Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 13:3
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [were] heads of the children of Israel.
3. those men were heads of thechildren of IsraelNot the princes who are named (Num 10:14-16;Num 10:18-20; Num 10:22-27),but chiefs, leading men though not of the first rank.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses, by the commandment of the Lord,…. By his power, permission, and leave, as Jarchi, that there might be no delay through his means:
sent them from the wilderness of Paran; from Rithmah or Kadeshbarnea, which seem to be one and the same place in that wilderness: this, as before observed, was on the twenty ninth day of Sivan:
[See comments on Nu 13:1];
all those [were] heads of the children of Israel; were not mean and vulgar men, but persons of rule, who bore some office of magistracy ant government among the people in their respective tribes.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) And Moses, by the commandment of the Lord, sent them, &c.Better, And Moses sent them, from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command (literally, the mouth) of the Lord, i.e., as appears from Deu. 1:19. from Kadesh-barnea.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The HOLY GHOST hath been pleased to mention by name, the persons who went on this embassy. But observe with what particular attention Joshua is mentioned, and his name changed. The addition of the first syllable of the glorious name of JEHOVAH, to Hosea, is no doubt meant in great honor. If the Reader will consult Jer 22:28 . he will find an instance where the taking off this first syllable was intended in disgrace. Coniah’s original name was Jeconiah, See 2Ki 24:8-15 . But the HOLY GHOST hath been pleased to mark down Joshua’s name with this particular mark of distinction, from yet another consideration, in that his name signifies a Saviour, and Joshua is in a most eminent degree a type of the LORD JESUS, as in the book of Joshua very strikingly appears.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 13:3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [were] heads of the children of Israel.
Ver. 3. By the commandment of the Lord. ] That is, by his permission; See Trapp on “ Num 13:1 “ God’s command was, that they should forthwith, without any further search, go up and possess the land. Deu 1:21 Now wicked men are esteemed unjust, because they act against God’s command, though according to his decree; like as believers are esteemed just, not because they obey God’s decree, but his command.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
by the commandment of the LORD. Compare Deu 1:19-22.
commandment. Hebrew “mouth”. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, put for what is spoken by the mouth.
heads = captains over thousands. Exo 18:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
The wilderness of Paran, says Dr. Wells, seems to have been taken in a larger, and in a stricter sense. In the larger sense, it seems to have denoted all the desert and mountainous tract, lying between the wilderness of Shur westward, and mount Seir, or the land of Edom, eastward, the land of Canaan northward, and the Red sea southward. And in this sense, it seems to have comprehended the wilderness of Sin, and the wilderness of Sinai, also the adjoining tract wherein lay Kibroth-hattaavah and Hazeroth. In this sense it may be understood in Deu 1:19, where, by “that great and terrible wilderness,” is intended the wilderness of Paran in its largest acceptation; for, in its stricter acceptation, it seems not to have been so great and terrible a wilderness; but is taken to denote more peculiarly that part of Arabia Petrea which lies between mount Sinai and Hazeroth west, and mount Seir east. Num 12:16, Num 32:8, Deu 1:19, Deu 1:23, Deu 9:23
Reciprocal: Gen 14:6 – Elparan Gen 21:21 – in the Num 10:12 – the wilderness Num 13:26 – unto the wilderness 1Sa 25:1 – the wilderness
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The men named as the spies were not the same as the tribal princes (conveners; Num 1:5-15; Num 7:12; et al.). Their personal qualifications for this mission may have been the basis for their selection.
"The name [Joshua, Num 13:16] describes a special role that Moses wished Joshua to have when he renamed him in Num 13:16. Joshua’s earlier name, Hoshea, simply means ’he has saved’. In the name Hoshea, the person or god who saves is not made clear. Moses specified the LORD as the source of salvation by renaming Joshua." [Note: Richard S. Hess, Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary, p. 17.]