Numbers 14:21-24 WEB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 14:20-35

We have here God's answer to the prayer of Moses, which sings both of mercy and judgment. It is given privately to Moses (Num. 14:20-25), and then directed to be made public to the people, Num. 14:26-35. The frequent repetitions of the same things in it speak these resolves to be unalterable. Let us see the particulars. I. The extremity of the sentence is receded from (Num. 14:20): ?I have pardoned, so as not to cut them all off at once, and disinherit them.? See the power of prayer, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:21

But as truly as I live ,.... 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:22

Because all those men which have seen my glory ,.... His glorious Majesty, or the emblem of it in the cloud, on the tabernacle, which had often appeared to them, and the glorious things done by him; the glory of his power, wisdom, goodness, faithfulness, and truth, displayed in bringing them out of Egypt, through the Red sea, and thus far in the wilderness, even to the borders of the land of Canaan; it should be rendered, not "because", but "that", for this is the thing sworn to, or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:23

Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers ,.... 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 Hebrews 3:11 , neither shall any of them that provoked me see it ; that provoked him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb ,.... Who was one of the spies, and brought a good and true report of the land; and so in that, as well as in other things, approved himself to be a faithful servant of the Lord, and who had stilled the people at the beginning of their murmur, and with Joshua had attempted to quiet them afterwards; and though Joshua is not here mentioned, because, as some say, he had no children, and therefore it could not be said of him that his seed should possess the land, as is said... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:21

All the earth shall be filled, etc. - הארץ כל kol haarets , all This land, i. e., the land of Canaan which was only fulfilled to the letter when the preaching of Christ and his apostles was heard through all the cities and villages of Judea. It does not appear that the whole of the terraqueous globe is meant by this expression in any of the places where it occurs connected with this promise of the diffusion of the Divine light. See Psalm 72:19 ; Isaiah 40:5 ; Habakkuk 2:14 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, etc. - Caleb had another spirit - not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit; but the Spirit and influence of the God of heaven thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears, therefore be followed God fully; אחרי וימלא vaimalle acharai , literally, he filled after me: God showed him the way he was to take, and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker. He... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:21

Verse 21 21.But as truly as I live, all the earth. It is, indeed, plain that God here swears by His life and glory: the meaning is only ambiguous in this respect, that some translate it in the past tense, that the earth had been filled with His glory, which had already been displayed in so many miracles. And this seems to accord well with what follows, “Those, who have seen my glory — shall not see the land;” still the future tense suits the context better, viz., that God should call to witness... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:24

Verse 24 24.But my servant Caleb. By synecdoche Caleb alone is now excepted, although Joshua was a partaker of the same grace, as he had been also a sharer in his courageous conduct; but Caleb is especially distinguished, because he had, as it were, uplifted the banner, and had stood forth first to encourage Joshua, The sum of his praise is that he “fulfilled (61) to go after God.” The word “will,” which some understand, is superfluous, since the expression is complete without any addition.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 14:1-45

1 . Brought very nigh to the promised rest, almost within sight, and actually within taste. 2 . Refusing to enter that rest through disbelief. 3 . Sentenced to exile from the rest they would not enter. 4 . Attempting ( vainly ) to eater that rest in their own unbidden and unblessed ways. And subordinately to this great and striking lesson, we have other lessons and examples both of good and evil. I. CONSIDER , THEREFORE , IN RESPECT OF THIS ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 14:20-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 14:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 14:1-45

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