Numbers 14:5-15

5 Then Moses and Aaron bowed facedown in front of all the Israelites gathered there.

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who had explored the land, tore their clothes.

7 They said to all of the Israelites, "The land we explored is very good.

8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land and give us that fertile land.

9 Don't turn against the Lord! Don't be afraid of the people in that land! We will chew them up. They have no protection, but the Lord is with us. So don't be afraid of them."

10 Then all the people talked about killing them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the Meeting Tent to all the Israelites.

11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people ignore me? How long will they not believe me in spite of the miracles I have done among them?

12 I will give them a terrible sickness and get rid of them. But I will make you into a great nation that will be stronger than they are."

13 Then Moses said to the Lord, "The Egyptians will hear about it! You brought these people from there by your great power,

14 and the Egyptians will tell this to those who live in this land. They have already heard about you, Lord. They know that you are with your people and that you were seen face to face. They know that your cloud stays over your people and that you lead your people with that cloud during the day and with fire at night.

15 If you put these people to death all at once, the nations who have heard about your power will say,

Numbers 14:5-15 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.