make a report recommending an immediate advance against a mighty foe.
Bring of the fruit Literally, take of the fruit.
Time of first ripe grapes This is one of the very few notes of time in this book. It was about the first of August. See Introduction, (4.)
21. Wilderness of Zin This is not to be confounded with the desert of Sin near Egypt. Exo 16:1, note. The desert of Zin is sometimes spoken of as though it were identical with Kadesh, or a whole of which Kadesh is a part. Deu 32:51. Palmer thinks that he solves all difficulties by defining the wilderness of Zin as “the southeast corner of the desert Et Tih, between “Arabah and the head of Wady Garai-yeh.” This accords with his identification of Kadesh with Ain Gadis. Jos 10:41, note. But Dr. Strong’s party, in 1874, located Kadesh at ‘Ain Weibeh, not far from Mount Hor.
Rehob This is the name of two places in the extreme north of the Holy Land: (1) that mentioned in Jdg 18:28, note, and (2) that one situated in the tribe of Asher, farther west. Jos 19:28. It is possible that there was another Rehob in Asher, allotted to the Levites. Jos 21:31. The first of these three is supposed to be referred to in this verse.
As men come to Hamath Hamath, the metropolis of Upper Syria, is a city in the valley of the Orontes. Its present population is 30,000. The adjacent country, afterward called Coele Syria, was the ancient kingdom of Hamath. The route from Palestine to this city, commonly called “the entering in of Hamath,” is a matter of dispute, because there are several passes in the Lebanons. See Jos 13:5, note. It is probable that the spies made explorations far north of Mount Hermon, in territory which was never conquered by Israel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 13:20. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes The spies were forty days in searching the land; so that this time refers to that of their return, not of their setting out; see note on Num 13:2.
REFLECTIONS.As they were now on the borders of the land, they had no more to do, than to go in and take possession; but their unbelief, Deu 1:22 suggested the necessity of sending spies. They were not satisfied with God’s promise, but would see for themselves; so ready are we to indulge our own wicked reasonings, rather than simply submit to divine revelation. God permits Moses to gratify them; choice is made of proper persons, and their instructions given them concerning the soil, the inhabitants, and cities. Moses encourages them in their employment, that, boldly acquitting themselves, they might be examples of courage to their brethren: nothing more animating, than to follow those whose fidelity and zeal have been tried.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
whether it be: Neh 9:25, Neh 9:35, Eze 34:14
good courage: Num 13:30, Num 13:31, Deu 31:6-8, Deu 31:23, Jos 1:6, Jos 1:9, Jos 2:3, Jos 2:22, Jos 2:23, 1Ch 22:11, Heb 13:6
the firstripe: Num 13:23, Num 13:24, Mic 7:1
Reciprocal: Gen 27:28 – the fatness 2Sa 10:12 – Be of good