Numbers 13:28

28 There are, however, powerful people who live in the land. The cities have huge fortifications. And we even saw the descendants of the Anakites there.

Numbers 13:28 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 13:28

Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land,
&c.] 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.

Numbers 13:28 In-Context

26 They went directly to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Paran desert at Kadesh. They brought back a report to them and to the entire community and showed them the land's fruit.

27 Then they gave their report: "We entered the land to which you sent us. It's actually full of milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28 There are, however, powerful people who live in the land. The cities have huge fortifications. And we even saw the descendants of the Anakites there.

29 The Amalekites live in the land of the arid southern plain; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the mountains; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan."

30 Now Caleb calmed the people before Moses and said, "We must go up and take possession of it, because we are more than able to do it."