언어
챗봇 KG 근거 인용 · draft

주석[매튜 헨리] — 민수기 13장 · 정탐꾼 파견

요약
매튜 헨리 주석 · 섹션 4개 · 한국어 번역 있음(한국어 우선) · 본문 보기
아래 주석은 원문(및 번역문) 그대로입니다.

1~20절 카드 ↗

Missions of the Twelve Spies. . 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. Here we have, I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan. It is here said, God directed Moses to send them ( Numbers 13:1 ; Numbers 13:2 ), but it appears by the repetition of the story afterwards ( Deuteronomy 1:22 ) that the motion came originally from the people; they came to Moses, and said, We will send men before us; and it was the fruit of their unbelief. They would not take God's word that it was a good land, and that he would, without fail, put them in possession of it. They could not trust the pillar of cloud and fire to show them the way to it, but had a better opinion of their own politics than of God's wisdom. How absurd was it for them to send to spy out a land which God himself had spied out for them, to enquire the way into it when God himself had undertaken to show them the way! But thus we ruin ourselves by giving more credit to the reports and representations of sense than to divine revelation; we walk by sight, not by faith; whereas, if we will receive the witness of men, without doubt the witness of God is greater. The people making this motion to Moses, he (perhaps not aware of the unbelief at the bottom of it) consulted God in the case, who bade him gratify the people in this matter, and send spies before them: "Let them walk in their own counsels." Yet God was no way accessory to the sin that followed, for the sending of these spies was so far from being the cause of the sin that if the spies had done their duty, and the people theirs, it might have been the confirmation of their faith, and of good service to them. II. The persons nominated that were to be employed in this service ( Numbers 13:4-15 ; Numbers 13:4-15 , c.), one of each tribe, that it might appear to be the act of the people in general and rulers, person of figure in their respective tribes, some of the rulers of thousands or hundreds, to put the greater credit upon their embassy. This was designed for the best, but it proved to have this ill effect that the quality of the persons occasioned the evil report they brought up to be the more credited and the people to be the more influenced by it. Some think that they are all named for the sake of two good ones that were among them, Caleb and Joshua. Notice is taken of the change of Joshua's name upon this occasion, Numbers 13:16 ; Numbers 13:16 . He was Moses's minister, but had been employed, though of the tribe of Ephraim, as general of the forces that were sent out against Amalek. The name by which he was generally called and known in his own tribe was Oshea, but Moses called him Joshua, in token of his affection to him and power over him; and now, it should seem, he ordered others to call him so, and fixed that to be his name henceforward. Oshea signifies a prayer for salvation, Save thou; Joshua signifies a promise of salvation, He will save, in answer to that prayer: so near is the relation between prayers and promises. Prayers prevail for promises, and promises direct and encourage prayers. Some think that Moses designed, by taking the first syllable of the name Jehovah and prefixing it to his name, which turned Hoshea into Jehoshua, to put an honour upon him, and to encourage him in this and all his future services with the assurances of God's presence. Yet after this he is called Hoshea, Deuteronomy 32:44 . Jesus is the same name with Joshua, and it is the name of our Lord Christ, of whom Joshua was a type as successor to Moses, Israel's captain, and conqueror of Canaan. There was another of the same name, who was also a type of Christ, Zechariah 6:11 . Joshua was the saviour of God's people from the powers of Canaan, but Christ is their Saviour from the powers of hell. III. The instructions given to those spies. They were sent into the land of Canaan the nearest way, to traverse the country, and to take account of its present state, Numbers 13:17 ; Numbers 13:17 . Two heads of enquiry were given them in charge, 1. Concerning the land itself: See what that is ( Numbers 13:18 ; Numbers 13:18 , and again, Numbers 13:19 ; Numbers 13:19 ), see whether it be good or bad, and ( Numbers 13:20 ; Numbers 13:20 ) whether it be fat or lean. All parts of the earth do not share alike in the blessing of fruitfulness; some countries are blessed with a richer soil than others. Moses himself was well satisfied that Canaan was a very good land, but he sent these spies to bring an account of it for the satisfaction of the people; as John Baptist sent to Jesus, to ask whether he was the Christ, not to inform himself, but to inform those he sent. They must take notice whether the air was healthful or no, what the soil was, and what the productions; and, for the better satisfaction of the people, they must bring with them some of the fruits. 2. Concerning the inhabitants--their number, few or many--their size and stature, whether strong able-bodied men or weak,--their habitations, whether they lived in tents or houses, whether in open villages or in walled towns,--whether the woods were standing as in those countries that are uncultivated, through the unskillfulness and slothfulness of the inhabitants, or whether the woods were cut down, and the country made champaign, for the convenience of tillage. These were the things they were to enquire about. Perhaps there had not been of late years such commerce between Egypt and Canaan as there was in Jacob's time, else they might have informed themselves of these things without sending men on purpose to search. See the advantage we may derive from books and learning, which acquaint those that are curious and inquisitive with the state of foreign countries, at a much greater distance than Canaan was now from Israel, without this trouble and expense. IV. Moses dismisses the spies with this charge, Be of good courage, intimating, not only that they should be themselves encouraged against the difficulties of this expedition, but that they should bring an encouraging account to the people and make the best of every thing. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon, which required good management and resolution, but it was a great trust that was reposed in them, which required that they should be faithful. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-21-25" class="com-number"

Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

bible-text/num-13-1, bible-text/num-13-2, bible-text/num-13-3, bible-text/num-13-4, bible-text/num-13-5, bible-text/num-13-6, bible-text/num-13-7, bible-text/num-13-8, bible-text/num-13-9, bible-text/num-13-10, bible-text/num-13-11, bible-text/num-13-12, bible-text/num-13-13, bible-text/num-13-14, bible-text/num-13-15, bible-text/num-13-16, bible-text/num-13-17, bible-text/num-13-18, bible-text/num-13-19, bible-text/num-13-20

Source

여기서 우리는 다음 내용을 살펴본다.

**I. 가나안 땅을 정탐할 자들을 보내라는 명령**

정탐꾼을 보내라는 명령은 하나님께서 모세에게 내리신 것으로 기록되어 있다(민수기 13:1-2). 그러나 이 이야기를 다시 서술하는 신명기 1장 22절을 보면, 그 발의가 본래 백성에게서 나왔음을 알 수 있다. 백성이 모세에게 나아와 "우리보다 먼저 사람들을 보내 그 땅을 정탐하게 하자"라고 말했으며, 이것은 그들의 불신앙에서 비롯된 결과였다. 백성은 그 땅이 좋다는 하나님의 말씀을 믿으려 하지 않았고, 반드시 그 땅을 소유하게 해 주시겠다는 약속도 신뢰하지 않았다. 구름 기둥과 불 기둥이 길을 인도하는 것을 믿지 않고, 하나님의 지혜보다 자기들의 계략을 더 신뢰했다.

하나님께서 친히 그들을 위해 살피신 땅을 그들 스스로 정탐하러 보내고, 하나님 자신이 길을 보여 주겠다고 약속하신 땅으로 가는 길을 따로 물으러 보낸다는 것이 얼마나 어리석은 일인가! 이처럼 우리는 하나님의 계시보다 감각이 전하는 보고와 표상을 더 신뢰함으로 스스로를 망친다. 우리는 믿음으로 걷지 않고 눈으로 걷는다. 사람의 증언도 받아들이는 우리인데, 하나님의 증언은 두말할 것 없이 그보다 더 크지 않겠는가.

백성이 이 제안을 모세에게 말하자, 모세는 (아마도 그 불신앙의 밑바닥을 미처 알아채지 못한 채) 하나님께 여쭈었고, 하나님께서는 백성의 뜻대로 정탐꾼을 보내도록 허락하셨다. "그들이 자기 계획대로 행하게 하라." 그러나 하나님께서는 그 이후에 일어난 죄에 어떤 식으로도 책임이 없으시다. 정탐꾼을 보내는 일 자체가 죄의 원인이 된 것이 아니라, 만약 정탐꾼들이 자기 의무를 다하고 백성도 그에 합당하게 행했다면, 오히려 믿음을 확인하고 유익이 될 수도 있었다.

**II. 이 임무에 선발된 사람들**

각 지파에서 한 명씩, 곧 각 지파에서 지위 있는 지도자들이 선발되었다(민수기 13:4-15). 이는 이 일이 백성 전체의 행위임을 나타내기 위함이었다. 이 사람들의 신분이 높다 보니, 그들이 가져온 나쁜 보고가 더욱 신빙성 있게 받아들여지고 백성이 더욱 그 영향을 받게 되는 악영향이 생겼다. 어떤 이들은 열두 명 중 좋은 두 사람, 곧 갈렙과 여호수아를 위해 모두가 이름으로 기록된 것이라고 생각한다.

이 기회에 여호수아의 이름이 바뀐 것에 대해 언급이 있다(민수기 13:16). 그는 모세의 수종자였으나, 에브라임 지파 출신임에도 불구하고 아말렉과 싸울 군대의 장군으로 파견된 바 있었다. 그의 지파 내에서 통용되던 이름은 호세아였으나, 모세가 그에 대한 애정과 권위의 표시로 여호수아라 불렀고, 이제 다른 이들도 그를 그 이름으로 부르게 하여 이후 그의 이름으로 정착시켰다. 호세아는 구원을 비는 기도를 뜻하고("주여, 구원하소서"), 여호수아는 구원의 약속을 뜻한다("그가 구원하실 것이다"). 기도와 약속의 관계가 이처럼 가깝다. 기도는 약속을 향해 나아가고, 약속은 기도를 인도하고 격려한다.

어떤 이들은 모세가 여호와의 이름 첫 음절을 그의 이름 앞에 붙여 호세아를 여호수아로 바꿈으로써 그를 높이고, 하나님의 임재를 보증하며 이 임무와 이후의 모든 사역에서 그를 격려하려 했다고 생각한다. 그럼에도 신명기 32장 44절에서 그는 여전히 호세아라 불린다. '예수'는 '여호수아'와 같은 이름이며, 여호수아의 후계자로서 이스라엘의 장군이 되어 가나안을 정복하신 우리 주 그리스도의 이름이다. 여호수아는 가나안 세력에서 하나님의 백성을 구한 구원자이지만, 그리스도는 지옥 세력에서 그들을 구하시는 구원자이시다.

**III. 정탐꾼들에게 내린 지시**

그들은 가나안 땅으로 가장 가까운 길로 들어가 그 지역을 샅샅이 살피고 현재 상태를 기록하도록 파견되었다(민수기 13:17). 두 가지 항목을 조사하도록 명령받았다.

첫 번째, 그 땅 자체에 관하여: 그 땅이 어떠한지 살피고(민수기 13:18-20), 좋은지 나쁜지, 기름진지 메마른지 보아야 했다. 지구상의 모든 지역이 같은 복을 받는 것은 아니어서, 어떤 나라는 다른 나라보다 더 기름진 토양의 복을 받는다. 모세 자신은 가나안이 매우 좋은 땅임을 충분히 알고 있었지만, 백성의 납득을 위해 정탐꾼들을 보내어 그 상황을 보고하게 했다. 이는 세례 요한이 예수님께 "오실 그이가 당신이오니이까"라고 물으러 사람들을 보낸 것과 같아서, 자신의 정보를 얻기 위해서가 아니라 보낸 이들을 위해서였다. 그들은 공기가 건강에 좋은지, 토양이 어떠한지, 산물이 무엇인지 살피고, 백성의 납득을 위해 그 열매 중 일부를 가져와야 했다.

두 번째, 주민에 관하여: 그 수가 많은지 적은지, 체격과 키가 어떠한지 강한지 약한지, 그들의 거처가 천막인지 가옥인지, 성벽이 없는 마을인지 요새화된 성읍인지, 삼림이 우거져 있는지 아니면 개간된 평지인지를 살펴야 했다. 이런 점들이 조사 대상이었다. 아마도 야곱 시대처럼 이집트와 가나안 사이에 최근 교역이 없었기에, 일부러 사람을 보내지 않고는 이런 정보를 얻을 수 없었을 것이다. 책과 학문의 유익을 보라. 오늘날에는 호기심 있고 탐구적인 사람이 이스라엘에서 가나안까지의 거리보다 훨씬 먼 나라의 사정을 이런 수고와 비용 없이도 알 수 있다.

**IV. 마지막으로 모세는 정탐꾼들에게 이런 당부와 함께 보냈다: "담대하라."**

이는 단순히 이 위험한 임무에서 용기를 잃지 말라는 뜻만이 아니라, 돌아와서 백성에게 격려가 되는 보고를 가져오고 모든 것을 최선으로 여기라는 의미였다. 이 일은 크나큰 도전이었으므로 훌륭한 판단력과 결단력이 필요했고, 맡겨진 큰 신뢰를 충실히 이행하는 것이 요구되었다.

원주석

1~33절 카드 ↗

N U M B E R S CHAP. XIII. It is a memorable and very melancholy story which is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, when they were just ready to set foot in it, and the sentencing of them to wander and perish in the wilderness for their unbelief and murmuring. It is referred to Psalms 95:7-11 , &c., and improved for warning to Christians, Hebrews 3:7-19 , &c. In this chapter we have, I. The sending of twelve spies before them into Canaan, Numbers 13:1-16 . II. The instructions given to these spies, Numbers 13:17-20 . III. Their executing their commission according to their instructions, and their return from the search, Numbers 13:21-25 . IV. The report they brought back to the camp of Israel, Numbers 13:26-33 , &c. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-1-20" class="com-number"

Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

Source

민수기 13장과 이어지는 14장에는 이스라엘이 가나안 땅의 경계에 막 당도하여 그 땅에 발을 들여놓으려던 순간, 오히려 발걸음을 돌려 광야에서 방랑하다 멸망하도록 선고받은 사건이 기록되어 있다. 이 이야기는 기억할 만한 매우 비통한 이야기다. 이 사건은 시편 95편 7-11절 등에서 언급되고, 히브리서 3장 7-19절 등에서 그리스도인들에 대한 경고로 활용된다.

이 장에서 다루는 내용은 다음과 같다.

첫째, 열두 명의 정탐꾼을 가나안으로 미리 보낸 사건 (민수기 13:1-16).

둘째, 이 정탐꾼들에게 내린 지시 (민수기 13:17-20).

셋째, 정탐꾼들이 명령대로 임무를 수행하고 정탐을 마친 뒤 돌아온 사건 (민수기 13:21-25).

넷째, 그들이 이스라엘 진영에 돌아와 가져온 보고 (민수기 13:26-33).

원주석

21~25절 카드 ↗

21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north, Numbers 13:21 ; Numbers 13:21 . See Numbers 34:3 ; Numbers 34:8 . It is probable that they did not go altogether in a body, lest they should be suspected and taken up, which there would be the more danger of if the Canaanites knew (and one would think they could not but know) how near the Israelites were to them; but they divided themselves into several companies, and so passed unsuspected, as way-faring men. 2. They took particular notice of Hebron ( Numbers 13:22 ; Numbers 13:22 ), probably because near there was the field of Machpelah, where the patriarchs were buried ( Genesis 23:2 ), whose dead bodies did, as it were, keep possession of that land for their posterity. To this sepulchre they made a particular visit, and found the adjoining city in the possession of the sons of Anak, who are here named. In that place where they expected the greatest encouragements they met with the greatest discouragements. Where the bodies of their ancestors kept possession for them the giants kept possession against them. They ascended by the south, and came to Hebron, that is, "Caleb," say the Jews, "in particular," for to his being there we find express reference, Joshua 14:9 ; Joshua 14:12 ; Joshua 14:13 . But that others of the spies were there too appears by their description of the Anakim, Numbers 13:33 ; Numbers 13:33 . 3. They brought a bunch of grapes with them, and some other of the fruits of the land, as a proof of the extraordinary goodness of the country. Probably they furnished themselves with these fruits when they were leaving the country and returning. The cluster of grapes was so large and so heavy that they hung it upon a bar, and carried it between two of them, Numbers 13:23 ; Numbers 13:24 . The place whence they took it was, from this circumstance, called the valley of the cluster, that famous cluster which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are the present comforts which we have in communion with God, foretastes of the fulness of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan. We may see by them what heaven is. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-26-33" class="com-number"

Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

bible-text/num-13-21, bible-text/num-13-22, bible-text/num-13-23, bible-text/num-13-24, bible-text/num-13-25

Source

여기서 우리는 정탐꾼들이 약속의 땅을 살핀 내용을 간략하게 살펴본다.

**1. 그들은 땅 전체를 샅샅이 살폈다.**

남쪽 신 광야에서 북쪽 하맛 근처의 르홉에 이르기까지 두루 다녔다(민수기 13:21; 민수기 34:3, 8 참조). 그들이 한꺼번에 무리 지어 다니지 않았을 것은 분명하다. 무리 지어 다니면 의심을 받아 잡힐 위험이 있었을 것이기 때문이다. 특히 이스라엘이 자신들에게 이미 가까이 와 있다는 것을 가나안 사람들이 모를 리 없었을 것이다. 그러므로 그들은 여러 무리로 나뉘어 여행자처럼 의심받지 않고 지나다녔을 것이다.

**2. 그들은 헤브론에 특별히 주목했다(민수기 13:22).**

아마도 조상들이 묻힌 막벨라 굴이 거기 있었기 때문일 것이다(창세기 23:2). 조상들의 유해가 마치 그 땅에 대한 후손들의 소유권을 지키고 있는 셈이었다. 그들은 이 무덤을 특별히 방문했는데, 인근 성읍이 아낙 자손들의 손에 있음을 발견했다. 가장 큰 위로를 기대했던 바로 그곳에서 가장 큰 낙담을 만난 것이다. 조상들의 유해가 그들을 위해 그 땅의 소유권을 지키고 있는 곳에서, 거인들이 그 소유권을 맞서 지키고 있었다.

유대인들은 헤브론에 올라간 자는 갈렙 한 사람이라고 말한다. 이는 여호수아서 14장 9절, 12절, 13절에 그가 거기 있었다는 명시적 언급이 있기 때문이다. 그러나 다른 정탐꾼들도 거기 있었음은 민수기 13장 33절에서 그들이 아낙 자손을 묘사하는 데서 드러난다.

**3. 그들은 포도 한 송이와 그 땅의 다른 열매들을 가지고 왔다.**

이는 그 나라의 특별한 풍요로움을 증명하기 위해서였다. 아마도 그 나라를 떠나 돌아오는 길에 이 열매들을 챙겼을 것이다. 포도 한 송이가 너무 크고 무거워서 그들은 장대에 매달아 두 사람이 들었다(민수기 13:23-24). 그들이 가져온 곳은 이 일로 인해 '에스골 골짜기', 곧 '송이 골짜기'라 불리게 되었다. 이스라엘에게 이 유명한 송이는 가나안의 모든 열매를 미리 맛보이는 보증이자 표본이었다. 이는 하나님과의 교제 속에서 우리가 지금 누리는 위로와 같다. 하늘의 가나안에서 누릴 충만한 기쁨을 미리 맛보는 것이다. 우리는 그것으로 천국이 어떤 곳인지 볼 수 있다.

원주석

26~33절 카드 ↗

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. It is a wonder how the people of Israel had patience to stay forty days for the return of their spies, when they were just ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the divine power, and a constant series of miracles that had hitherto attended them; but they distrusted God's power and promise, and were willing to be held in suspense by their own counsels, rather than be brought to a certainty by God's covenant. How much do we stand in our own light by our unbelief! Well, at length the messengers return, but they agree not in their report. I. The major part discourage the people from going forward to Canaan; and justly are the Israelites left to this temptation, for putting so much confidence in the judgment of men, when they had the word of God to trust to. It is a righteous thing with God to give those up to strong delusions who will not receive his truth in the love of it. 1. Observe their report. (1.) They could not deny but that the land of Canaan was a very fruitful land; the bunch of grapes they brought with them was an ocular demonstration of it, Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 13:27 . God had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and the evil spies themselves own that it is such a land. Thus even out of the mouth of adversaries will God be glorified and the truth of his promise attested. And yet afterwards they contradict themselves, when they say ( Numbers 13:32 ; Numbers 13:32 ), It is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; as if, though it had milk, and honey, and grapes, yet it wanted other necessary provision; some think that there was a great plague in the country at the time they surveyed it, which they ought to have imputed to the wisdom of the divine Providence, which thus lessened the numbers of their enemies, to facilitate their conquests; but they invidiously imputed it to the unwholesomeness of the air, and thence took occasion to disparage the country. For this unreasonable fear of a plague in Canaan, they were justly cut off immediately by a plague in the wilderness, Numbers 14:37 ; Numbers 14:37 . But, (2.) They represented the conquest of it as altogether impracticable, and that it was to no purpose to attempt it. The people are strong ( Numbers 13:28 ; Numbers 13:28 ), men of a great stature ( Numbers 13:32 ; Numbers 13:32 ), stronger than we, Numbers 13:31 ; Numbers 13:31 . The cities are represented as impregnable fortresses: they are walled and very great, Numbers 13:28 ; Numbers 13:28 . But nothing served their ill purpose more than a description of the giants, on whom they lay a great stress: We saw the children of Anak there ( Numbers 13:28 ; Numbers 13:28 ), and again, we saw the giants, those men of a prodigious size, the sons of Anak, who come of the giants, Numbers 13:33 ; Numbers 13:33 . They spoke as if they were ready to tremble at the mention of them, as they had done at the sight of them. "O these tremendous giants! when we were near them, we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, not only little and weak, but trembling and daunted." Compare Job 39:20 , Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? "Nay, and so we were in their sight; they looked upon us with as much scorn and disdain as we did upon them with fear and trembling." So that upon the whole matter they gave it in as their judgment, We are not able to go up against them ( Numbers 13:31 ; Numbers 13:31 ), and therefore must think of taking some other course. 2. Now, even if they had been to judge only by human probabilities, they could not have been excused from the imputation of cowardice. Were not the hosts of Israel very numerous? 600,000 effective men, well marshalled and modelled, closely embodied, and entirely united in interest and affection, constituted as formidable an army as perhaps was ever brought into the field; many a less has done more than perhaps the conquering of Canaan was, witness Alexander's army. Moses, their commander-in-chief, was wise and brave; and if the people had put on resolution, and behaved themselves valiantly, what could have stood before them? It is true the Canaanites were strong, but they were dispersed ( Numbers 13:29 ; Numbers 13:29 ): Some dwell in the south and others in the mountains; so that by reason of their distance they could not soon get together, and by reason of their divided interests they could not long keep together, to oppose Israel. The country being plentiful would subsist an army, and, though the cities were walled, if they could beat them in the field the strong-holds would fall of course into their hands. And, lastly, as for the giants, their overgrown stature would but make them the better mark, and the bulkiest men have not always the best mettle. 3. But, though they deserved to be posted for cowards, this was not the worst, the scripture brands them for unbelievers. It was not any human probabilities they were required to depend upon, but, (1.) They had the manifest and sensible tokens of God's presence with them, and the engagement of his power for them. The Canaanites were stronger than Israel; suppose they were, but were they stronger than the God of Israel? We are not able to deal with them, but is not God Almighty able? Have we not him in the midst of us? Does not he go before us? And is any thing too hard for him? Were we as grasshoppers before the giants, and are not they less than grasshoppers before God? Their cities are walled against us, but can they be walled against heaven? Besides this, (2.) They had had very great experience of the length and strength of God's arm, lifted up and made bare on their behalf. Were not the Egyptians as much stronger than they as the Canaanites were? And yet, without a sword drawn by Israel or a stroke struck, the chariots and horsemen of Egypt were quite routed and ruined; the Amalekites took them at great disadvantages, and yet they were discomfited. Miracles were at this time their daily bread; were there nothing else, an army so well victualled as theirs was, so constantly, so plentifully, and all on free cost, would have a might advantage against any other force. Nay, (3.) They had particular promises made them of victory and success in their wars against the Canaanites. God had given Abraham all possible assurances that he would put his seed into possession of that land, Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 17:8 . He had expressly promised them by Moses that he would drive out the Canaanites from before them ( Exodus 33:2 ), and that he would do it by little and little, Exodus 23:30 . And, after all this, for them to say, We are not able to go up against them, was in effect to say, "God himself is not able to make his words good." It was in effect to give him the lie, and to tell him he had undertaken more than he could perform. We have a short account of their sin, with which they infected the whole congregation, Psalms 106:24 . They despised the land, they believed not his word. Though, upon search, they had found it as good as he had said, a land flowing with milk and honey, yet they would not believe it as sure as he had said, but despaired of having it, though eternal truth itself had engaged it to them. And now this is the representation of the evil spies. II. Caleb encouraged them to go forward, though he was seconded by Joshua only ( Numbers 13:30 ; Numbers 13:30 ): Caleb stilled the people, whom he saw already put into a ferment even before Moses himself, whose shining face could not daunt them, when they began to grow unruly. Caleb signifies all heart, and he answered his name, was hearty himself, and would have made the people so if they would have hearkened to him. If Joshua had begun to stem the tide, he would have been suspected of partiality to Moses, whose minister he was; and therefore he prudently left it to Caleb's management at first, who was of the tribe of Judah, the leading tribe, and therefore the fittest to be heard. Caleb had seen and observed the strength of the inhabitants as much as his fellows, and upon the whole matter, 1. He speaks very confidently of success: We are well able to overcome them, as strong as they are. 2. He animates the people to go on, and, his lot lying in the van, he speaks as one resolved to lead them on with bravery: " Let us go up at once, one bold step, one bold stroke more, will do our business; it is all our own if we have but courage to make it so: Let us go up and possess it. " He does not say, "Let us go up and conquer it;" he looks upon that to be as good as done already; but, "Let us go up and possess it; there is nothing to be done but to enter, and take the possession which God our great Lord is ready to give us." Note, The righteous are bold as a lion. Difficulties that lie in the way of salvation dwindle and vanish before a lively active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they be but promised, to him that believes. return to ' Top of Page ' Numbers Num 12 Numbers Num Numbers Num 14 Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website. Bibliographical Information Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on Numbers 13". 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Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

bible-text/num-13-26, bible-text/num-13-27, bible-text/num-13-28, bible-text/num-13-29, bible-text/num-13-30, bible-text/num-13-31, bible-text/num-13-32, bible-text/num-13-33

Source

정탐꾼들이 그 땅을 정탐한 지 사십 일 만에 돌아와 보고하기까지 이스라엘 백성이 어떻게 그 기간을 기다렸는지 놀랍다. 그들에게는 하나님의 능력에서 비롯된 온갖 성공의 보증이 있었고, 지금까지 그들에게 함께한 끊임없는 기적의 연속이 있었다. 그러나 그들은 하나님의 능력과 약속을 불신했고, 하나님의 언약으로 확신을 얻으려 하기보다 자기들의 계략으로 불확실한 상태에 머물러 있으려 했다. 우리가 불신앙으로 얼마나 스스로를 어둠 속에 몰아넣는지 알겠다!

이윽고 사자들이 돌아왔는데, 그들의 보고는 일치하지 않았다.

**I. 대다수는 백성이 가나안으로 나아가지 못하도록 낙담시켰다.**

이스라엘이 사람들의 판단에 그토록 많은 것을 맡겨 버린 것은 당연한 형벌이었다. 그들에게는 신뢰할 하나님의 말씀이 있었는데도 그러했다. 하나님의 진리를 사랑으로 받아들이려 하지 않는 자들에게 하나님께서 강한 미혹에 넘겨주시는 것은 정의로운 일이다.

**1. 그들의 보고를 살펴보면:**

(1) 그들도 가나안 땅이 매우 기름진 땅임을 부인할 수 없었다. 그들이 가져온 포도 한 송이가 그 시각적 증거였다(민수기 13:27). 하나님께서는 젖과 꿀이 흐르는 땅을 약속하셨고, 악한 정탐꾼들 스스로도 그런 땅임을 인정했다. 이처럼 대적자들의 입에서도 하나님은 영광을 받으시고 그분의 약속의 진실성이 증거된다. 그런데 그들은 나중에 스스로 모순을 범한다. 민수기 13장 32절에서 "그 땅은 거기 사는 주민을 삼키는 땅"이라고 말한 것이다. 젖과 꿀과 포도는 있는데 다른 필수 양식이 없다는 듯이. 어떤 이들은 당시 그 나라에 큰 역병이 있었고, 이것이 실제로는 정복을 쉽게 하기 위해 적의 수를 줄이신 하나님의 지혜로운 섭리였으나, 그들은 이것을 그 공기가 불결하다는 증거로 악의적으로 해석하며 그 나라를 비방하는 빌미로 삼았다는 것이다. 가나안의 역병에 대한 이 부당한 두려움 때문에, 그들은 결국 광야에서 역병으로 끊어지는 형벌을 받았다(민수기 14:37).

(2) 그들은 그 땅의 정복이 전혀 불가능한 일이라고 표현하며 시도 자체를 포기하게 만들었다. 그 백성이 강하고(민수기 13:28), 키가 크며(민수기 13:32), 우리보다 강하다(민수기 13:31)고 했다. 성읍들은 난공불락의 요새로 묘사되었다. 그러나 무엇보다 그들의 목적에 가장 크게 작용한 것은 거인들에 대한 묘사였다. "우리가 거기서 아낙 자손을 보았고"(민수기 13:28), "우리가 거인들 곧 아낙 자손의 후손 거인들을 보았노라"(민수기 13:33). 그들은 그 이름만 들어도 떨리는 것처럼, 실제로 보았을 때도 그렇게 겁에 질렸다고 한다. "이 무시무시한 거인들이여! 우리가 그들 곁에 있었을 때 우리 스스로 보기에 메뚜기 같았으니, 작고 약할 뿐 아니라 벌벌 떨며 두려워했다." 욥기 39장 20절 "그대가 그것을 메뚜기같이 뛰게 할 수 있겠느냐?"와 비교해 보라. "아니, 우리는 그들의 눈에도 그렇게 보였을 것이다. 그들은 우리를 경멸과 무시로 바라보았을 것이다." 그리하여 결론적으로 그들은 "우리가 그 백성을 치러 올라갈 수 없다"(민수기 13:31)는 판단을 내리고, 다른 방도를 생각해야 한다고 했다.

**2. 이제, 설령 그들이 인간적 확률만으로 판단해야 했더라도, 그들은 비겁의 오명을 면할 수 없었다.**

이스라엘 군대는 60만 명이 넘는 전투력 있는 병사들로 구성되어 있었고, 잘 편성되고 조직되어 있었으며, 이해와 애정으로 굳게 뭉쳐 있었다. 이는 전장에 세워진 어떤 군대에도 필적할 만한 것이었으며, 이보다 적은 수로 이보다 큰 일을 해낸 경우도 많았는데, 알렉산더의 군대를 보라. 총사령관 모세는 지혜롭고 용감했다. 백성이 결의를 다지고 용감하게 행동했다면 과연 무엇이 그들 앞에 버텼겠는가?

물론 가나안 사람들이 강했지만 그들은 흩어져 있었다(민수기 13:29). 어떤 자들은 남쪽에, 어떤 자들은 산에 살았다. 거리로 인해 빠르게 집결할 수 없었고, 이해관계가 나뉘어 있어 오래 뭉쳐 이스라엘에 대항할 수 없었다. 기름진 땅이니 군대를 먹여 살릴 수 있었고, 성읍이 요새화되어 있어도 들판에서 이겨버리면 요새는 자연히 손에 들어왔을 것이다. 거인들에 관해서도, 덩치가 크다는 것은 오히려 더 좋은 표적이 될 뿐이고, 가장 큰 사람이 항상 가장 용맹한 것은 아니다.

**3. 그러나 그들이 비겁자로 기록되는 것보다 더 나쁜 것은, 성경이 그들을 불신자로 낙인찍는다는 사실이다.**

그들이 의존해야 했던 것은 인간적 확률이 아니라 하나님의 임재의 명백하고 감지할 수 있는 표적들, 그리고 그분의 능력이 그들을 위해 교전하신다는 보증이었다.

(1) 가나안 사람들이 이스라엘보다 강했다 해도, 그것이 이스라엘의 하나님보다 강하다는 말인가? 우리가 거인들 앞에 메뚜기 같을지라도, 그 거인들이 하나님 앞에서 메뚜기 이상이 될 수 있겠는가? 그들의 성읍이 우리에게 막혀 있다 해도, 하늘을 향해서도 막혀 있을 수 있는가?

(2) 그들은 자신들을 위해 높이 들리고 드러난 하나님의 팔의 능력을 매우 크게 경험했다. 이집트 사람들이 가나안 사람들만큼 강하지 않았던가? 그러나 이스라엘이 칼 한 번 뽑지 않고 일격도 가하지 않았는데, 이집트의 병거와 기병들이 완전히 패하여 멸망했다. 아말렉이 크게 불리한 상황에서 이스라엘을 공격했으나 오히려 쫓겨났다. 기적이 그들의 일용할 양식이었다. 그것 외의 다른 무엇도 없더라도, 이스라엘 군대처럼 이토록 지속적으로 풍성하게 무상으로 공급받은 군대는 다른 어떤 군대보다 크게 유리했을 것이다.

(3) 가나안 사람들에 대한 전쟁에서 승리와 성공을 그들에게 특별히 약속하셨다. 하나님께서 아브라함에게 그 후손들에게 그 땅을 소유하게 하겠다는 온갖 확실한 보증을 주셨다(창세기 15:18; 17:8). 또한 모세를 통해 가나안 사람들을 그들 앞에서 쫓아내겠다고 명시적으로 약속하셨고(출애굽기 33:2), 조금씩 그렇게 하겠다고 하셨다(출애굽기 23:30). 이 모든 것이 있음에도 "우리가 그들을 치러 올라갈 수 없다"고 말하는 것은, 사실상 "하나님 자신도 그분의 말씀을 이루실 수 없다"고 말하는 것과 같다. 이는 사실상 그분께 거짓말쟁이라고 하는 것이며, 그분이 약속하신 것보다 더 많은 것을 감당할 수 없으시다고 말하는 것이다.

그들의 죄가 온 회중에 퍼진 것에 대해 시편 106편 24절에 간략하게 기록되어 있다. "그들이 그 기쁜 땅을 멸시하며 그의 말씀을 믿지 아니하고." 실제 정탐을 통해 그 땅이 하나님께서 말씀하신 대로 젖과 꿀이 흐르는 땅임을 확인했음에도 불구하고, 그분이 말씀하신 대로 그것이 확실하다는 것은 믿으려 하지 않았다. 영원한 진리 자신이 그것을 그들에게 약속하셨음에도 소유하기를 절망했다.

**II. 갈렙은 앞으로 나아갈 것을 권면했다.**

여호수아만이 그를 지지했음에도(민수기 13:30). 갈렙은 이미 모세 앞에서도 웅성거리기 시작한 백성을 조용히 시켰다. 모세의 빛나는 얼굴조차 그들이 소란을 피우기 시작할 때는 그들을 억누를 수 없었다. 갈렙은 '온 마음'이라는 뜻이며, 그 이름대로 그 자신은 진심으로 열정적이었고 백성이 그의 말을 들었다면 백성도 그렇게 만들었을 것이다. 만약 여호수아가 먼저 그 흐름을 막으려 했다면, 모세의 수종자로서 편파적이라는 의심을 받았을 것이다. 그래서 그는 지혜롭게 처음에는 갈렙에게 맡겼다. 갈렙은 선두 지파 유다 지파 출신이었으므로 귀를 기울일 가장 적절한 인물이었다.

갈렙은 그의 동료들만큼 주민의 강함을 보고 살폈다. 그럼에도 그는 전체적으로,

(1) 성공을 매우 확신했다. "우리가 능히 이기리라, 그들이 아무리 강해도."

(2) 백성이 앞으로 나아가도록 격려했다. 그의 제비가 선두에 있었으므로, 용감하게 앞장서 이끌 사람으로서 말했다. "우리가 당장 올라가서 그 땅을 취하자. 한 번의 담대한 걸음, 한 번의 담대한 타격이면 우리 일이 이루어진다. 모두 우리 것이다. 용기만 낸다면. 올라가서 취하자." 그는 "올라가서 정복하자"고 하지 않았다. 그것은 이미 이루어진 것이나 다름없다고 보았기 때문이다. "올라가서 취하자. 우리의 위대한 주님이신 하나님께서 주시려는 것을 받아들이기만 하면 된다."

의인은 사자처럼 담대하다. 구원의 길에 놓인 어려움들은 하나님의 능력과 약속을 향한 살아있는 능동적 믿음 앞에서 줄어들고 사라진다. 모든 것이 가능하다. 그것이 약속된 것이라면, 믿는 자에게는.

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