Numbers 14:19

19 Forgive, I beseech thee, the sins of this people, according to the greatness of thy mercy, as thou hast been merciful to them from their going out of Egypt unto this place.

Numbers 14:19 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:19

Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people,
according unto the greatness of thy mercy
Intimating, that though the sin of this people was great, the mercy of God to pardon was greater; and therefore he entreats that God would deal with them, not according to the greatness of their sins, and the strictness of justice, but according to the greatness of his mercy, who would, and does, abundantly pardon;

and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even until now;
which shows both that these people had been continually sinning against the Lord, ever since they came out of Egypt, notwithstanding the great goodness of God unto them, and that he had as constantly pardoned; and therefore it was hoped and entreated that he would still continue to pardon them, he being the same he ever was, and whose mercy and goodness endure for ever: he had pardoned already sins of the like kind since their coming out of Egypt, as their murmurings for bread in the wilderness of Sin, ( Exodus 16:1-7 ) , and for water at Rephidim, ( Exodus 17:1-7 ) , and even a greater sin than these, idolatry, or the worship of the calf, ( Exodus 32:1-10 ) .

Numbers 14:19 In-Context

17 Let then the strength of the Lord be magnified, as thou hast sworn, saying:

18 The Lord is patient and full of mercy, by taking away iniquity and wickedness, and leaving no man clear, who visitest the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

19 Forgive, I beseech thee, the sins of this people, according to the greatness of thy mercy, as thou hast been merciful to them from their going out of Egypt unto this place.

20 And the Lord said: I have forgiven according to thy word.

21 As I live: and the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.