The refusal of the Mosaic government to make the conquest of Canaan is a significant event in the history of Israel, highlighting themes of faith, obedience, and divine judgment. This episode is primarily recorded in the Book of Numbers, chapters 13 and 14, where the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land.

Background and Context

After the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, guided by God, with the ultimate goal of entering the land of Canaan, which had been promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Mosaic government, established by God through Moses, was tasked with leading the people according to divine law and guidance.

The Spies' Report

As the Israelites encamped at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran, the LORD instructed Moses to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1-2). The spies were to assess the land's fertility, the strength of its inhabitants, and the fortifications of its cities. After forty days, the spies returned with a mixed report. They confirmed the land's abundance, describing it as "flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 13:27), but ten of the spies expressed fear, emphasizing the strength and size of the Canaanite inhabitants, including the descendants of Anak, whom they described as giants (Numbers 13:28-33).

The People's Rebellion

The negative report led to widespread fear and rebellion among the Israelites. Despite Caleb's and Joshua's encouragement to trust in the LORD's promise and proceed with the conquest (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9), the congregation succumbed to fear. They lamented their situation, expressing a desire to return to Egypt and even proposing to appoint a new leader to take them back (Numbers 14:1-4).

Divine Judgment

The LORD's response to the rebellion was one of anger and disappointment. He declared that the generation of Israelites who had witnessed His signs and wonders in Egypt and the wilderness, yet still doubted His power, would not enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for forty years, corresponding to the forty days the spies spent exploring Canaan, until the entire generation perished (Numbers 14:26-35). Only Caleb and Joshua, who had remained faithful, were promised entry into the land (Numbers 14:24, 30).

Significance

This refusal to make the conquest of Canaan under the Mosaic government serves as a poignant lesson on the consequences of unbelief and disobedience. It underscores the importance of faith in God's promises and the necessity of obedience to His commands. The episode also highlights the role of leadership in guiding the people according to divine will, as seen in the contrasting responses of Moses, Caleb, and Joshua versus the rest of the spies and the congregation.

The event is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon faithfulness and trust in His provision and power.Numbers 14:1-10
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Nave's Topical Index

The Israelites
... into a strange country, where the government and civilisation ... the modern 'Ain Qadis,
the Mosaic legislation was ... The Edomites refused them a passage along the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... king how his father Kuri-galzu had refused to listen ... The main attention of the Assyrian
government was devoted to ... more what it had been in pre-Mosaic days, the ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... the neighboring Taanach for the Austrian government between 1902 ... the close of Ahab's
reign Mesha refused to continue ... The Mosaic age was regarded as the supreme ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... court burdened them in order to make provision for ... The few fanatics who refused to
desist in their ... be too indolent or too incapable of government, he retards ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

[Endnotes]
... Canaan, Salah, Uz, "Seba, Ludim, Sidon, Eber, Hul, "Havilah, Anamim, Heth, Peleg,
Gether,"Sabtah, Lehabim ... [82:2] Galatians 2:1. Some make these fourteen years ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

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