Numbers 14:11-12

11 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?
12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”

Numbers 14:11-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 14

This chapter treats or the murmurings of the children of Israel upon the evil report of the spies, which greatly distressed Moses and Aaron, Nu 14:1-5; and of the endeavours of Joshua and Caleb to quiet the minds of the people with a good account of the land, and of the easy conquest of it, but to no purpose, Nu 14:6-10; and of the Lord's threatening to destroy the people with the pestilence, Nu 14:11,12; and of the intercession of Moses for them, which so far succeeded as to prevent their immediate destruction, Nu 14:13-20; nevertheless they are assured again and again, in the strongest terms, that none of them but Joshua and Caleb should enter into the land, but their carcasses should fall in the wilderness, even all the murmurers of twenty years old and upwards, Nu 14:21-35; and the ten men that brought the evil report of the good land died of a plague immediately, but the other two lived, Nu 14:36-38; and the body of the people that attempted to go up the mountain and enter the land were smitten and discomfited by their enemies, after they had with concern heard what the Lord threatened them with, Nu 14:39-45.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Exodus 23:21; Numbers 15:31; Numbers 16:30; 1 Samuel 2:17; Ezekiel 31:14; Malachi 1:13
  • 2. Deuteronomy 1:32; Psalms 78:22; Psalms 106:24; John 3:15
  • 3. S Exodus 3:20; S Exodus 4:17; S Exodus 10:1
  • 4. S Exodus 5:3; S Exodus 30:12
  • 5. S Exodus 32:10
  • 6. Deuteronomy 9:14; Deuteronomy 29:20; Deuteronomy 32:26; Psalms 109:13
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