Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
33. the Nephilim ] Mentioned in Gen 6:4 in connexion with the ‘sons of Elohim,’ but not elsewhere in the O.T. The derivation and meaning of the name are obscure. Aq. [Note: q. The Greek translation by Aquila.] (‘falling upon’) connects it with nphal ( ) ‘to fall,’ as though the name described the violence with which the Nephilim fell upon their enemies. But LXX. (‘giants’) and Sym. (‘violent’) are only paraphrases. The name appears to be a relic of primitive mythology, but little more can be said of it. If the Nephilim were thought of as superhuman or semi-divine beings, the spies may have used the name to heighten the effect of their description of the ‘sons of Anak’ ( Num 13:28).
the sons of Anak, which come of the Nephilim ] the sons of Anak are of the Nephilim. A separate sentence, which is absent from the LXX. , and was probably added to the Heb. text by a late scribe. He may have meant that the sons of Anak were either descended from, or of the number of, the Nephilim.
as grasshoppers ] Very small and helpless. Oriental speech abounds in similes from nature. Insignificance and weakness are also expressed by ‘flocks of kids’ (1Ki 20:27), ‘a dead dog’ and ‘a flea’ (1Sa 24:14), ‘a partridge’ (1Sa 26:20).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 33. There we saw the giants] nephilim. It is evident that they had seen a robust, sturdy, warlike race of men, and of great stature; for the asserted fact is not denied by Joshua or Caleb.
Tales of gigantic men are frequent in all countries, but they are generally of such as have lived in times very remote from those in which such tales are told. That there have been giants at different times, in various parts of the earth, there can be no doubt; but that there ever was a nation of men twelve and fourteen feet high, we cannot, should not believe. Goliath appears to have been at least nine feet high: this was very extraordinary. I knew three young men in my own neighbourhood, two of them brothers, each of whom was upwards of seven feet, the third was eight feet six inches, and these men were very well proportioned. Others I have seen of extraordinary stature, but they were generally disproportioned, especially in their limbs. These instances serve to prove the possibility of cases of this nature. The Anakim might appear to the Israelites as a very tall, robust nation; and in comparison of the latter it is very probable that they were so, as it is very likely that the growth of the Israelites had been greatly cramped with their long and severe servitude in Egypt. And this may in some measure account for their alarm. On this subject the reader is desired to turn back to the note on See Clarke on Ge 6:4.
CANAAN was a type of the kingdom of God; the wilderness through which the Israelites passed, of the difficulties and trials to be met with in the present world. The promise of the kingdom of God is given to every believer; but how many are discouraged by the difficulties in the way! A slothful heart sees dangers, lions, and giants, every where; and therefore refuses to proceed in the heavenly path. Many of the spies contribute to this by the bad reports they bring of the heavenly country. Certain preachers allow “that the land is good, that it flows with milk and honey,” and go so far as to show some of its fruits; but they discourage the people by stating the impossibility of overcoming their enemies. “Sin,” say they, “cannot be destroyed in this life – it will always dwell in you – the Anakim cannot be conquered – we are but as grasshoppers against the Anakim,” c., &c. Here and there a Joshua and a Caleb, trusting alone in the power of God, armed with faith in the infinite efficacy of that blood which cleanses from all unrighteousness, boldly stand forth and say: “Their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us let us go up at once and possess the land, for we are well able to overcome.” We can do all things through Christ strengthening us: he will purify us unto himself, and give us that rest from sin here which his death has procured and his word has promised. Reader, canst thou not take God at his word? He has never yet failed thee. Surely then thou hast no reason to doubt. Thou hast never yet tried him to the uttermost. Thou knowest not how far and how fully he can save. Do not be dispirited: the sons of Anak shall fall before thee, if thou meet them in the name of the LORD of HOSTS.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Small and contemptible.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
33. there we saw the giants, thesons of AnakThe name is derived from the son of Arba, a greatman among the Arabians (Jos 15:14),who probably obtained his appellation from wearing a splendid collaror chain round his neck, as the word imports. The epithet “giant”evidently refers here to stature. (See on Ge6:4). And it is probable the Anakims were a distinguished family,or perhaps a select body of warriors, chosen for their extraordinarysize.
we were in our own sight asgrasshoppersa strong Orientalism, by which the treacherousspies gave an exaggerated report of the physical strength of thepeople of Canaan.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there we saw the giants,…. Not throughout the land, and yet it is so expressed, and in such connection with what goes before, that it might be so understood, and as they might choose it should; that as there were men everywhere of an uncommon size, and were generally so, there were some larger than they in all places, of a prodigious size, of a gigantic stature; and yet this was only in Hebron where they saw them;
the sons of Anak; whose names are given, Nu 13:22; and there were but three of them:
[which came] of the giants; they, were of the race of giants; for not only Anak their father, but Arba their grandfather was one; Jos 14:15;
and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers; little diminutive creatures in comparison of them; an hyperbolical exaggeration of the greatness of the giants, and of their own littleness:
and so we were in their sight; but this they could not be so certain of, and could only make conjectures by their neglect or supercilious treatment of them. Jarchi makes them to speak of them more diminutively still, as that they heard those giants saying one to another,
“there are ants in the vineyards like men.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(33) And there we saw the giants.The same word, nephilim. is here used which is found in Gen. 6:4. See Note in loc.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
33. The giants Hebrew and R.V. Nephilim, like the antediluvian tyrants who corrupted the earth. Gen 6:4, note. The application of the term Nephilim to a race of antediluvians does not prove that the giants found by the spies were the lineal descendants of these, nor does it justify the extraordinary hypothesis of the “higher criticism,” that the writer of Gen 6:4, knew nothing of a flood in which all mankind except one family were destroyed. A resemblance in stature is all that is requisite.
Sons of Anak See Num 13:22, note.
As grasshoppers An Oriental exaggeration of the disparity of stature between the Hebrews and some of the Canaanites. The fears of the unbelieving spies magnified their foes. Probably the average stature of the Israelites did not fall much below that of the Canaanites.
In our own sight in their sight The contempt of their enemies is consequent upon their own cowardly self-depreciation. They who do not respect themselves will fail to gain the respect of others. “The man who counts himself as a grasshopper when he is set to represent a great cause is apt to be counted as a grasshopper by those who oppose him. Peculiarly is this the truth with one of God’s representatives. He who realizes that he stands for One into whose hands all power in heaven and earth is given need have no fear of giants or of the sons of giants. His sufficiency is of God; and in this sufficiency he can move forward unflinching-ly, until the giants who oppose him find themselves as grasshoppers in the path of his progress.” H. Clay Trumbull.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
MY soul! in the sad picture this representation holds up to thy view of unbelieving, distrustful Israel, do thou behold a true image of thyself. Hath not my GOD and FATHER promised to bring all his people into the promised land? Is there not a rest for the people of GOD? Is not this at once both the gift of the FATHER’S love, and the purchase of the Redeemer’s grace; and is not the HOLY GHOST most graciously engaged, by the conquests of his power, to drive out all my enemies before me, and to bring me in by his own sovereignty? And yet, in the midst of all these positive assurances, am I not frequently questioning the reality of heaven’s joys, the sufficiency of JESUS’S redemption, and the suitableness of what that blessed Redeemer hath done and suffered, to answer my own personal wants therein? Dear LORD! how just would it have been to me, hadst thou dealt by me as I have richly deserved; and, if considered without reference to my interest in thy righteousness, to have given me up to an hardened, unbelieving mind. SON of GOD! I beseech thee cause my soul, through the softening influences of thy blessed SPIRIT, to be humbled upon all occasions for the weakness of my faith! And while I look back, by the HOLY GHOST’s aid in that precious part of his character, as the Remembrancer, to bring to my recollection through what a series of mercies, like Israel from Egypt, to this wilderness of Zin, the LORD hath brought me; oh! may I hear thy gracious voice, in the tender expostulations of thy love, saying personally to my heart, as to his disciples of old, Oh! thou of little faith wherefore dust thou doubt. LORD! grant that the many tokens of thy love in quickening grace, reviving grace, confirming grace, may be to my soul in recollection, as the gapes of Eshcol: and may my GOD give me the spirit of Caleb, to know and believe that I shall at length overcome all the enemies of my salvation, and be more than conqueror through thy grace enabling me.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
giants. Hebrew. nephilim. Those mentioned in Gen 6:4 were all destroyed in the Flood; these came from a second irruption of fallen angels, “after that”: i.e. after “those days” = the days of Noah. See Gen 6:4, and App-23and App-25. See note on Num 13:22.
sight. It is all “sight” where there is no faith 2Co 5:7.
grasshoppers: or locusts.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
saw the giants: Num 13:22, Deu 1:28, Deu 2:10, Deu 3:11, Deu 9:2, 1Sa 17:4-7, 2Sa 21:20-22, 1Ch 11:23
and we were: 1Sa 17:42, Isa 40:22
Reciprocal: Gen 6:4 – giants Num 13:28 – saw the Deu 2:11 – as the Anakims Jos 2:24 – Truly the Lord Jos 14:12 – the Anakims Jdg 1:10 – Sheshai 1Sa 9:2 – from his shoulders 1Sa 17:24 – sore 2Sa 21:16 – of the sons Pro 22:13 – The slothful Amo 2:9 – whose Joh 21:25 – that even
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 13:33. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers Thus their fear magnified these sons of Anak above measure, so that in comparison of them they thought themselves as weak and contemptible as insignificant insects. And so we were in their sight An hyperbole, signifying that the Anakims looked down upon them with the utmost contempt.