John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Only rebel not ye against the Lord , etc.] Nothing, it is suggested, could hinder them from the, possession of it but their rebellion against the Lord; which might provoke him to cut them off by his immediate hand, or to deliver them into the hands of their enemies; for rebellion is a dreadful sin, and highly provoking, ( 1 Samuel 15:23); neither fear ye the people the land ; on account of their number, strength, the walled cities they dwell in; they had nothing to fear from them, so be it they feared the Lord, and were not disobedient to him: for they [are] bread for us ; as easy to be cut to pieces, and to be devoured, consumed, and destroyed as thoroughly, as bread is when eaten; and their fields, vineyards, all they have without and within, even all their substance, will be a prey to us, and furnish out sufficient provision for us, on which we may pleasantly and plentifully live, as on bread: (see Psalm 14:4); their defence is departed from them ; they had no heart nor spirit left in them; no courage to defend themselves, and therefore the strength of their bodies and their walled towns would be of no avail unto them; (see Joshua 2:9-11); or “their shadow” f180 , which covered and protected them, the providence of God which was over them, and continued them in the land, and quiet possession of it, until the measure of their iniquity was filled up, and the time come for his people Israel to inhabit it; but now it was departed: and the Lord [is] with us ; as was evident by the cloud upon the tabernacle, and by the manna being spread around their camp every morning: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are, “the Word of the Lord is for our help:” fear them not ; the Canaanites, notwithstanding the strength of their bodies, or of their cities, the Lord is mightier than they.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-10 - Moses and Aaron were astonished to see a people throw away their ow mercies. Caleb and Joshua assured the people of the goodness of the land. They made nothing of the difficulties in the way of their gainin it. If men were convinced of the desirableness of the gains of religion, they would not stick at the services of it. Though the Canaanites dwell in walled cities, their defence was departed from them. The other spies took notice of their strength, but these of their wickedness. No people can be safe, when they have provoked God to leav them. Though Israel dwell in tents, they are fortified. While we have the presence of God with us, we need not fear the most powerful forc against us. Sinners are ruined by their own rebellion. But those who like Caleb and Joshua, faithfully expose themselves for God, are sure to be taken under his special protection, and shall be hid from the rage of men, either under heaven or in heaven. (Nu 14:11-19)
Original Hebrew אך389 ביהוה3068 אל408 תמרדו4775 ואתם859 אל408 תיראו3372 את853 עם5971 הארץ776 כי3588 לחמנו3899 הם1992 סר5493 צלם6738 מעליהם5921 ויהוה3068 אתנו854 אל408 תיראם׃3372
