Numbers 32 9

Numbers 32:9 kjv

For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

Numbers 32:9 nkjv

For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

Numbers 32:9 niv

After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the LORD had given them.

Numbers 32:9 esv

For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them.

Numbers 32:9 nlt

After they went up to the valley of Eshcol and explored the land, they discouraged the people of Israel from entering the land the LORD was giving them.

Numbers 32 verses

Numbers 32 9 Meaning

Numbers 32:9 reveals the heart of Moses' rebuke to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. It describes the precise moment and method by which the ten faithless spies corrupted the spirit of the entire Israelite congregation after their reconnaissance mission from the Valley of Eshcol. Their fear-driven negative report, highlighting the perceived impossibility of conquering the inhabitants, actively undermined the people's trust in God's power and promise. This act of discouragement ultimately paralyzed the Israelites, preventing an immediate entry into the Promised Land that the LORD had solemnly sworn to give them. It led directly to forty years of wilderness wandering and the death of an entire generation.

Numbers 32 9 Context

Numbers 32:9 is part of Moses' passionate rebuke to the tribes of Reuben and Gad (and later, half-Manasseh) for their request to settle the conquered land east of the Jordan River. These tribes expressed a desire to avoid crossing the Jordan to participate in the conquest of Canaan proper, opting instead for immediate rest and pasture for their livestock. Moses saw this request as a direct echo of the earlier, disastrous episode at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13-14), where the generation of the Exodus, having been discouraged by the negative report of the ten spies, refused to enter the Promised Land. This prior failure resulted in God's judgment, sentencing that entire generation to die in the wilderness, preventing their entry into the land He had promised. Moses fears that the current request, driven by a desire for ease rather than courage, would demoralize the entire Israelite army and provoke God's wrath once more, prolonging their wandering or preventing entry for the new generation.

Numbers 32 9 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֣י - ki): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. It links Moses' current accusation ("Why do you discourage the hearts?") to the past failure, providing the historical justification for his concern.
• when they went up (בַּֽעֲלֹתָ֤ם - ba’alotam): Derived from the verb alah (עָלָה), "to go up, ascend." Refers specifically to the twelve spies who "ascended" or entered the land of Canaan for reconnaissance as commanded in Num 13:17.
• to the Valley of Eshcol (נַּ֣חַל אֶשְׁכּוֹל֙ - Nachal Eshkol):
  • Nachal (נַחַל): Often translated "wadi" or "brook," a dry stream bed or valley that may fill with water during the rainy season.
  • Eshcol (אֶשְׁכּוֹל): Means "cluster," specifically a "cluster of grapes." This valley was famed for its fertile ground, evidenced by the large cluster of grapes (and pomegranates and figs) the spies brought back (Num 13:23). It symbolizes both the land's bounty and the initial source of the people's fear when they focused on its powerful inhabitants instead of God's promise.
• and saw the land (וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ - vayyir’u et-ha’aretz): The verb ra'ah (רָאָה) means "to see, perceive, inspect." They physically saw the land, validating its fertility (Num 13:27) and the size of its inhabitants. Their seeing, however, led not to faith in God's power but to fear of the physical obstacles, showcasing a profound spiritual blindness despite physical sight.
• they discouraged (וַיַּשִּׁ֙יאוּ֙ - vayyashiu): From the verb shahat (שָׁחַת), which can mean "to spoil, corrupt, ruin, destroy, defile." In this context, it specifically refers to "causing hearts to melt," "making afraid," or "discouraging." This wasn't merely expressing a private fear; it was an active and corrosive undermining of morale and trust in God's promise. This word highlights the active role of the spies in dismantling the spiritual courage of the congregation.
• the hearts (אֶת־לֵ֖ב - et-lev): Lev (לֵב) means "heart," but in Hebrew thought, it represents the entire inner being – mind, will, emotions, and moral core. To discourage the heart means to utterly break one's resolve, confidence, and determination, affecting one's spirit and decision-making capacity.
• of the Israelites (בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - B'nei Yisrael): "Sons of Israel" or "children of Israel." Refers to the entire nation, emphasizing the widespread and devastating impact of the spies' report on the entire community. The act was corporate in its effect.
• from going into (מִלֶּכֶת֙ אֶל־ - milekhet el): "From going towards/into." Highlights the practical consequence: the people ceased moving forward and acted against God's direct command to enter the land. Their will to advance was paralyzed.
• the land that the LORD had given them (הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה לָהֶֽם - ha’aretz asher natan YHWH lahem): This phrase emphasizes divine sovereignty and promise. The land was not something they had to earn but a gift already given by Yahweh (יְהוָה, the covenant name of God). The failure of the spies and the people was not just a military setback but a direct rejection of God's faithfulness and generosity. This phrase establishes a strong polemic against distrusting God's gifts and promises.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For when they went up...and saw the land": This phrase establishes the specific historical incident. The scouts' physical observation of the land (the positive aspect) was immediately overshadowed by their subsequent spiritual failure, leading to profound fear and lack of faith.
• "they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites": This is the core accusation. It pinpoints the act of demoralization. The verb used ("discouraged" / shahat) conveys an active and destructive corruption of courage and trust, impacting the deep emotional and spiritual core of the people. It signifies not merely doubt but an undermining, a poisoning of collective resolve.
• "from going into the land that the LORD had given them": This highlights the tragic consequence: disobedience and the forfeiture of a divine promise. The act of God giving the land was completed, the gift was awaiting reception. Their unbelief directly hindered their appropriation of this divine grace and inheritance. This points to a rejection of divine providence.

Numbers 32 9 Bonus section

The mention of the "Valley of Eshcol" highlights a profound spiritual irony. Eshcol literally means "cluster," signifying the rich, fertile produce (like grapes) that represented the land's abundance and confirmed God's promise. Yet, this very valley became the focal point for human fear and unbelief. The visible proof of God's blessing was overwhelmed by the visible presence of formidable inhabitants, leading to a profound spiritual blindness. This contrast serves as a poignant reminder that seeing physical evidence of God's goodness is insufficient if the heart lacks faith to trust Him with the challenges that accompany His blessings. The narrative therefore establishes a polemic not just against disbelieving God's promise, but against allowing fear to define one's perception of His active power to fulfill it, regardless of external circumstances.

Numbers 32 9 Commentary

Numbers 32:9 serves as a concise yet powerful reminder of a foundational event in Israel's history: the Kadesh Barnea rebellion, which resulted from profound spiritual failure. The ten spies' detailed yet fear-laden report, originating from a fertile but foreboding observation at the Valley of Eshcol, actively shattered the resolve of the Israelites. Their failure wasn't just in their own hearts, but in their deliberate "discouraging" of the hearts of others. This active spreading of fear and unbelief led the entire generation to abandon their calling to possess the land already "given" by God. The verse underscores that even when God's promises are tangible and directly provided, fear and lack of faith, often propagated by those in positions of influence, can paralyze a community, leading to the loss of divine blessings and prolonging suffering. It's a testament to the devastating corporate consequences of individual and collective unbelief in the face of perceived obstacles rather than resting in the omnipotence and faithfulness of God.