Numbers 14:5

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the whole congregation of the assembly of the children of Israel.

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 And why is Jehovah bringing us to this land that we may fall by the sword, that our wives and our little ones may become a prey? Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?

4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the whole congregation of the assembly of the children of Israel.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of them that searched out the land, rent their garments.

7 And they spoke to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it out, is a very, very good land.

Footnotes

• [a]. See Note, Ex. 12.3.