Discovery BoxNumbers 14:9 
Context14:9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. 1 Their protection 2 has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear them!”
Numbers 32:17
Context32:17 but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness 3 and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place. Our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against 4 the inhabitants of the land.
1 sn The expression must indicate that they could destroy the enemies as easily as they could eat bread.
2 tn Heb “their shade.” The figure compares the shade from the sun with the protection from the enemy. It is also possible that the text is alluding to their deities here.
3 tn The MT has חֻשִׁים (khushim); the verbal root is חוּשׁ (khush, “to make haste” or “hurry”). But in light of the Greek and Latin Vulgate the Hebrew should probably be emended to חֲמֻשִׁים (hamushim), a qal passive participle meaning “in battle array.” See further BDB 301 s.v. I חוּשׁ, BDB 332 s.v. חֲמֻשִׁים; HALOT 300 s.v. I חושׁ, חישׁ; HALOT 331 s.v. I חמשׁ.
4 tn Heb “from before.”
