Numbers 13:32

An evil report. The message given was most disheartening, though not necessarily false so far as the facts were concerned. The word translated “brought up” signifies “to invent,” to “spread around.” Appearances no doubt seemed to justify the evil report.

From a human point of view the conquest of Canaan may have seemed impossible. But God had promised the land to them and commanded them to enter in and subdue it. Their failure to do so at this time reflected doubt as to the power of God to give it to them. Paul’s eloquent plea for faith refers to the sad experience in Kadesh-bamea as a lesson fraught with meaning for Christians (Heb. 3:8 to 4:16).

Eateth up the inhabitants. The meaning of the expression thus translated is not clear. It can scarcely refer to the poverty of the land, since it had just been described as flowing with milk and honey (v. 27). It was a contradiction of their report that Canaan was a fertile land (v. 27). Reference to the superior physique of the giants would also seem to give the lie to their report.

Men of a great stature. Amos 2:9 describes the Amorites as tall like cedars and strong as oaks.