Numbers 13:28

The quantities of flour in the meat offering, for each bullock, and for the ram, and for each lamb, are the same as in Numbers 15:4 only the quantity of oil for each is not here expressed, which for a bullock was half an hin of oil, for a ram the third part of an hin, and for a lamb the fourth part; and likewise the quantity of wine in the drink offerings for each of them is the same here as there; which, according to the Targum of Jonathan, was to be wine of grapes, and not any other: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the year; or, "of the month in its month" {g}; it was to be offered at its appointed time every month, and not to be deferred to another: Jarchi has the same remark here as on verse ten. See Gill on "Numbers 28:10". {g} wvdxb vdx "mensis in mense ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus. Numbers 28:13 Ver. 13. See Gill on "Numbers 28:12" Numbers 28:14 Ver. 14. See Gill on "Numbers 28:12" Numbers 28:15 Ver. 15. And one kid of the goats, for a sin offering unto the Lord, shall be offered,.... This was an offering of a different sort, not a burnt offering, but a sin offering, typical of Christ, who was made an offering for sin; and it was of that sort of sin offerings which were to be eaten, as the Jews say {h}; for there were some that were not, even such whose blood was brought into the sanctuary, Leviticus 6:30.

13:26-33 We may wonder that the people of Israel staid forty days for the return of their spies, when they were ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the Divine power, and the miracles that had hitherto attended them. But they distrusted God's power and promise. How much we stand in our own light by our unbelief! At length the messengers returned; but the greater part discouraged the people from going forward to Canaan. Justly are the Israelites left to this temptation, for putting confidence in the judgment of men, when they had the word of God to trust in. Though they had found the land as good as God had said, yet they would not believe it to be as sure as he had said, but despaired of having it, though Eternal Truth had engaged it to them. This was the representation of the evil spies. Caleb, however, encouraged them to go forward, though seconded by Joshua only. He does not say, Let us go up and conquer it; but, Let us go and possess it. Difficulties that are in the way of salvation, dwindle and vanish before a lively, active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they are promised, to him that believes; but carnal sense and carnal professors are not to be trusted. Unbelief overlooks the promises and power of God, magnifies every danger and difficulty, and fills the heart with discouragement. May the Lord help us to believe! we shall then find all things possible.

Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,.... Though so plentiful and fruitful and desirable to enjoy, yet this objection lay against all hopes and even attempts to possess it, as they thought; the strength of the people, its present inhabitants, both in body and mind, being persons of a large, and some of a prodigious stature, and to all appearance men of valour and courage: and the cities are walled and very great; and so inaccessible, and able to hold out a long siege, and repel what force may be brought against them; so that to attack them would be to little purpose: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there: whom they had heard of before, and so had the congregation of Israel, and many terrible and frightful stories were told of them, and these they now saw with their eyes, and very formidable they appeared to them; this seems to prove that others beside Caleb and Joshua were at Hebron, where the sons of Anak lived, Numbers 13:22; and so they might, and yet not be together with them.

(28) Nevertheless the people be strong . . . — The spies adopted the words of Exodus 3:8 , “flowing with milk and honey,” as descriptive of the fertility of the land of Canaan, but at the same time they discouraged the hearts of their brethren by their description of the strength of the fortified cities and the gigantic stature of the inhabitants. The children of Anak.—Better, of the Anakim. (See Numbers 13:22, and Note.)

27, 28. they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey—The report was given publicly in the audience of the people, and it was artfully arranged to begin their narrative with commendations of the natural fertility of the country in order that their subsequent slanders might the more readily receive credit.

In forty days the spies returned to the camp at Kadesh (see at Numbers 16:6 ), and reported the great fertility of the land ("it floweth with milk and honey," see at Exodus 3:8 ), pointing, at the same time, to the fruit they had brought with them; "nevertheless," they added (כּי אפס, "only that"), "the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are fortified, very large: and, moreover, we saw the children of Anak there." Amalekites dwelt in the south (see at Genesis 36:12 ); Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites in the mountains (see at Genesis 10:15-16 ); and Canaanites by the (Mediterranean) Sea and on the side of the Jordan, i.e., in the Arabah or Ghor (see at Genesis 13:7 and Genesis 10:15-18 ).

[Reformed Biblical] lambs, besides that for the daily sacrifice, Num_28:10. Numbers 28:10 Numbers 28:11 ## In the beginnings of your months, which though not reckoned among the solemn feasts, Le 23 , yet were celebrated as such, by the sound of trumpets, Num_10:10, by extraordinary sacrifices, by abstinence from servile works, Amo_8:5, and by attendance upon the ministry of God’s word, 2Ki_4:23. And God ordained it thus, partly that by giving God the first-fruits of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all their time, and own his providence, by which all times and seasons, and all the fruits and blessings of them, and actions done in them, are ordered; and partly that it might be a type of the future renovation of the world by Christ. Numbers 28:12 Numbers 28:13 Numbers 28:14 i.e. To be offered in the beginning of every month. Numbers 28:15 ## One kid of the goats; a he-goat. See Num_15:24. Unto the Lord; not unto the moon, to which the Gentiles offered it. Numbers 28:16 Instituted by him, and to his honour and service. See on Lev_23:5. Numbers 28:17 ## The feast, to wit, of unleavened bread; of which see on Lev_23:6.

4. Annual.1. The passover to last seven days; the offerings, two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of a year old, and a he-goat for a sin-offering, Numbers 28:16, etc. 2. The day of First-Fruits. The sacrifices, the same as on the beginning of the month, Numbers 28:26, etc. With these sacrifices were offered libations, or drink-offerings of strong wine, Numbers 28:7, Numbers 28:14, and minchahs, or meat-offerings, composed of fine flour mingled with oil, Numbers 28:8, Numbers 28:12, etc. For an ample account of all these offerings, see the notes on Leviticus 7 (note) and Exodus 12 (note). 1. Of abstinence or humiliation, see Numbers 30:13; 2. Of the Nazarite, see Numbers 6; 3. Of giving certain things or sacrifices to the Lord, Leviticus 7:16; 4. Of alms given to the poor, see Deu 23:21. The law in this chapter must have been very useful, as it both prevented and annulled rash vows, and provided a proper sanction for the support and performance of those that were rationally and piously made. Besides, this law must have acted as a great preventive of lying and hypocrisy. If a vow was properly made, a man or woman was bound, under penalty of the displeasure of God, to fulfill it.