14:1–12 This passage describes the rebellion of the Israelites following the fearful report of the spies sent to investigate the promised land (Num 13). The people reject the challenge of Moses, Aaron, and Caleb and Joshua—the two dissenting spies—who believe God will give Israel the land and defeat their opponents as promised. The Israelites complain over what they view as a hopeless situation and again yearn to go back to Egypt, imagining life in slavery as better than the certain death that must await them in Canaan (vv. 1–4). Joshua and Caleb urge the people not to rebel against Yahweh, but the mob prepares to stone them when Yahweh appears to punish the rebellious people (vv. 5–12).

14:2 grumbled against Moses and Aaron The people have a history of complaining against divinely appointed leadership, particularly in the face of precarious situations (compare Exod 15:24; 16:2; 17:3; Num 11).

we had died in the land of Egypt Similar words of woe are used in Exod 16:3, where the people complain about a food shortage.

14:3 to fall by the sword The people believe that facing the inhabitants of the land will mean certain death. They have forgotten that Yahweh has delivered them from death numerous times already, and also that he has promised them victory over these very people (e.g., Exod 33:2; 34:11).

plunder Without men of military age on-site to guard the women and children in the wilderness, they would become vulnerable to attack from wild animals or other enemies.

to return to Egypt God forbade the Israelites from going back to Egypt (compare Deut 17:16). Israel was forced into slavery in Egypt; now, they willingly seek it out of fear and unbelief. Wishing to return to Egypt later came to be biblical symbol of apostasy (Isa 30:1–7).

14:5 before the assembly of Moses and Aaron do not beseech Yahweh; rather, they beg the people to reconsider their defiance. Moses and Aaron’s plea prompts Joshua and Caleb to confront the people. The four likely feared Yahweh’s reaction to such a rebellion, and with good cause (compare Num 11).

14:6 tore their garments A gesture of anguish and distress in the ancient Near East (see Gen 37:29).

14:7 that we went through The terrain these spies covered is detailed in Num 13:17–20. In short, they took stock of all the land, from the south to north.

14:8 he will bring us into this land Joshua and Caleb try to convince the people that God will defeat their enemies.

a land that is flowing with milk and honey See note on 13:27.

14:9 they will be our food The Hebrew phrase used here, lachmenu hem, presents an unusual metaphor. The idea may be that the toil of the people living in Canaan will put food in Israel’s mouth. Alternately, the metaphor may be comparing the destruction inherent in the consumption of food with the destruction brought by war. Caleb and Joshua also emphasize that the people are without real protection since Yahweh is on Israel’s side, so the metaphor may reflect their expectation of the ease of conquest. Food on the plate typically does not fight back before it is eaten.

protection The Hebrew word used here, tsel (also meaning “shade”), is used elsewhere as a metaphor of divine protection (Pss 91:1; 121:5). Caleb and Joshua trust that God’s intervention will render the native populations defenseless.

14:10 the glory of Yahweh Refers to the divine presence. This is a dangerous occurrence, as one cannot see the glory of Yahweh and live (compare Exod 33:18–23).

the tent of assembly The exact meaning of the Hebrew phrase used here, ohel mo'ed, is unknown. It may refer exclusively to the tabernacle, to a different, simpler structure, or both. It is possible that the simpler structure gave way to the larger tabernacle, and the term was used interchangeably.

14:11 all the signs that I have done in their midst Such as the 10 plagues upon Egypt (Exod 7–13), the crossing of the Re(e)d Sea (Exod 14–15), and divine fire (Num 11:2).

14:12 I will dispossess them The Hebrew verb used here, yarash, denotes taking possession of an inheritance. The word can also refer to disinheriting people or driving them out of their land (Deut 2:12; Judg 1:19; 11:23–24).

14:13–19 Yahweh wants to destroy Israel outright, but as before, Moses pleads with Him to relent on the basis of Yahweh’s own reputation (compare Exod 32:11–14). Others would hear of the destruction and presume Yahweh lacked the power to bring Israel into the land. Ezekiel later uses this idea as a basis for predicting the return of Israel from exile (Ezek 36:16–36; 39:21–29). Moses’ argument is effective: Yahweh spares Israel, but sentences the rebellious generation—everyone over the age of 20—to die in the wilderness (Num 14:29–32). Of the older generation, only Joshua and Caleb will see and inherit the land.

14:14 they will tell it to the inhabitants of From the Amarna Letters and other ancient Near Eastern sources, we know that correspondences were regularly exchanged between Egypt—a super-power—and city-states throughout the Levant.

eye to eye It is Moses who sees God face to face (Exod 33:11; Deut 34:10; compare Num 12:8).

your cloud The activities of Yahweh’s cloud are detailed in 9:15–23; it is referred to numerous times throughout the Pentateuch as a key component of theophany (e.g., Exod 13:21–22; 14:19–24; 16:10; 19:9, 16; 33:9–10; Num 10:34).

14:16 Yahweh was unable Meaning he is not able to overpower the gods of the land to which the people are going.

he swore by an oath See note on vv. 13–19; Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–6.

14:18 is slow to anger Moses reminds Yahweh of how Yahweh has previously described His own character (see Exod 34:6–7). The promise Moses refers to here is one that only he and Yahweh witnessed. This makes Moses’s appeal personal.

forgiving sin and rebellion Moses now appeals to God’s own nature, which God personally revealed to Moses on Sinai (Exod 34:6–7).

on the sons The idea that later generations would be punished for the sins of others is qualified in Deuteronomy which implies that Yahweh would punish succeeding generations only if they repeated the sins of their ancestors (Deut 5:9–10; compare Ezek 18:4 and note). Although God is a God of forgiveness, he does not erase the consequences of iniquity—those last to the third and fourth generations.

14:20–38 In response to the people’s rebellion and Moses’s plea, Yahweh proclaims that He will not wipe them out, but He will make the people wander for 40 years, until every member of the rebellious generation has passed away (Num 14:20–35). The only two of that generation who will see the promised land are Joshua and Caleb (vv. 24, 30), both of whom gave a favorable report of the land. As for the spies who gave a bad report, Yahweh strikes them with plague (vv. 36–38).

14:20 I have forgiven them according to your word The people were spared immediate judgment, but they were still punished for their sin. They will eventually die without having seen the land, a deserved punishment. Since their children will survive and inherit it, the covenant will be maintained.

14:21 will fill all the earth God has power over all nations. It was important that God preserve the covenant, since the covenant contained an element (Gen 12:3) guaranteeing that Israel would be the divine instrument for reclaiming all the nations disinherited at Babel (Deut 32:8–9; compare Gen 11:1–9).

Deuteronomy 32:8 and the Sons of God

14:22 signs that I did For example, the 10 plagues (Exod 7–13), crossing the Re(e)d Sea (Exod 14–15), manna from heaven (Exod 16:31), and divine fire (Num 11:2).

these ten times This does not necessarily refer to a literal 10 times, but is a figure of speech meaning “too many” (compare Gen 31:7). The point is that Israel has a habit of testing Yahweh, and this is a habit he does not appreciate.

14:23 the land that I swore by oath to their ancestors For God’s promise to Abraham concerning this land, see Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–6.

14:24 another spirit The Hebrew word used here, ruach, often translated “breath,” “wind,” or “spirit,” denotes an emotional or psychological disposition.

Old Testament Anthropology

he remained true after me Caleb remained loyal to Yahweh and His promises when he reported that the land was good and that the people should rise up and take it immediately (Num 13:30)

14:25 Amalekites and the Canaanites I.e., those whom the Israelites are afraid of.

in the valleys By the time the Israelites return to enter the land, the Canaanites will also occupy areas along the sea. See Josh 5:1; 11:3.

by way of the Red Sea Probably refers to the Gulf of Aqaba (see Exod 10:19; 13:18 and note). Since the Israelites are afraid to go forward, they are commanded to go backward, toward the very sea that they crossed on the way out of bondage (Exod 14–15).

14:29 in this desert your corpses will fall The phrase is repeated twice more in Num 14:32–33, emphasizing that what the people feared will surely come to pass, and not at the hand of foreigners, but at the hand of God.

from twenty years old and above The required age for military service was 20. The individuals in this age group encompass those who refused to enter the land and take it (1:3).

14:31 plunder The statement to which Yahweh refers here is found in v. 3.

14:32 your corpses will fall in this desert Although not by the sword, as feared, but by old age and the challenges of desert life.

14:33 will be shepherds That is, nomads, an unsettled people who dwell in desert tents rather than in the fortified walls of a prosperous land such as the spies saw in Canaan.

forty years Forty is often a number associated with purging and purification. This length of time allows for the old rebellious generation to pass away, and a new generation to emerge. This 40 years is an approximation, as Deut 2:14 makes clear. The Israelites actually wander for 38 years, in addition to the two years that passed before this episode (see Exod 12:2; 40:17; Num 1:1; 10:11).

your unfaithfulness God removes any ambiguity as to the cause of the nomadic lifestyle forced upon the Israelites. Any suffering experienced during this time is attributed to the people’s choice in refusing to believe the promises of Yahweh.

14:36 Moses sent to explore the land The names of these men are given in 13:4–16, and their task in 13:17–20.

14:37 died by the plague before Yahweh The 10 spies who incited unbelief and rebellion did not die of natural causes in their own time, like the others, but died shortly after the punishment was pronounced.

14:39–45 The Israelites’ response to Yahweh’s punishment is a futile effort to overturn the punishment themselves by obeying His original demand to take the land of Canaan. The result is, of course, tragic.

14:41 Why are you going against the command of Yahweh? Although this was indeed the original expectation, the time for this generation of Israelites to fight against the peoples living in the Levant has passed.

14:43 Amalekites and the Canaanites The two dominant people groups in the Levant at the time.

14:44 the ark of the covenant of The ark, which served as the throne of Yahweh, was supposed to accompany the people in battle to ensure victory (10:35–36). This is why, later on, the Philistines will think it is a good idea to steal the ark, although they soon learn otherwise (1 Sam 5).

and Moses The people left the camp for war, not only without the ark, but also without their leader.

14:45 Hormah Means “destruction.”