Deuteronomy 1:28

Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Israelites speak to Moses and each other at the border of Canaan immediately after the spies return. They report panic over the size of the inhabitants and the height of the fortified cities.

The words — The term אָנָה ('a.Nah) poses the question "where?" while הֵמַ֨סּוּ (he.Ma.su) states that the scouts "have made melt" the people's hearts. These words record the immediate collapse of courage described in the narrative.

The thread — The report mirrors the scouts' claim in Numbers 13:28 about strong inhabitants and fortified cities. It stands in direct contrast to Moses' command in Deuteronomy 9:1 to dispossess nations greater than themselves and anticipates the later survival of only a few Anakim in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:22).

Why it lands — The text records how fear magnifies physical threats while ignoring prior divine deliverance. It requires readers to identify whether they respond to opposition with calculated panic or with the commanded advance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Cross-references

Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.
Deuteronomy 9:1 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.
Joshua 11:22 No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.
Joshua 14:8 Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.
Joshua 15:14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Judges 1:20 Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.
2 Samuel 21:16 Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David.
Exodus 15:15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,
Deuteronomy 20:8 Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”
Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.