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
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
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
But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey ,.... To the Canaanites, Numbers 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... read more
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
I. WHERE THIS PROPOSAL TO SEND FORWARD SPIES ORIGINATED . Thirty-eight years later, Moses laid the blame of it on the people ( Deuteronomy 1:22 ). He adds, however, that "the saying pleased him well," and that it was agreed to without difficulty, so that the statement in the text which represents the Lord as directing the spies to be sent is quite consistent with the one in Deuteronomy. There was nothing in itself sinful in the people's proposal, and it received the... read more
II. THE MEN WHO WERE SENT . Whether by choice of Moses or the people we are not told, but probably there was much careful consultation on the matter, according to human wisdom. Doubtless they seemed the best men for the purpose; chosen for physical endurance, quickness of eye, tact in emergencies, and good judgment of the land and people. Yet some very important requisites were evidently not considered. Out of the twelve, only two were men of faith in God and deep convictions ... read more
II. THE REPORT . After forty days riley came back, bearing on a staff between two of them the cluster of grapes—bearing it thus, as some think, because of its weight; as others, that the fruit might keep its shapeliness and bloom. And, indeed, along' with the pomegranates and figs, which were doubtless choice samples, this fruit was God's own beautiful testimony. Human messengers might differ and deceive, but these sweet silent messengers seemed to intimate that God had been making ready... read more
I. THESE CONFLICTING COUNSELS WERE THE CONSEQUENCE OF BACKSLIDING FROM GOD . The people had turned away from their true Guide, and the consequence of being in a wrong path very soon appears. God is one, and in his infinite wisdom and power can make all things work together for good to them that love him, and are called according to his purpose. But men are many and diverse, and if those who are called according to his purpose fad from the obedience which shows their... read more
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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