Numbers 14:2-12

2 All the children of Yisra'el murmured against Moshe and against Aharon: and the whole congregation said to them, Would that we had died in the land of Mitzrayim! or would that we had died in this wilderness!

3 Why does the LORD bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: wouldn't it be better for us to return into Mitzrayim?

4 They said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Mitzrayim.

5 Then Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Yisra'el.

6 Yehoshua the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Yefunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes:

7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.

8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey.

9 Only don't rebel against the LORD, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and the LORD is with us: don't fear them.

10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. The glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the children of Yisra'el.

11 The LORD said to Moshe, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them?

12 I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.

Numbers 14:2-12 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.