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.)
Study Helps
Interpretation
The searchers of the land brought a bunch of grapes with them, and other fruits, as proofs of the goodness of the country; which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are the present comforts we have in communion with God, foretastes of the fulness of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan.
Read with
This thought runs through Numbers 13:21-25.
Glossary
- Negeb Place
- Biblical region. Modern identification: Tel Beer Sheva.
- Ahiman Person
- Brother of a gift = liberal. (1. ) One of the three giant Anakim brothers whom Caleb and the spies saw in Mount Hebron ( Num. 13:22 ) when they went in to explore the land. They were afterwards driven out and slain.
- Anak Person
- Long-necked, the son of Arba, father of the Anakim ( Josh. 15:13 ; 21:11 , Heb. Anok ).
- Egypt Place
- The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture. Modern identification: Ain Shams.
- Hebron Place
- A community; alliance. (1. ) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. Modern identification: Tel Rumeida.
- Talmai Person
- Abounding in furrows. (1. ) One of the Anakim of Hebron, who were slain by the men of Judah under Caleb ( Num. 13:22 ; Josh. 15:14 ; Judg. 1:10 ).
- Zoan Place
- (Old Egypt. Sant= “stronghold,” the modern San). A city on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, called by the Greeks Tanis. It was built seven years after Hebron in Palestine ( Num. 13:22 ).