Numbers 14:24-30

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 14:24

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:25

And now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley ,.... By the Canaanites are meant the Amorites, as Aben Ezra, which were a principal people of the land of Canaan, and which may be confirmed by Deuteronomy 1:19 ; this may seem contrary to what is said Numbers 13:29 ; where they are said to dwell in the mountain; but it may be reconciled by observing, that indeed their proper settled habitation was in the mountain; but now they went down from thence, and "sat" F26 יושב ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:26

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron ,.... 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. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:27

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which 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",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:28

Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the Lord ,.... The form of an oath, as in Numbers 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. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:29

Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness ,.... They had wished they had died in it, Numbers 14:2 , and the Lord here declares they should, which is signified by the falling of their carcasses in it, or their bodies, which when dead fall to the ground, having no strength to support themselves: and all that were numbered of you : but a few months before this time, when their number was 603,550, Numbers 1:46 , according to your number from twenty years old and upward ; which is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 14:30

Doubtless ye shall not come into the land ,.... The land of Canaan; or "if ye shall come" F1 אם א־תאם תבאו "si vos ingressi fueritis", Pagninus, Montanus. ; 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,... 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 14:24

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

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