Bible Strands
Numbers 13:29
The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The twelve spies report to Moses and the Israelite assembly the geographic distribution of Canaan’s inhabitants after surveying the land. This statement follows their observation of fortified cities and the Anakites, and immediately precedes Caleb’s rebuttal.
The words — The term יוֹשֵׁב (yo.Shev) literally means [is] dwelling, denoting the settled presence of each nation. עֲמָלֵ֥ק ('a.ma.Lek) identifies the Amalekites, a specific people group occupying the southern territory.
The thread — The Amalekites reappear as a hostile force opposing Israel in Numbers 14:43 and Judges 6:3, while their territory is previously noted in Genesis 14:7. The settled nature of these groups underscores the entrenched opposition described in the broader narrative.
Why it lands — The text maps the physical reality of the Promised Land before prescribing a response to it. It requires the reader to assess the geographic spread of opposition without minimizing the challenge or substituting it for the subsequent command to act.
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
The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
Cross-references
- Numbers 14:43 For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”
- Judges 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- Genesis 14:7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
- Genesis 15:19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
- Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Exodus 3:17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’
- Exodus 17:8 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
- Numbers 14:25 Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”
- Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.
- Numbers 24:20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”