Numbers 14:1-10 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Numbers 14:1-10 (P). The People's Discouragement at the Report of the Spies. This section is also a fusion of JE and P: its composite character is suggested by the repetitions in Numbers 14:1. In Numbers 14:6 the minority report proceeds from Joshua and Caleb (not from Caleb only, as in Numbers 13:30, JE), and so is derived from P. But the protest in Numbers 14:7 f., though appearing to be made by both jointly, is really Caleb's, for like Numbers 13:30 it is directed against the argument (Numbers 13:28) that the Canaanites were too strong to be overcome.

9. are bread for us: i.e. can be consumed as easily as men consume bread (cf. Numbers 24:8; Deuteronomy 7:16; Psalms 14:4). their defence (literally, shadow): i.e. their gods (cf. Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 30:2; Psalms 91:1).

Numbers 14:10. the glory of Yahweh: i.e. the fire that symbolized the Divine presence (Numbers 9:15 *, Exodus 24:17).

Related Commentaries of Numbers 14:1

Numbers 14:1-10

1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

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!

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?

4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

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.

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.

9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defencea is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

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.