Números 14:17

17 Ahora, pues, yo te ruego que sea magnificada la fortaleza del Señor, como lo hablaste, diciendo

Números 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:17

And now, I beseech thee, let the power of Lord be great
That is, appear to be great; the power of God is great, not only mighty, but almighty; it knows no bounds, nothing is impossible with him, he can do whatever he pleases, ( Psalms 147:5 ) ; his power, and the greatness of it, had been seen in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, and through the Red sea, and in providing for them, protecting and defending them in the wilderness; and the request of Moses is, that it might appear greater and greater in bringing them into the land of promise; or else he means an exceeding great display of the grace and mercy of God in the forgiveness of the sins of the people; for as the power of God is seen in his forbearance and longsuffering with the wicked, ( Romans 9:22 ) ; much more in the forgiveness of the sins of men, there being more power and virtue in grace to pardon, than there is in sin to damn; and as it is an indication of strength in men, and of their power over themselves, when they can rule their own spirits, keep under their passions, and restrain their wrath, and show a forgiving temper, ( Proverbs 16:32 ) ; so it is an instance of the power of God to overcome his wrath and anger stirred up by the sins of men; and, notwithstanding their provocations, freely to forgive: pardon of sin is an act of power, as well as of grace and mercy, see ( Matthew 9:6 ) ; and this sense agrees with what follows. The first letter in the word for "great" is larger than usual, that it might be taken notice of; and to signify the exceeding greatness of the power of God, Moses desired might be displayed in this case: and the letter numerically signifies ten, and has been thought to respect the ten times that Israel tempted the Lord, ( Numbers 14:22 ) ; and to suggest, that though they had so done, yet the grace and mercy of God should ten times exceed the ingratitude of the people ^F21:

according as thou hast spoken, saying;
as in ( Exodus 34:6 Exodus 34:7 ) ; and is as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Baal Hatturim in loc. & Buxtorf. Tiberias, c. 14. p. 38.

Números 14:17 In-Context

15 y que has hecho morir a este pueblo como a un hombre; y los gentiles que hubieren oído tu fama hablarán, diciendo

16 Porque no pudo el SEÑOR meter este pueblo en la tierra de la cual les había jurado, los mató en el desierto

17 Ahora, pues, yo te ruego que sea magnificada la fortaleza del Señor, como lo hablaste, diciendo

18 El SEÑOR, tardo de ira y grande en misericordia, que suelta la iniquidad y la rebelión, y absolviendo no absolverá al culpado; que visita la iniquidad de los padres sobre los hijos hasta las terceras y hasta las cuartas generaciones

19 Perdona ahora la iniquidad de este pueblo según la grandeza de tu misericordia, y como has perdonado a este pueblo desde Egipto hasta aquí