SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:19
qué tal la tierra habitada, si es buena o mala; y qué tales son las ciudades habitadas, si de tiendas o de fortalezas;
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. And what the land [is] that they dwell in, whether it [be] good or bad , etc.] Whether the air is good, the climate temperate, and the earth well watered, and has good convenience of springs, fountains, and rivers, and so wholesome or healthful; or otherwise, which is the first thing they were directed to observe, though here put in the second place: and what cities [they be] they dwell in, whether in tents or strong holds ; whether in tents, as the Israelites now lived, and as the Kedarenes, as Aben Ezra notes, and other Arabians, who encamped in tents, or who dwelt in villages, and unwalled towns, unfortified cities, according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; or whether in fortified cities, towns, and garrisons; by which it would appear whether it would be easy to come at them, and fall upon them, or difficult to subdue and conquer them; for if their cities were fortified, it would not be so easy to take them, and would require time. Jarchi thinks, that by this it might be known whether they were men of strength and courage, or whether weak and fearful persons; seeing if they dwelt in villages they were strong men, and depended on their own strength, but if they dwelt in fortified cities, they were weak.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-20 - A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and the followin chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, an the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness, for their unbelief and murmuring. It appears, De 1:22, that the motion to searc out the land came from the people. They had a better opinion of their own policy than of God's wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves by believin the reports and representations of sense rather than Divine revelation We walk by sight not by faith. Moses gave the spies this charge, Be of good courage. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon which required good management and resolution; but a great trust wa reposed in them, which required that they should be faithful. Courag in such circumstances can only spring from strong faith, which Cale and Joshua alone possessed.
Original Hebrew
ומה 4100 הארץ 776 אשׁר 834 הוא 1931 ישׁב 3427 בה הטובה 2896 הוא 1931 אם 518 רעה 7451 ומה 4100 הערים 5892 אשׁר 834 הוא 1931 יושׁב 3427 בהנה 2007 הבמחנים 4264 אם 518 במבצרים׃ 4013
