Numbers 13:22-23
22When they went up through the Negev, they ▼▼ The MT has the singular, but the ancient versions and Smr have the plural.
came ▼▼ The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the following clause. The first verse gave the account of their journey over the whole land; this section focuses on what happened in the area of Hebron, which would be the basis for the false report.
to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, ▼▼ These names are thought to be three clans that were in the Hebron area (see Josh 15:14; Judg 1:20). To call them descendants of Anak is usually taken to mean that they were large or tall people (2 Sam 21:18–22). They were ultimately driven out by Caleb.
descendants of Anak, were living. (Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan ▼ in Egypt.) 23When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff ▼▼ The word is related etymologically to the verb for “slip, slide, bend, totter.” This would fit the use very well. A pole that would not bend would be hard to use to carry things, but a pole or stave that was flexible would serve well.
between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs.
Copyright information for
NETfull