Numbers 14:1-11

1 Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night.

2 They complained to Moses and Aaron, "If only we had died in Egypt or this desert!

3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land--just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

4 They said to each other, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

5 Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole community of Israel assembled there.

6 At the same time, two of those who had explored the land, Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh), tore their clothes in despair.

7 They said to the whole community of Israel, "The land we explored is very good.

8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey!

9 Don't rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the LORD is with us. So don't be afraid of them."

10 But when the whole community of Israel talked about stoning Moses and Aaron to death, they all saw the glory of the LORD [shining] at the tent of meeting.

11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to trust me in spite of all the miraculous signs I have done among them?

Numbers 14:1-11 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.