As humble and earnest suppliants, either to the people, to entreat them to desist from their wicked and pernicious enterprise; or rather, to God, by comparing this with Numbers 16:4, Numbers 20:6, the only refuge to which Moses resorted in all such straits, and who alone was able to still and govern this tumultuous and stiff-necked people. Before all the assembly, that they might be awaked to apprehend their sin and danger, when they saw Moses at his prayers, whom God never used to deny, and never failed to defend, even with the destruction of his enemies.
Related Commentaries of Numbers 14:5
Numbers 14:5
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.