Deuteronomy 1:28

“Whither shall we go up? etc.] What way can we go up into the land? where is there any access for us? the mountain we are come to, and directed to go up, is possessed by the Amorites, a strong and mighty people, who keep and guard the passes, that there is no entrance: our brethren have discouraged our hearts; ten of the spies; for Joshua and Caleb encouraged them with very powerful arguments, which had they listened to, it would have been well for them: saying, the people is greater and taller than we; more in number, larger in bulk of body, and higher in stature: the cities are great, and walled up to heaven; an hyperbolical expression; their fears exaggerated the account of the spies; they…”

“the cities are great, and walled up to heaven--an Oriental metaphor, meaning very high. The Arab marauders roam about on horseback, and hence the walls of St. Catherine's monastery on Sinai are so lofty that travellers are drawn up by a pulley in a basket. Anakims--(See on Num 13:33). The honest and uncompromising language of Moses, in reminding the Israelites of their perverse conduct and outrageous rebellion at the report of the treacherous and fainthearted scouts, affords a strong evidence of the truth of this history as well as of the divine authority of his mission. There was great reason for his dwelling on this dark passage in their history, as it was their unbelief that excluded them…”

“Greater - In number and strength and valour. Deuteronomy 1:31”

“1:28 Anak was a well-known man of gigantic physical stature (2:10, 21; 9:2; Num 13:33). Goliath (1 Sam 17:4) might have been one of the descendants of Anak who migrated to the Philistine coastal plain (Deut 2:23; Josh 11:21-23; 15:14; 1 Chr 20:4-8).”

“discouraged: Heb. melted, Deu 20:8 \*marg. Exo 15:15; Jos 2:9, Jos 2:11, Jos 2:24 \*marg. Jos 14:8; Isa 13:7; Eze 21:7 The people: Deu 9:1, Deu 9:2; Num 13:28-33 walled: That is, with very high walls, which could not be easily scaled. Harmer says, high walls are still to be seen in Arabia, and are deemed a sufficient defence against the Arabs, who scarcely ever attempt to plunder except on horseback. The monastery on Mount Sinai, and the convent of St. Anthony in Egypt, are surrounded with a very high wall, without gates; the persons and things being taken up and let down through an opening in the upper part, by means of a pulley and a basket. This kind of walling is a sufficient defence. we…”