Num 13:23-27 | TNotes

Summary for Num 13:25-29: 13:25-29 ^a The spies agreed that the land was good, but most doubted that Israel could conquer it. The strong, well-fed Canaanites had built fortified towns to protect themselves.
13:26 ^b Kadesh is often identified with ‘Ain el-Qudeirat, a spring at the northern border of Sinai and the southern edge of Canaan. There is no evidence of a Hebrew camp at this site during the period of the Exodus or the wilderness wanderings, so some scholars have suggested that ancient Kadesh was located elsewhere.
13:27 ^c The Promised Land is often described as a land flowing with milk and honey. Milk and dairy products constituted a major part of the diet in biblical times, and “milk” is used in figurative language for abundance (see Deut 32:14 ^d; Isa 55:1 ^e; Joel 3:18 ^f). Honey provided sweetness (see Pss 19:10 ^g; 119:103 ^h; Ezek 3:3 ⁱ; Rev 10:9-10 ^j). The phrase thus refers to a highly desirable destination, a land with an abundance of food and resources (cp. Num 16:13-14 ^k; see also Exod 3:8 ^l; Deut 6:3 ^m; 26:15 ⁿ; Jer 11:4-5 ^o; Ezek 20:6 ^p). The New Testament emphasizes the spiritual nature of God’s promises, pointing to a promised inheritance in heaven (see Rom 9:6-8 ^q; Gal 6:14-16 ^r; Rev 21:1-2 ^s).