Numbers 13:11

Num 13:11. Of Joseph — The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim, here to Manasseh; possibly to aggravate the sin of the ruler of this tribe, who did so basely degenerate from his noble ancestor.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan,.... He sent them from Kadeshbarnea, as Caleb affirms, Jos 14:7,

and said unto them, go ye up this way southward; pointing as it were with his finger which way they should go, even up such a hill southward; and which, as Aben Ezra observes, was not the south of the camp, but the south of the land of Canaan; and who further observes, that it is well known that Egypt, from whence the Israelites now came, was to the south of the land of Israel, of which this is a demonstration; the latitude of Egypt is less than thirty degrees, and the latitude of Jerusalem is thirty three, and the wilderness of Paran was in the south of the land of Egypt: it should be rendered by "the south", as in Num 13:22; or from the "south" (p), since the Israelites must go northward, as a learned man (q) observes, to enter into the land of Canaan: now this south part of Canaan afterwards belonged to the tribe of Judah, and lying southward, and mountainous, was dry and barren, Jos 15:1; and was, as Jarchi says, the dregs of the land of Israel; and here, as he observes, the same method was taken as merchants do, who, when they show their goods, show the worst first, and then the best:

and go up into the mountain; which was inhabited by the Amorites, Deu 1:44; and was afterwards called the mountainous or hill country of Judea, Luk 1:39.

(p) "per meridianam plagam", V. L. "hac meridiana plaga", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (q) Bishop Clayton's Chronology of the Hebrew Bible, p. 392.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

i.e. Of that part of the tribe of Joseph which is peculiarly called

the tribe of Manasseh, as the other part of it was called the tribe of Ephraim, Num 13:8. The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim, as Eze 37:16,19; Re 7:8; here to Manasseh; possibly to aggravate the sin of the ruler of this tribe, who did so basely degenerate from his noble ancestor, Joseph.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 11-19. Skilful intercession.

The crowning act of unbelief on the part of the Israelites at Kadesh brings God into their midst in righteous anger, lie remonstrates (verse 11) and threatens (verse 12). God"s foreknowledge of Moses" prayer did not prevent this apparently absolute threat. This need be no difficulty to us, unless we hold opinions about God which would make the government of free, moral beings by promises and threats impossible. For illustrations of Divine words or acts contingent on human actions see 2Ki_20:1-11 Luk_24:28, 29 Act_27:22-24, Act_27:31. Moses stands in the breach, and skillfully urges two motives, suggested by

I HIS ZEAL FOR THE HONOUR OF GOD.

II HIS FAITH IN THE MERCY OF GOD.

I (verses 13-16). The Egyptians would soon "make comedies out of the Church"s tragedies." Our best pleas are founded on the prayer, "Hallowed be thy name." E.g.,

1. In pleading for a highly-favoured but guilty nation. After all God has done for Britain and by it, may we not feel as though it would be a dishonour on the Christian name and a reflection on the Christian"s God if we were altogether cast off. Our plea is Jer_10:24, and our hope Jer_30:11.

2. In pleading for a fallen Christian.

3. Or for ourselves. (Psa_79:9 Jer_14:7, &c.); God feels the power of this motive. (Deu_32:27 Eze_20:9, Eze_20:14) God is not) like some men, indifferent to his own reputation. (Isa_48:11)

II Note how skillfully Moses uses God"s own declaration of his name in Exodus 34. He appeals

(1) to the pure mercy of God;

(2) to the past mercies of God. P. (Psa_25:6, 7 51:1 Isa_55:7, Isa_55:8)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Of Joseph - The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim, here to Manasseh; possibly to aggravate the sin of the ruler of this tribe, who did so basely degenerate from his noble ancestor.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.