The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-27
2. The Return of the spies,-

2. The Return of the Spies,-
vs.. 1927.
The spies did not, we assume, travel
in body; but they investigated the
country according to concerted plan,
and probably in their journey from end
to end Of the country, kept within help
ing distance Of each other. On return
ing to the South land. near to Hebron.
where the remains OF Abraham, Sarah
and Joseph had been entombed, they
cut from vine single cluster of grapes
SO great that it was most conveniently
carried on a staff between two men.
They also secured specimens OF the
much coveted pomegranate, and of sue
culent figs. 1t was prudent for them to
obtain these samples for establishment
of their report, from the southern border
of the country now populated by jealous
enemies.
The spies then came to the camping
place of the Israelities, Kadesh in the
wilderness of Paran, and made their re-
port to Moses. The congregation was
summoned. The fruits brought by the
spies were exhibited Their report as
to the country itself was glowing We
came to the land Uhither thou sentest
as and surely 1T foaceth aUith milk and
honey and this is the fruit of 1T. So far
the report of the spies answered to
Moses expectation and was well calcu-
lated to awaken the longing desires Of
the people and stir them to courage.
3. The Conflict of the Majority
and the Minority Reports %
-33.
But what is it this that follows?
Howbeit the people that daoeU IN the
land are strong, and the cities are fenced
and very great; and moreover ace soac
the children of Aasak thereby which
name they signified a race of giants.
Amalek dacelleth IN the land of the South.
The Amalekites had attacked the Is
realities at Rephidim, soon after the pas
sage of the Red Sea, and had maintained
a fierce and destructive assault during
the whole day; not until sunset were
they finally repulsed. The very word
Amalek was to the Israelites fraught
with terror. The spies further reported
concerning the population of the Prom
Used Land: The Utilities, and the Jebu-
sites, and the Amorites daceU IN. the
mountains. and the Cdnaanites daceU
by the sea. and by the coast of Jordan.
This is instructive to us. as it was to the
Israelites. in distinguishing these an
Gent tribes.
The Hittites, or sons of Heth, since
the recent explorations of Professor A..
HI. Sayce in the monuments Of the East,
have been redeemed from their histor-
ical obscurity and are proved by the
antiquarians to have been for many
centuries powerful and warlike people.
The Jebusites were the possessors Of
the region about Jerusalem; Jebus at
that time being the name of the city
which subsequently became the capital
of the Jews. The Jebusites were the
most stubborn of all the jewellers in the
Promised Land in defence of their do
main against the Israelites. The Amor
ties, 1.-THE Mountaineers,' had in Abra-
hams day occupied the mountains in
the region of the Dead Sea; the spies
report the continuance if not increase of
this hardy people. The CaLaanites, or
1.-THE Lowlanders,' or Jewellers in the
Flat Lands" had given the name to the
whole country, yet they we're, while the
most numerous, probably the least war
like of all the tribes. They occupied a
belt of land by the Mediterranean, and
were thriving in the Ghor, the depressed
valley of the Jordan. Because of their
luxury and RIGHTEOUSNESS they were the
most dreaded by the real leaders of
Israel. Their tendency was more to
effeminancy than to manly qualities.
This unexpected addition to the re-
port on the country, which had been SO
enticing, created an immediate panic
among the Israelites. At the first sound
such an array of tribes seemed indeed
| formidable. 1t would not occur to those
not specially discerning, that the divi.
sion of the inhabitants of the Promised
Land into these mutually hostile tribes,
was their common weakness. 1t was in
fact subsequently proved that this divi
sion of the inhabitants alone made pos
sible their being captured by Israel
The array of names, and their associa.
ton with Amalek and giants, took all
the spirit out of the listening people.
We are told of Caleb alone making a
report of contrary tenor; but the cir.
cumstances require us to associate
Joshua with him. Without denying the
main matters of fact in the report of the
majority, Caleb made report of the
land. of which this was the logical SO.
quence: Let as go up at once and pos
sess 1T; for aee are aceH able to over-
come it.
But the majority now brought its re-
port to the logical conclusion: We be
not able to go up against this people. 70,
they are stronger than ace. There was
now complete despair in the camp Of
mn