Numbers 14:5

5 Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people.

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 the Lord taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?"
4 So they said to one another, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!"
5 Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people.
6 And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow
7 and said to the people, "The land we explored is an excellent land.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.