Numbers 32:13

13 The Lord became angry with the people and made them wander in the wilderness forty years until that whole generation that had displeased him was dead.

Numbers 32:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:13

And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel
For murmuring against the report of the spies:

and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years;
for though it was but about thirty eight years from that time that they were in the wilderness, the round number of forty is given; and besides it includes the time of their first coming into it, which being reckoned, makes the complete number, within a few months: Kadesh, from whence the spies were sent, and whither they returned, and where the people murmured, and had this sentence pronounced on them, that they should not see the land of Canaan, but wander and fall in the wilderness, seems to have had the addition of Barnea made unto it on that account, which signifies the son of him that wandereth:

until all the generation which had done evil in the sight of the Lord
was consumed;
as they all were at this time when Moses spake these words.

Numbers 32:13 In-Context

11 "I swear that because they did not remain loyal to me, none of the men twenty years old or older who came out of Egypt will enter the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'
12 This included everyone, except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun; they remained loyal to the Lord.
13 The Lord became angry with the people and made them wander in the wilderness forty years until that whole generation that had displeased him was dead.
14 And now you have taken your ancestors' place, a new generation of sinful people ready to bring down the fierce anger of the Lord on Israel again.
15 If you people of Reuben and Gad refuse to follow him now, he will once again abandon all these people in the wilderness, and you will be responsible for their destruction."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.