30 surely you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land,.... The land of Canaan; or "if ye shall come" (a); that is, I swear ye shall not, so the Targum of Jonathan:
concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein; not them personally, but the people and nation of which they were, and to which they belonged, the seed and posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom the oath was made:
save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun; who brought a good report of the land. Caleb is mentioned first, as Aben Ezra thinks, because he first appeased and quieted the people; but in Numbers 14:38 Joshua stands first, so that nothing is to be inferred from hence; these were the only two of the spies that went into the land of Canaan, Numbers 13:4; and the only two of the Israelites that were numbered, from twenty years old and upwards, Numbers 14:29; those of the tribe of Levi, not being in that account, must be remembered to be excepted also.
(a) "si vos ingressi fueritis", Pagninus, Montanus.
save Caleb . . . and Joshua--These are specially mentioned, as honorable exceptions to the rest of the scouts, and also as the future leaders of the people. But it appears that some of the old generation did not join in the mutinous murmuring, including in that number the whole order of the priests (Joshua 14:1).
You - Your nation; for God did not swear to do so to these particular persons.
*More commentary available at chapter level.