Numbers14
English Standard Version
1Then the a , and the that .
2And the of . The to them, that we had in the of ! that we had in !
3 is the Lord , to by the ? Our and our will become a . Would it be for us to go to ?
4And they to , Let us a and go to .
5Then and their the of the of the of .
6And the of and the of , who were those who had the , their
7and to the of the of , The , which we passed to , is an .
8 the Lord in us, he will us into and it to us, a that with and .
9 do against the Lord. And do the of the , they are for us. Their is them, and the Lord is with us; do them.
10Then the said them with . But the of the Lord at the of to the of .
11And the Lord to , will me? And will they in me, in spite of the I have them?
12I will them with the and them, and I will of you a and they.
13But to the Lord, Then the will of it, you in your from them,
14and they will the of . They have you, O Lord, are in the of . you, O Lord, are to , and your them and you them, in a of by and in a of by .
15Now if you as , then the who have your will ,
16It is because the Lord was to this into the that he to give to them that he has them in the .
17And , the of the be you have , ,
18The Lord is to and in , and , but he by means the guilty, the of the the , the the generation.
19 the of , according to the of your , you have , .
20Then the Lord , I have , according to your .
21But , as I , and as the shall be with the of the Lord,
22 of the who have my and my that I in and in the , and yet have put me to the and have my ,
23 the that I to give to their . And of those who me shall it.
24But my , he has a and has me , I will the into he , and his shall it.
25Now, since the and the in the , and for the by the to the .
26And the Lord to and to , ,
27 this me? I have the of the of , they me.
28 to them, As I , the Lord, you have in my I will to you:
29your shall in , and of your , listed in the from and , who have me,
30 one shall into the I that I would make you , the of and the of .
31But your , you would become a , I will , and they shall the you have .
32But as for you, your shall in .
33And your shall be in the and shall for your , the last of your in the .
34According to the of the in you the , , a for each , you shall your , and you shall my .
35I, the Lord, have . will I to who are me: in they shall come to a full , and they shall .
36And the to the , who and the him by a bad the —
37the who a of the — by the Lord.
38 who to the , only the of and the of remained .
39When to the of , the .
40And they early in the and to the of the , , we are. We will to the the Lord has , we have .
41But , now are you the of the Lord, when that will ?
42Do , the Lord Lord is you, you be your .
43 the and the are you, and you shall by the . you have the Lord, the Lord will be with you.
44But they to to the of the , although the of the of the Lord nor of the .
45Then the and the who in that came and them and them, even .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The people murmur at the account of the spies. (1–4). Joshua and Caleb labour to still the people. (5–10). The Divine threatenings, The intercession of Moses. (11–19). The murmurers forbidden to enter the promised land. (20–35). Death of the evil spies. (36–39). Defeat of the people, who now would invade the land. (40–45).
vv1-4
Those who do not trust God, continually vex themselves. The sorrow of the world worketh death. The Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and in them reproached the Lord. They look back with causeless discontent. See the madness of unbridled passions, which makes men prodigal of what nature accounts most dear, life itself. They wish rather to die criminals under God's justice, than to live conquerors in his favour. At last they resolve, that, instead of going forward to Canaan, they would go back to Egypt. Those who walk not in God's counsels, seek their own ruin. Could they expect that God's cloud would lead them, or his manna attend them? Suppose the difficulties of conquering Canaan were as they imagined, those of returning to Egypt were much greater. We complain of our place and lot, and we would change; but is there any place or condition in this world, that has not something in it to make us uneasy, if we are disposed to be so? The way to better our condition, is to get our spirits in a better frame. See the folly of turning from the ways of God. But men run on the certain fatal consequences of a sinful course.
vv5-10
Moses and Aaron were astonished to see a people throw away their own mercies. Caleb and Joshua assured the people of the goodness of the land. They made nothing of the difficulties in the way of their gaining it. If men were convinced of the desirableness of the gains of religion, they would not stick at the services of it. Though the Canaanites dwell in walled cities, their defence was departed from them. The other spies took notice of their strength, but these of their wickedness. No people can be safe, when they have provoked God to leave them. Though Israel dwell in tents, they are fortified. While we have the presence of God with us, we need not fear the most powerful force against us. Sinners are ruined by their own rebellion. But those who, like Caleb and Joshua, faithfully expose themselves for God, are sure to be taken under his special protection, and shall be hid from the rage of men, either under heaven or in heaven. (Nu 14:11-19)
vv11-19
Moses made humble intercession for Israel. Herein he was a type of Christ, who prayed for those that despitefully used him. The pardon of a nation's sin, is the turning away the nation's punishment; and for that Moses is here so earnest. Moses argued that, consistently with God's character, in his abundant mercies, he could forgive them.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֵדָה: a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
קוֹל: a voice or sound
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
בָּכָה: to weep; generally to bemoan
לַיִל: properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
Numbers 14Moses quotes God's self-revelation of mercy and justice as the basis for his intercession.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Nehemiah recalls the rebellion, noting they appointed a captain to return to their bondage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament warning concerning those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness through unbelief.
Supported by JFB
Moses recounts how the children, presumed to be prey, were preserved to enter the land.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel intercession where Moses appeals to God's reputation among the Egyptians.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The solemn divine oath that this generation would not enter His rest.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Caleb's original faithful and quiet spirit in encouraging the people to go up.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identifies the Amalekites and Canaanites who block Israel's forward progress.
Supported by JFB
Moses' later recollection of the defeat at Hormah by the pursuing Amorites.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Moses falling on his face as his characteristic appeal to God during crises.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Metaphor of eating up people like bread, mirroring Joshua and Caleb's description.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Previous instance where the people were ready to stone Moses in anger.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's commentary that God was not pleased with them, overthrowing them in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical census showing only Caleb and Joshua remained of that generation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Psalmist characterizes the wilderness rebellion as despising the pleasant land.
Supported by John Calvin