Numbers 14:1-4

The People Rebel

1 Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
2 All the sons of Israel 1grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "2Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
3 "Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, 3to fall by the sword? 4Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"
4 So they said to one another, "5Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."

Numbers 14:1-4 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 5

  • 1. Numbers 11:1
  • 2. Numbers 11:5; Numbers 16:13; Numbers 20:3, 4; Numbers 21:5
  • 3. Exodus 5:21; Exodus 16:3
  • 4. Numbers 14:31; Deuteronomy 1:39
  • 5. Nehemiah 9:17

Footnotes 2

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