Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, please study this chapter and then answer all 53 questions at the end of this chapter.

Numbers Chapter 14

Verses 1-4: The rebellion reached a climax when the people said, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt” (compare 11:5, 18, 20).

In the people’s desire to make a captain and return to Egypt, they were rejecting both Moses as their leader and the promises of the Lord (Exodus 16:2; 17:3).

Numbers 14:1 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.”

“All the congregation … wept”: All of Israel bewailed the circumstances.

The ten spies, that brought back bad news about entering the Promised Land, told it in the camp. It did not take long for it to spread to all of the people. Isn’t it interesting, they listened to the negative talk, and did not hear Caleb. The weeping was in disappointment.

Numbers 14:2 “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!”

“Murmured”: The term means “to murmur”. Specifically, they wished they had died in Egypt or the wilderness.

The murmuring was slanted toward Moses and Aaron, as if it were their fault. They keep forgetting, they were slaves under hard bondage in Egypt. Their wish to die in Egypt would not be fulfilled, but their wish to die in the wilderness would come true. God will let them wander, until these doubters die off. Their trip through the wilderness on the way to their Promised Land, reminds me of our struggles in this life, on our way to our Promised Land (heaven). Murmuring does not help. In fact, it is showing a lack of faith in God.

Numbers 14:3 “And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”

Unto the borders of it. Their murmuring did not cease at Moses and Aaron, the instruments. But proceeded against God himself, who had done such wonderful things for them. Not only in bringing them out of Egypt, but since they had been in the wilderness. And yet so ungrateful to complain of him and argue with him about favors bestowed on them, as if they were injuries done to them. And particularly as if God had no other intention in bringing them out of Egypt to the place where they were. But;

“To fall by the sword”: The sword of the Canaanites, as the Targum of Jonathan adds.

“That our wives and our children shall be a prey?” To the same people. They supposed they should be killed, their wives abused, and their children made slaves of.

“Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” And so escape the hands of the inhabitants of Canaan, of whom they had terrible apprehensions from the report made of them.

Hear-say gets a lot of people in trouble. This is certainly the case here. They have not even seen the Promised Land. How do they know the conditions are bad? God had protected them at every turn. Now as they are about to enter into their land of promise, they doubt that God is with them. They do not remember how God defeated Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea, with no loss of life for them. It is as if they are saying, that God did that then but is not capable of protecting us here.

Numbers 14:4 “And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”

“Make a captain … return into Egypt”: The faithless people were ready to reject God’s leader, Moses.

This is the worst rebellion up until this time. They are not just rebelling against Moses, but against the leadership of God as well.

Numbers 14:5 “Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.”

Moses and Aaron fell on their faces”, a response that must have been in exceeding remorse or fervent prayer.

Moses and Aaron are horrified at the actions of the people. They are not sure what God will do, but they know this will anger Him. They fall on their faces, not for the people, but for themselves. Moses and Aaron were ashamed of the actions of these people. They could not believe the amount of doubt these people were showing. This is really like Christians, who have walked with God, suddenly deciding the world is better. “Egypt” symbolizes the world.

Verses 6-10: “Joshua” and “Caleb” declared “the land” as “exceedingly good”. They were also adamant that the Lord was truly able (Deut. 1:25). Nevertheless, the people were ready to “stone them”. Only the Lord’s appearance prevented them from following though.

Numbers 14:6 “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:”

“Rent their clothes”: This was an indication of deep distress (Gen. 37:29, 34: Lev. 10:6; 13:45).

This is a sign of extreme mourning. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve, who came back with a good report, and wanted to take the Promised Land. They had faith in God, which the others did not.

Verses 7-9: Joshua and Caleb reaffirmed their appraisal that the Land was good and their confidence that the Lord would deliver it and its people into their hands.

Numbers 14:7 “And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, [is] an exceeding good land.”

To as many as could hear them, to the heads of them.

“Saying, the land which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land”: They observe that they were of the number of the spies that were appointed and sent to search the land of Canaan. And they had searched it, and therefore could give an account of it from their own knowledge. And they had not only entered into it, or just looked at a part of it, but they had gone through it, and taken a general survey of it. And they could not but in truth and justice say of it, that it was a good land, delightful, healthful, and fruitful. Yea, “very, very good”, exceeding, exceeding good, superlatively good, good beyond expression. They were not able with words to set forth the goodness of it. This they reported, in opposition to the ill report the other spies had given of it.

Caleb and Joshua try to speak to all the people, and reassure them that this is an exceedingly good land. The land of promise is everything that God had told them it would be. Joshua and Caleb had looked at the land through the eyes of faith. The other 10 spies were looking with eyes of doubt.

Numbers 14:8 “If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.”

Continue to delight in them as he had. And as appears by what he had done for, them in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness (see Deut. 10:15).

“Then he will bring us into this land”: And give it us, as he has promised.

“A land which floweth with milk and honey”: As the Lord himself hath described it, and as the unbelieving spies themselves had owned it (Num. 13:27).

I am sure the LORD did delight in Joshua and Caleb. The truth is, He did not like the report from the other 10 spies. The delight of the LORD is in an obedient people. The wrath of God is reserved for those of doubt.

Numbers 14:9 “Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.”

The spies with the evil report had used a great deal of exaggeration to make their point (see notes on 13:28, 31-33). Here, rhetorical flourish is returned by Joshua and Caleb. It is as if they are saying of the enemy: They have no chance; We will eat them like “bread”.

“Their defense is departed” Literally, “their shadow” (which is an apt picture of divine protection in the hot lands of the Middle east (Psalms 91, 121:5), is removed “from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not” (compare Exodus 14:13).

Genesis 48:21 “And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”

Even from the beginning, it was faith in God that brought miracles. Caleb and Joshua had confidence that God would give these people into their hands. The statement “they are bread for us” just means they will be theirs to devour.

Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?”

All they had to do, was stand fast in their faith, and God would deliver them.

Numbers 14:10 “But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.”

“The glory of the LORD appeared”: In response to the people’s violent rejection of Joshua and Caleb’s challenge, God appeared.

It seems that this took place at the tabernacle. These angry people wanted to stone the two that gave them sound advice. The LORD appeared, before they could carry out their threat to stone them. The divine glory of God in the tabernacle was evident to all.

Verses 11-12: Numerous times in Scripture, a hurting believer will ask the Lord, “How long” will You wait before helping? Here, the words are expressed by God regarding the continued rejection of His people! The Lord would begin anew with Moses.

Numbers 14:11 “And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?”

“Provoke … believe me”: They had refused to trust or rely on God and His power to give them the land of Canaan in spite of the signs that He had done in their midst.

The purpose of the signs performed in Egypt was to encourage the people to trust in God and follow Him (Exodus 4:5).

They were a rebellious house from the beginning. God asks what signs and wonders would be necessary before they would believe? The sign of the 10 plagues in Egypt should have been enough, without anything else. The parting of the Red Sea should have certainly been enough to show God’s power. The greatest miracle of all was the manna feeding them from heaven. The manna showed God’s care for their day to day needs. God that does all of this, could surely be with them to take the Promised Land. They do not want to believe. They are worldly, and will rebel against God every chance they get. They have no faith in God.

Numbers 14:12 “I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.”

“Will make of thee a greater nation”: As in (Exodus 32:9-10), God threatened to wipe out the people and start over again with Moses. This justifiable threat showed the seriousness with which God took rebellion on the part of His people.

God now promises or offers a second time to make of Moses a new nation in the place of this one (Exodus 32:10).

God is offering Moses the opportunity to be in the place of Jacob as the carrier of the blessings of Abraham to the whole world. Moses was of Abraham’s descendants, so God would still keep His promise to Abraham. The wrath of God has risen against these rebellious people. Moses was such a humble man; he would not accept such an offer of fame for himself. We know that one Word from the Lord, and they would be destroyed. God is longsuffering however. He is not really willing that one should perish. He wants Israel for His people, He just wants their rebellious spirit gone. He truly wants their love and loyalty.

Verses 13-19: As in (Exodus 32:11-13), Moses interceded for Israel to protect the Lord’s reputation with the Egyptians, who would charge the Lord with inability to complete His deliverance of Israel and thus deny His power. Second, the Lord’s loyal love was the basis on which the Lord could forgive His people.

Numbers 14:13 “And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear [it], (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)”

Moses is appealing to God to spare His people. Moses did not want the fame God had offered him. He instead, reminds God of the heathen countries looking on, who would doubt the abilities of God, if God killed His people here.

Verses 14-19: As was the case in (Exodus 32:11-14), following the apostasy of the worship of the golden calf, Moses again pleaded with God to forgive the people, even though they would have to suffer His punishment in some way. In this instance, Moses quoted the Lord’s own words that describe Him as “longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Exodus 32:10; 34:6-7; Neh. 9:17; Psalm 103:8). Moses’ concern was for the glory and reputation of God among the nations. If He destroyed His chosen people, the pagan nations would doubt God’s power and mercy.

Numbers 14:14 “And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land: [for] they have heard that thou LORD [art] among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and [that] thy cloud standeth over them, and [that] thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.”

The land of Canaan, between which they and Egypt there was an intercourse. Though not by the way of the wilderness, being neighbors, and their original ancestor’s brethren, as Mizraim and Canaan were. Or “they will say”, and that with joy, as the Targum of Jonathan adds. But what they would say does not appear so plain. Either it was that the Israelites were killed in the wilderness, a tale they would tell with pleasure. But that the Canaanites would doubtless hear before them, and not need their information, since the Israelites were upon their borders. Or that the Lord had brought them out of Egypt indeed, but could carry them no further. Could not introduce them into the land he had promised them. Or rather they would say to them what follows, for the preposition “for” is not in the text, and may be omitted. And so the sense is, they will tell them.

“They have heard that thou Lord art among this people”: In the tabernacle that was in the midst of them, in the most holy place of it.

“That thou Lord art seen face to face”: As he was by Moses, who was at the head of them.

“And that thy cloud standeth over them”: And sheltered and protected them from the heat of the sun in the daytime, when it rested upon them in their encampment.

“And that thou goest before them”: By daytime in a pillar of a cloud.

“And in a pillar of fire by night”: In their journeys; they will tell of those favors thou hast shown Israel. And yet, after all, will observe that thou hast destroyed them, which will not redound to thine honor and glory.

All of the people around had heard that God was with the Israelites. They knew of the cloud by day, and the fire by night, that had led them. The Egyptians knew it very well, because it was the fire of God that held Pharaoh’s army off, while the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. The world knew that God was with these people, and that He was hovering over them, protecting them. The world seemed to be more aware of this, than did the Israelites themselves.

Numbers 14:15 “Now [if] thou shalt kill [all] this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,”

Suddenly, and at once, as might be done by a pestilence. And as 185,000 were smitten at once, and as thought by the same disease, by the Angel of the Lord in the camp of the Assyrians, in later times (2 Kings 19:35).

“Then the nations which have heard the fame of thee”: The Egyptians, Canaanites, and others, as Aben Ezra observes. Who had heard the report of the wonderful things done by him for Israel, and of the great favors he had bestowed upon them. And so of his power, and goodness, and other perfections displayed therein, which made him appear to be preferable to all the gods of the Gentiles.

“Will speak, saying”: As follows.

If God kills His people, the nations around would begin to doubt God themselves.

Numbers 14:16 “Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.”

That though he brought them out of Egypt, he was not able to bring them through the wilderness into Canaan. And that though he had wrought many signs and wonders for them, he could work no more, his power failed him. He had exhausted all his might, and could not perform the promise and oath he had made.

“Therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness”: Because he could not fulfil his word. And so made short work of it, destroying them all together. Which Moses suggests would greatly reflect dishonor on him. And in this he shows, that he was more concerned for the glory of God than for his own.

The heathen would not understand the God that brought the people this far, killing them for their disobedience. They would have instead said, that God was not powerful enough to guide so large a people to victory. Their awe of Israel’s God would be gone.

Numbers 14:17 “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,”

That is, appear to be great. The power of God is great, not only mighty, but almighty. It knows no bounds, nothing is impossible with him, he can do whatever he pleases (Psalm 147:5). His power, and the greatness of it, had been seen in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. And through the Red sea, and in providing for them, protecting and defending them in the wilderness. And the request of Moses is, that it might appear greater and greater in bringing them into the land of promise. Or else he means an exceeding great display of the grace and mercy of God in the forgiveness of the sins of the people. For as the power of God is seen in his forbearance and longsuffering with the wicked (Romans 9:22). Much more in the forgiveness of the sins of men, there being more power and virtue in grace to pardon, than there is in sin to damn. And as it is an indication of strength in men, and of their power over themselves, when they can rule their own spirits. To keep under their passions, and restrain their wrath, and show a forgiving temper (Prov. 16:32). So, it is an instance of the power of God to overcome his wrath and anger stirred up by the sins of men. And, notwithstanding their provocations, freely to forgive. Pardon of sin is an act of power, as well as of grace and mercy (see Matt. 9:6). And this sense agrees with what follows.

“According as thou hast spoken, saying”: As in (Exodus 34:6); and is as follows.

God’s greatness is unchangeable. He is all powerful. He can do as He wishes, anytime He wishes. Moses reminds God that He should not let the disobedience of these people alter His promise to Abraham.

Numbers 14:18 “The LORD [is] longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation].”

“Of great mercy” is a citation (from Exodus 20:6 and 34:7), both given in a covenant setting. The word mercy (“chesed”), indicates God’s faithfulness to Israel in light of His promises made through the covenant. Mercy then, is His faithful love. This “faithful love” (“chesed”), led Israel through the Red Sea (Exodus 15:13). In (Lam. 3:22-23), it is used with the phrase “great is thy faithfulness”. (Verse 19 uses the term like 1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful because He has promised to do so (Exodus 20:6; 34:7), and just to forgive us our sins”.

Now Moses begins to intercede for this people. God has forgiven this people over and over on this trip to the Promised Land. They did not deserve to be forgiven. He forgave them, because He is merciful. Moses reminds Him that the transgressions even though they are forgiven, are not completely done away with. The consequences of the sins, sometimes continue on for generations. The blood of an animal could not abolish sin; it could just cover it up. The blood of Jesus Christ abolishes sin.

Numbers 14:19 “Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

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). And for water at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1). And even a greater sin than these, idolatry, or the worship of the calf (Exodus 32:1).

Moses begged forgiveness from God for these sinful people. He knows they do not deserve forgiveness, but he also knows God’s great mercy. Forgive them one more time Lord, is the prayer of Moses.

Verses 20-25: This generation would not enter Canaan because they believed their doubts and doubted their beliefs (1 Cor. 10:5). The hardening of their hearts was not restricted to his one occasion either; it apparently happened on “ten” different occasions. In contrast to the fear of the people was the fearless confidence of Caleb; God declared that he “followed Me fully” (Deut. 1:36).

Numbers 14:20 “And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:”

So as not to kill them utterly as one man. Which is an instance of his being plenteous in mercy, and ready to forgive. And of the virtue and efficacy of the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man. And of the great regard the Lord has to the prayers of a good man for others. The Jerusalem Targum is, “and the Word of the Lord said, lo, I have remitted and forgiven according to thy word.” Which must be understood of Christ, the essential Word. And shows, according to the sense of the Targums, that he has a power to forgive sin, and must be a divine Person. For none can forgive sin but God (see Mark 2:7).

The LORD answers Moses. He grants Moses’ request, and pardons them one more time.

Numbers 14:21 “But [as] truly [as] I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”

Which is the form of an oath, as the Targum. The Lord swears by his life, or by himself, because he could swear by no greater.

“All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord”: This is not the thing sworn unto or confirmed, but that by which the oath is made and confirmed. And the sense is, that as sure as the earth “had been” filled with the glory of the Lord, as it may be rendered. As it had been with the fame of what he had done in Egypt, and at the Red sea. Or as it “should be” filled with it in later times, especially in the kingdom of the Messiah in the latter day (see Isa. 6:3). So sure the men that had provoked him should not see the land of Canaan.

This is a statement of the glory of the LORD, who is Jesus Christ our Lord. His goodness and might and glory shall fill the earth.

Romans 14:11 “For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Numbers 14:22 “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;”

“Ten times”: The Talmud tract “Arachin” (15a, b), takes this as an arithmetical statement and cites the 10 instances (Exodus 14:11-12), at the Red Sea (15:23-24); at Marah (16:2), in the wilderness of Sin (16:20 and 16:26-28), with the manna (17:2), at Rephidim (32:1-7), at Horeb (Num. 11:1), at Taberah (11:4), the complaint of the mixed multitude; and 14 (at Kadesh-barnea). Others take it as a figure of speech, conveying the idea of “many times” as in, “If I have told you once, I have told you 50 times”.

In the last lesson, the twelve spies had come back from 40 days of investigation of the Promised Land. Ten of them brought a bad report, and two brought a good report. The people murmured to the point of even wanting to appoint a captain to lead them back to Egypt. God was so angry with them, he asked Moses if he would like to begin a new race with him. Moses asked God, even pleaded with God, to forgive them one more time. Joshua and Caleb wanted to go in and take the land, but the people would not. We now resume our lesson here. These very men had seen the miracles of the 10 plagues that had come on Egypt, before Pharaoh would let them go. They saw the Red Sea part. They also had eaten the miracle food which fell from heaven, and yet they had no faith in God. Ten different times on this journey, they have rebelled with their murmuring and their other sins. They are just too worldly.

Numbers 14:23 “Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:”

Not possess and enjoy the land of Canaan, which the Lord by an oath had promised their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give it to their seed. And now he swears that these men, who had so often tempted him, and been disobedient to him, should not inherit it. So the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem take it for an oath (see Heb. 3:11).

“Neither shall any of them that provoked me see it”: That provoked him by the ill report they had brought of the land, by their unbelief, by their murmurings, and mutiny.

Everyone who rebelled against God, and would not go in and take the land, so they will not see the Promised Land. Some had not sinned in this manner, and they will see it.

Numbers 14:24 “But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

“My servant Caleb”: Since Caleb was recognized as one who feared and trusted the Lord, He later rewarded his faith (compare Joshua chapter 14).

The reason for Caleb’s success is no secret. Thirty verses hold his entire life story in the Scriptures. Six times in those 30 verses we see a recurring theme: he had “another spirit” (14:24; 32:12; Deut. 1:35-36; Joshua 14:8-9; 14:14). Caleb had a passion for God and followed Him with all of his heart.

We have discussed in many of the lessons, that there seem to be two forces in man. One of the forces is the desire to follow the flesh. The other force (the spirit), desires to do the will of God. Caleb was controlled by his spirit which wanted to please God. Caleb and his descendants will go into the Promised Land, and possess it. Caleb will receive Hebron.

Joshua 14:14 “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”

Numbers 14:25 “(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.”

“Turn … get you into the wilderness” Because of Israel’s refusal to enter the Land, instead of continuing northward, God commanded they move southward toward the Gulf of Aqabah.

Canaanites are the same as the Amorites. The Israelites, for the time being, must leave the border of the Promised Land. God will not help them at this time in battle, because of their unbelief.

Verses 26-35: The Lord granted the Israelites their wish, i.e., their judgment was that they would die in the wilderness (verses 29, 35; compare verse 2). Their children, however, whom they thought would become victims (verse 3), God would bring into the land of Canaan (verses 30-32). The present generation of rebels would die in the wilderness until 40 years were completed. The 40 years were calculated as one year for each day the spies were in Canaan.

Numbers 14:26 “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,”

Before he had been only speaking to Moses, who had interceded with him to pardon the people, which he had granted. But at the same time assured him they should not enter into and possess the land of Canaan, and the same he repeats to him and Aaron together.

“Saying”: As follows.

These are new instructions from the LORD.

Numbers 14:27 “How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.”

Bear with their murmurings, spare them, and not cut them off? How long must sparing mercy be extended to them? The Lord speaks as one weary of forbearing, so frequent and aggravated were their murmurings. The Jews understand this not of the whole congregation of Israel, but of the ten spies. From whence they gather, that ten make a congregation. And they interpret the phrase, “which murmur against me”, transitively, “which cause to murmur against me”. Made the children of Israel murmur against him, so Jarchi. But rather all the people are meant, as appears from (Num. 14:28), and from the following clause.

“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me”. For their murmurings were not only against Moses and Aaron, but against the Lord himself (Num. 14:2).

God heard every time they complained to Moses. He even knew the things they said in secret in their own tents. The congregation, as a whole, were doubters. They were rebellious against God. Every idle word has to be accounted for someday.

Numbers 14:28 “Say unto them, [As truly as] I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:”

The form of an oath, as in (Num. 14:21).

“As ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you”: What they had wished for, and expressed in the hearing of the Lord, he threatens them should be their case.

The very things they had said in their doubt and disbelief, now will truly be done unto them.

Numbers 14:29 “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,”

“Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness”: They had said, “Would God we had died in this wilderness!” (verses 2). Now four times they are warned, “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness” (verses 29, 32, 33, 35). Their children, who they said would perish in Canaan, would eventually arrive there and take possession of it (verses 3, 31, 33). God killed all those who brought the evil report (verse 37). The message of this story reverberates throughout scripture (Num. chapter 32; Deut. 1:20-40; 8:2; Psalms 95:10; 106:24-26; Amos 2:10; 5:25; 1 Cor. Chapter 10, Heb. 3:7 – 4:13).

They had said, they wished they had died in the wilderness. That is exactly what God lets happen to everyone who was 20 years old and older, who had murmured. Be careful what you ask for. You might get what you asked.

Numbers 14:30 “Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

The land of Canaan; or “if ye shall come”. That is, I swear ye shall not, so the Targum of Jonathan.

“Concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein”: Not them personally, but the people and nation of which they were, and to which they belonged. The seed and posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom the oath was made.

“Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun”: Who brought a good report of the land. Caleb is mentioned first, as Aben Ezra thinks, because he first appeased and quieted the people. But in (Num. 14:38), Joshua stands first, so that nothing is to be inferred from those. These were the only two of the spies that went into the land of Canaan (Num. 13:4), and the only two of the Israelites that were numbered, from twenty years old and upwards (Num. 14:29). Those of the tribe of Levi, not being in that account, must be remembered to be excepted also.

Joshua and Caleb were the only two with the good report. God will allow them to live long enough to go into the Promised Land. They will be older, but they will go in. All ten of those who doubted, will die in the wilderness, with all the people that murmured.

Numbers 14:31 “But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.”

To the Canaanites (Num. 14:3).

“Them will I bring in”: Into the land of Canaan, and so fulfil the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For the unbelief of this congregation did not make the faith, or faithfulness of God, of none effect.

“And they shall know the land which ye have despised”: Shall know what a good land it is by experience. And shall possess and enjoy it with approbation, delight, and pleasure. Which they, believing the spies, rejected with, loathing and disdain.

Their little ones, that they had used for an excuse to not go in, will inherit the Promised Land. They will not be a prey, as their parents said. They will possess the land.

Numbers 14:32 “But [as for] you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.”

Which way of speaking seems to be used to distinguish them from their children.

“They shall fall in this wilderness”: Which is repeated for the confirmation and certainty it. And an emphasis is laid on the words. This which are pronounced with an accent, to put them in mind of their wish (Num. 14:2).

All of the doubters and murmurers will die in the wilderness, and be buried there.

Numbers 14:33 “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.”

Or “feed”, as shepherds, who go from place to place, and seek fresh pasture for their sheep. It being the custom of a shepherd, as Aben Ezra observes, not to stand or rest in a place. And so like sheep grazing in a wilderness, where they have short commons, and wander about in search, of better. These forty years are to be reckoned from their coming out of Egypt, from whence they had now been come from for about a year and a half.

“And bear your whoredoms”: The punishment of their idolatries, which are frequently signified by this phrase. And particularly of the idolatry of the calf, which God threatened to punish whenever he visited for sin (Exodus 32:34). And of other sins, as their murmurings, etc. For it was on account of them their children wandered so long in the wilderness, and were kept out of the possession of the land of Canaan.

“Until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness”: Every one of them be consumed by death, save those before excepted (Num. 14:30).

Remember, they wandered 40 days searching out the land. This 40 years of wandering in the wilderness is to compensate for 40 days of doubt. The generation of the faithless will die off, and the young generation will inherit the land. God counted their parents’ lack of faith as being spiritual adultery.

Numbers 14:34 “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”

For so long they were searching it (Num. 13:25).

“Each day for a year”: Reckoning each day for a year, forty days for forty years (as in Ezek. 4:6).

“Shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years”: Which number is given, being a round one, otherwise it was but thirty eight years and a half before they were all cut off, and their children entered the land.

“And ye shall know my breach of promise”: God never makes any breach of promise. His covenant he will not break, nor alter what is gone out of his lips. Men break their promises, and transgress the covenant they have made with him, but he never breaks his (Psalm 89:34). This should rather be rendered only, “ye shall know my breach”. Experience a breach made upon them by him, upon their persons and families by consuming them in the wilderness. The Targum of Jonathan is, “and ye shall know what ye have murmured against me.” This same word is used in the plural in (Job 33:10), and is by the Targum rendered “murmurings” or “complaints”. And so the sense is, ye shall know by sad experience the evil of complaining and murmuring against me. The Vulgate Latin version is, “ye shall know my vengeance.” And so the Septuagint, “ye shall know the fury of my anger”. Which give the sense, though not a literal version of the words.

This explanation is to show that God was perfectly justified in His punishment of the 40 years wandering. They had brought this punishment upon themselves, with their lack of faith. God had removed His blessings from them temporarily. It was not altogether removed, because He still fed them, and their shoes did not wear out. He just did not help them go into the Promised Land, as previously planned.

Numbers 14:35 “I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.”

Determined, resolved on doing what I have declared, and again repeat it. The decree is absolute and peremptory, and will never be revoked.

“I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me”: Against his ministers, Moses the chief magistrate, and Aaron the high priest. And this is interpreted gathering, conspiring, and rebelling against the Lord himself. On account of which they might be truly called an evil congregation, and therefore it was a determined point with him to destroy them.

“In this wilderness they shall be consumed”: By wasting diseases.

“And there they shall die”: As they wished they might (Num. 14:22). With respect to which this was so often repeated (Exodus 16:3). And which the Jews interpret not only of a corporeal death, but of an eternal one. For they say “the generation of the wilderness (of those that died there), have no part in the world to come. Nor shall stand in judgment, as it is said, “in this wilderness”, etc. (Num. 14:35).”

Whatever God says He will do, He does. They do wander and die in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:36 “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,”

Ten of them.

“Who returned”: As they all did, who were sent to search it.

“And made all the congregation to murmur against him”: Against, Moses that sent them. They murmured themselves, and made others murmur.

“By bringing up a slander upon the land”: That it ate up its inhabitants, and that the inhabitants of it were of such a stature, and so gigantic and strong, and dwelt in such walled cities (Num. 13:28). That there was no probability of subduing them (Num. 13:31).

Numbers 14:37 “Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.”

“Died by the plague”: As an indication of the certainty of the coming judgment, the 10 spies who undermined the people’s faith were struck by the plague and died.

The plague swept through the camp, even before they began the 40 years of wandering. The ten spies that caused the people to doubt, die from the plague immediately. “Plague”, in this particular instance, means stroke. They died suddenly, as a stroke from the hand of God.

Numbers 14:38 “But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of the men that went to search the land, lived [still].”

Here Joshua is set first, as Caleb is in (Num. 14:30). Which shows that they were equal in dignity, and therefore are indifferently put. Sometimes the one first, and sometimes the other.

“Which were of the men that went to search the land”: Were two of the spies, and were for the tribes of Judah and Ephraim (Num. 13:6).

“Lived still”: Were not stricken with death, when the other spies were. Though perhaps upon the very spot, and in the same place, and among them, when they were struck dead. But these remained alive, and continued many years after. And entered the good land, and possessed it.

Joshua would live to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land, at the death of Moses.

Verses 39-45: Actions come too late when the Lord is no longer in them. A chastened and shamed people were defeated when they took things into their own hands, attacking a group of “Amalekites” apart from the Lord’s instruction.

Numbers 14:39 “And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.”

That all that had murmured, who were of twenty years old and upwards, should die in the wilderness. And never see nor enter into the land of Canaan. On the borders of which they now were.

“And the people mourned greatly”: Because of their unhappy case, that they should be cut off by death in the wilderness. And be deprived of the enjoyment of the good land. Their sorrow seems to have been not a godly sorrow, or true repentance for sin committed, but a worldly sorrow that works death. It was not on account of the evil of sin, the pardon of which they did not seem to seek after. But on account of the evil that was likely to come to them by it.

We do not see that they repented, only that they were grieved over their situation.

Numbers 14:40 “And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we [be here], and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.”

The next morning after they had heard the bad news of their consumption in the wilderness. Not being able, perhaps, to sleep that night with the thoughts of it, and being now in a great haste to go up and possess the land of Canaan. As they were before to return to Egypt.

“And gat them up into the top of the mountain”: Which was the way the spies went into the land of Canaan (Num. 13:17). This they did not actually ascend, as appears from (Num. 14:44). But they determined upon it, and got themselves ready for it.

“Saying, lo, we be here”: This they said either to one another, animating each other to engage in the enterprise. Or to Moses and Joshua, signifying that they were ready to go up and possess the land, if they would put themselves at the head of them, and take the command and direction of them.

“And will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised”: The land of Canaan.

“For we have sinned”: In not going up to possess it, when they were bid to go. And in listening to the spies that brought an ill report of it. And by murmuring against Moses and Aaron, and the Lord himself, and proposing to make them a captain and return to Egypt (Num. 14:2). But this acknowledgment and repentance were not very sincere, by what follows.

After the punishment is pronounced, they repent and want to go into the land of promise. Perhaps, the sudden death of the ten doubting spies caused them to question their own unfaithfulness.

Numbers 14:41 “And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.”

Which was to turn back into the wilderness, and go the way that leads to the Red sea (Num. 14:25). Instead of which now they were for going forward into the land of Canaan, though averse to it just before.

“But it shall not prosper”: Their attempt to enter into it.

Before they left the camp, Moses warned them they are again disobeying God’s wishes. He will not be with them now.

Numbers 14:42 “Go not up, for the LORD [is] not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.”

And therefore could not expect success, for victory is of the Lord. The Targum of Jonathan adds, “the ark, and the tabernacle, and the cloud of glory move not.” Which were a plain indication that the Lord would not go with them, and therefore could not hope to prevail over their enemies and enter the land. But on the contrary might expect to be defeated by them, as follows.

“That ye be not smitten before your enemies”: Of which they would be in great danger should they attempt to go up the hill, and the Lord not with them.

If they try to go up to the Promised Land without God leading the way, they will perish. They are still unaware that it is not their power that defeats the enemy, but God’s.

Numbers 14:43 “For the Amalekites and the Canaanites [are] there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.”

Having removed from the valley (Num. 14:25). Or else had detached a party to defend the pass on the top of the mountain. And where perhaps they designed to feign a retreat if they found it proper, and draw them into a combat in the valley.

“And ye shall fall by the sword”: By the sword of the Amalekites and Canaanites.

“Because ye are turned away from the Lord”: From the word of the Lord, from hearkening to and obeying his command.

“Therefore the Lord will not be with you”: The consequence of which must be bad for them.

Fighting in their own strength, without the LORD empowering them, would be disastrous. Their flesh is no match for the flesh of these worldly armies.

Numbers 14:44 “But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.”

“They presumed to go up unto the hill top”: With characteristic obstinacy, the people rejected Moses’ counsel and the Lord’s command and went to attack the Amalekites in the hill country. Since the Lord was not with them, they were defeated.

The ark of the covenant of the LORD represented the power of God that was with them. Moses stayed with the ark. They had not only distrusted the power of God earlier, but now they place trust in their own power. This is a terrible mistake. They are still disobeying God’s commands.

Numbers 14:45 “Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, [even] unto Hormah.”

The hill, met the Israelites as they ascended. And the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill; the same with the Amorites. One of the seven nations of Canaan (Num. 13:29).

“And smote them”: With the sword, having the advantage of them in coming down the hill upon them.

“And discomfited them even unto Hormah”: The name of a place, so called from what happened there. As Jarchi says; either from this destruction of the Israelites at this time by these their enemies, or from the destruction of the Canaanites by Israel (Num. 21:4). And so here has its name by anticipation. Or it may be from both these events, and seems to be confirmed by a third of the like kind, having been in former times called Zephath (Judges 1:17; see Joshua 15:30). Though some take it to be an appellative here, and not the proper name of a place. And render it even unto destruction, as the Targum of Jonathan. Denoting the very great destruction and havoc that were made among them. How many were destroyed is not certain. The judgment threatened them of God soon began to take place, that their carcasses should fall in that wilderness.

The plainest way to say this is, these rebellious of Israel lost the battle.

Deuteronomy 1:44 “And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.”

Numbers 14: Questions