Numbers 13:18

18 See what the land is like. See whether the people who live there are strong or weak. See whether they are few or many.

Numbers 13:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 13:18

And see the land what it [is], and the people that dwelleth
therein
The situation and condition of the country, and the nature, temper, disposition, and constitution of the inhabitants, by which it might be judged whether it was a desirable thing to possess it, and whether it was practicable to subdue and take it;

whether they [be] strong or weak, few or many;
whether able-bodied men fit for war, and of spirit, strength, and courage, or feeble and pusillanimous, weak and timorous; and whether their number was small or great, by which they would be capable of judging whether they were in a state and condition to defend themselves or not, and whether a conquest of them was easy or not; the last of the two things in the preceding clause is first particularly explained and enlarged upon, as is usual in the Hebrew language.

Numbers 13:18 In-Context

16 Those are the men Moses sent to check out the land. He gave the name Joshua to Hoshea, the son of Nun.

17 Moses sent them to check out Canaan. He said, "Go up through the Negev Desert. Go on into the central hill country.

18 See what the land is like. See whether the people who live there are strong or weak. See whether they are few or many.

19 "What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Do the towns have high walls around them or not?

20 How is the soil? Is it rich land or poor land? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." It was the season for the first ripe grapes.