Numbers 14:14

14 and they will {tell it} to the inhabitants of this land. They heard that you, Yahweh, [are] in the midst of this people, that you are seen eye to eye, and your cloud [is] standing over them, and in a column of cloud you go before them by day and in a column of fire [at] night.

Numbers 14:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:14

And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land
The land of Canaan, between which and Egypt there was an intercourse, though not by the way of the wilderness, being neighbours, and their original ancestors brethren, as Mizraim and Canaan were; or "they will say" ^F20, and that with joy, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; but what they would say does not appear so plain; either it was that the Israelites were killed in the wilderness, a tale they would tell with pleasure; but that the Canaanites would hear of doubtless before them, and not need their information, since the Israelites were upon their borders; or that the Lord had brought them out of Egypt indeed, but could carry them no further, could not introduce them into the land he had promised them; or rather they would say to them what follows, for the preposition "for" is not in the text, and may be omitted; and so the sense is, they will tell them,

they have heard that thou Lord [art] among this people;
in the tabernacle that was in the midst of them, in the most holy place of it:

that thou Lord art seen face to face:
as he was by Moses, who was at the head of them:

and [that] thy cloud standeth over them;
and sheltered and protected them from the heat of the sun in the daytime, when it rested upon them in their encampment:

and [that] thou goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of a cloud,
and in a pillar of fire by night;
in their journeys; they will tell of those favours thou hast shown Israel; and yet, after all, will observe that thou hast destroyed them, which will not redound to thine honour and glory.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (wrmay) "et dicent", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius

Numbers 14:14 In-Context

12 I will strike them with disease, and I will dispossess them; I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than them."

13 And Moses said to Yahweh, "Then the Egyptians will hear that you brought up this people from their midst in your power,

14 and they will {tell it} to the inhabitants of this land. They heard that you, Yahweh, [are] in the midst of this people, that you are seen eye to eye, and your cloud [is] standing over them, and in a column of cloud you go before them by day and in a column of fire [at] night.

15 But if you destroy this people {all at once}, the nations that will have heard your message will say,

16 'Yahweh was unable to bring this people in the land that he swore by an oath, and he slaughtered them in the desert.'

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "say"