Numbers 14:5

5 Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire assembled community of the people of Isra'el.

Numbers 14:5 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:5

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces
Through shame and confusion of face for them, at hearing so shocking a proposal made, and such wretched ingratitude expressed; they blushed at it, and were in the utmost distress on account of it, and therefore threw themselves into this posture; or it may be this was done either to beg of them that they would lay aside all thoughts of this kind, or to supplicate the divine Majesty that he would convince them of their sin and folly, and give them repentance for it and forgiveness of it; and this they did

before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel;
to affect them the more with a sense of their sin and danger.

Numbers 14:5 In-Context

3 Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"

4 And they said to each other, "Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt!"

5 Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire assembled community of the people of Isra'el.

6 Y'hoshua the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Y'funeh, from the detachment that had reconnoitered the land, tore their clothes

7 and said to the whole community of Isra'el, "The land we passed through in order to spy it out is an outstandingly good land!