'Nor murmur you, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.'
The final example is of their dissatisfied murmurings. Examples of this accompanied by judgment are found in Numbers 11:1-3; Numbers 14:1-38; Numbers 16:41 but they 'murmured' on numerous occasions. The change to 'you' might seem to indicate that he has in mind their murmuring against him, as the people had against Moses, and this would favour Numbers 14:1-38 as being in mind, as would the connection of that passage with the people dying in the wilderness (compare 1 Corinthians 10:5 above). But the point is the same. The people murmured against Moses and against God and were severely punished and perished in the wilderness. In the nicest possibly way he indicates what happens to people who murmur against their God-given leaders.
'The Destroyer ('olothreutes).' Exodus 12:23 LXX speaks of 'the destroyer' ('olothreuon), and the destroying angel who utilised pestilence is described in 1 Chronicles 21:12; 1 Chronicles 21:15. In Jewish literature 'the Destroyer' is linked with the incident in Numbers 16. Thus the emphasis is on the fact that they were destroyed directly by God's instrument. God Himself was responsible for what happened.