I did not think it needful to stop the Reader with any observations which arise out of these verses, having already dwelt upon the subject in the Commentary on the 13th and 14th Chapter s of the Book of Numbers. If the Reader will consult what is there said, he will find that what suits the one is equally applicable to the other. And he will discover, moreover, that this part of Moses' sermon is a beautiful duplicate of that history. But while I refer the Reader to what hath been already brought before him on the subject, in order to avoid swelling the Commentary to an unnecessary length, I must beg to detain him with calling to his attention two or three leading points in this discourse of Moses, which were not in the history itself, but which serve to illustrate and explain it. It appears by that history, as if the idea of sending men to search the land had originated in the LORD'S appointment; whereas by comparing this Scripture with what is there said, we discover that it was the fear and unbelief of the children of Israel, and the doubt they had in GOD'S promise, that first suggested in them the thought; and that, then, the LORD, as if in gracious accommodation to the weakness of his people, permitted the thing to be. And had the spies been faithful and true to what they beheld of the promised land, and had brought back a good report, all might still have been well. But alas! what will not unbelief induce! Unbelief breeds fear, and fear begets sin. Reader! recollect what the apostle saith on this sin of Israel: they could not enter in because of unbelief Hebrews 3:19. Compare this chapter with Numbers 13:1 and Numbers 14:1. I detain the Reader only one moment longer to observe, that it appears evidently, from this part of the sermon of Moses, that the whole wandering of the people forty years in the wilderness, instead of immediately entering into Canaan when they came out of Egypt, and were so near to it, arose wholly from their distrust and disbelief of GOD'S promises. So very awful a thing is it to question or doubt the divine faithfulness. Reader! I would request you to pause over this view of the subject. Observe, it was not the breach of any particular command; it was not the commission of this or that particular sin, for which the LORD sentenced his people to wander in the wilderness; but it was simply their unbelief. It was the same dreadful malignity of mind, which in the gospel is threatened with everlasting exclusion from the heavenly Canaan. For "he that believeth not the record which GOD hath given of his SON, maketh GOD a liar; " and we are awfully told, that the wrath of GOD abideth upon him." See John 3:36. Oh! for the grace of faith to give due credit to a most faithful covenant GOD in CHRIST.
Deuteronomy 1:19-46
19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.
20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.
21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:
24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.
25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.
26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouragedg our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;
31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.
34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,
35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,
36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath whollyh followed the LORD.
37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.
38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.
42 And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.
43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and wenti presumptuously up into the hill.
44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.
45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.
46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.