Numbers 14:5

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces {before} the assembly of the community of the {Israelites}.

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 Why did Yahweh bring us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little children will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return [to] Egypt?"

4 {They said to each other}, "Let us appoint a leader, and we will return [to] Egypt."

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces {before} the assembly of the community of the {Israelites}.

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the explorers [of] the land, tore their garments.

7 And they said to all the community of the {Israelites}, "The land that we went through to explore [is] an {exceptionally good land}.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "in the presence of"
• [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"