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Numbers 13:22
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.)

Deuteronomy 1:28
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The peopleis greater and taller than we; the citiesare great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Deuteronomy 2:10
The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;

and we were

1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he wasbut a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

Isaiah 40:22
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereofare as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim!
The Anakim were a race of giants mentioned inDeuteronomy 9:2 andJoshua 11:21-22. They were known for their great size and strength, and their presence in Canaan was a significant concern for the Israelites. The connection to the Nephilim implies a formidable ancestry, enhancing the fear factor for the spies. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Anakim inhabited the hill country of Hebron, a strategic and fertile area in Canaan.

We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight,
This phrase reflects the spies' perception of their own insignificance and vulnerability compared to the inhabitants of Canaan. It highlights a lack of faith and confidence in God's promise and power. The metaphor of grasshoppers suggests extreme smallness and fragility, indicating the overwhelming fear and doubt that had taken hold of the spies.

and we must have seemed the same to them!”
This statement reveals the spies' projection of their own fears onto the Canaanites, assuming that the inhabitants saw them as weak and inconsequential. It underscores the psychological impact of fear and the failure to trust in God's deliverance. This lack of faith contrasts with the confidence shown by Caleb and Joshua, who believed in God's promise to give them the land (Numbers 14:6-9). The spies' report ultimately led to Israel's rebellion and a 40-year delay in entering the Promised Land, as recounted inNumbers 14:26-35.

• The spies report a literal encounter with a race of giants first mentioned inGenesis 6:4, where “the Nephilim were on the earth in those days.”

• Their statement highlights the formidable obstacles in Canaan, echoing later reflections inDeuteronomy 1:28, where the people recall “the cities are large and fortified up to the heavens.”

• The claim is not exaggerated myth but a factual observation intended to describe what they physically saw, underscoring God’s call to trust Him despite overwhelming circumstances (cf.Psalm 20:7).

• Anak’s sons, called Anakim, inhabited the hill country (Joshua 11:21-22). Joshua later drove most of them out, proving they were real opponents, not imaginary figures.

•Deuteronomy 9:2 describes them as “a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim,” affirming extraordinary stature.

• Caleb’s eventual victory over Hebron (Joshua 14:12-15) shows that God’s promises overcome even the most intimidating enemies when His people believe.

• The spies’ self-assessment reveals fear replacing faith. In1 Samuel 17:24 Israel’s soldiers “fled from Goliath,” displaying the same shrinking spirit.

• When God’s presence is forgotten, His people often focus on personal inadequacy (Exodus 3:11;Jeremiah 1:6).

• The contrast with Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:8-9) shows that perception, not reality, governed the majority’s response.

• The spies project their insecurity onto the giants, assuming the enemy’s viewpoint without evidence—an example of the snare of man-fear (Proverbs 29:25).

• In2 Kings 6:15-17 Elisha’s servant panicked until God opened his eyes; here, the spies never looked to see heaven’s armies.

• Faith interprets circumstances through God’s power; unbelief interprets God through circumstances.

Numbers 13:33 records a factual sighting of giant descendants of the Nephilim, yet the real issue is not the size of the Anakim but the size of Israel’s faith. The spies’ grasshopper complex shows how fear distorts vision, projects defeat, and forgets God’s promises. Caleb and Joshua later prove the land conquerable, reminding believers that obstacles—no matter how imposing—must always be measured against the faithfulness and power of the Lord.