Westminster Annotations, Numbers · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
Vers. 1. VVEpt] That is, such as beleeved the lies of the spies, and were discouraged by them.
V. 4. a captaine] Their great passion putteth them upon a very mad motion; for who could conduct them back into Egypt? how could they be furnished with food in that desolate wildernesse? would God againe raine downe Manna for Rebels, or send Quailes to sustaine them? and by what meanes would they passe the Red Sea? would it againe stand on heapes that they might passe on dry ground? God would not surely worke any saving wonders for such desperate Apostates, who thus returning toward Egypt, deserved all the plagues of Egypt to way-lay them, and overwhelme them.
V. 5. fell on their faces] By such humilitie they might pacifie their murmuring, especially it being publique, before all the Congregation; and with that gesture they might joyne in supplication to God, to pacifie the people, and to spare them, that they might not be destroyed; as in vers. 33.
V. 6. rent their clothes] See Annot. on Gen. 3. 7. 29.
V. 9. bread for us] We shall as surely cut and kill them with our swords, as with our knives or teeth we cut the bread we eate; and shall root them out as we eate up this: agreeable to that manner of speaking is Deut. 32. 42.
V. 10. all the Congregation] The greater number are most out of order.
stone them] It is the condition of them who would perswade in Gods cause to be persecuted by the multitude; who through ignorance, inconsideration, and unruly passions, (wherein they are examples, and incitements to each other) mistake good men, and good meanings to the danger of their lives, for whose safetie they should sacrifice their owne.
the glory of the Lord] A bright cloud appeared, signifying the especiall presence of the Lord.
V. 13. Then the Egyptians] The speech through height of passion is suspended, and may be thus supplied; If thou destroy the people, the Egyptians will heare of it, and take occasion to blaspheme thee, as vers. 16.
V. 15. as one man] Not caring for a multitude more then for one single man; or destroying them as suddenly as if so many heads had but one neck to be cut off at once.
V. 17. the power] He desires mercy, yet willeth God to declare his power; but he meaneth, his mercy to the Israelites, and his power in assisting them to conquer the Canaanites.
V. 18. by no meanes clearing] Moses pleading with God for mercy, bringeth in a description of God, set downe by God himselfe, which he impartially repeateth, because God in prayer would be spoken of in such manner; yet Moses while he sueth for mercy to many, may hereby intimate an assent to Gods justice if he please to exercise it upon some principall offenders in this rebellion; which if they were cut off, there might be more safety for the rest: or he might by the words next following intimate a deferring of his justice untill the third and fourth generation. Reade Exod. 32. which will cleare this doubt, touching this mention of mercy and justice together.
V. 20. thy word] In that he destroyed them not presenly, but left their posteritie to enter.
V. 21. But as truly] Notwithstanding I shew favour to the Nation upon this thy request, I will doe justice upon the rebellion; and so by undoubted evidences of my iustice, and merciemercy, and miraculous power, will fully shew forth my glory throughout the earth.
V. 22. ten times] That is, many times, a certaine number for an uncertaine, as Gen. 31. 7.
V. 23. they shall not see] This commination is not made against all, but in probability, onelyonly, or chiefly against those men who were murmurers, betwixt the age of twentie, and fiftie.
V. 24. Caleb] Joshua was joyned with him; for though he be not mentioned in this place, else-where he is, vers. 30. 38. & Chap. 32. 12.
another spirit] They two, Caleb and Joshua, were more faithfull spies, and reporters, then the other ten; and were both more patient to suffer adversitie, and more valiant to offer an assault upon the enemy.
V. 25. into the wildernesse] They are now come to Rithma Cades, so neere the promised Land, that onelyonly the Mountaines of Idumea were betwixt them, and it; and God biddeth them goe back towards the Red Sea, as it were renouncing their conduct, because they desired a Captaine to bring them back into Egypt, vers. 4.
V. 30. I sware] Yet was not God forsworne, because he promised but upon condition, and the condition on the peoples part was obedience, as Psal. 89. 30, 31. Deut. 31. 16, 17. and that condition broken by them.
V. 33. fourtie yeares] Wanting five dayes; for they came out of Egypt the fifteenth day of the first monethmonth, Chap. 33. vers. 3. and they entered into Canaan the tenth day of the first monethmonth of the fourtie first yeare of their departure, Josh. 4. 19. but in so many yeares so few dayes are not considerable: See Annot. on Chap. 11. vers. 24.
beare your whoredomes] That is, the punishment of your spirituall unfaithfulnesse, disloyaltie, and disobedience, contrary to the duty of a wife to her husband; before you come into the promised Land, you shall (for the wickednesse of your revolts, and rebellions, that you may be punished in them) wander in the wildernesse untill your carkasses be there consumed.
V. 34. my breach of promise] Because a covenant made upon conditions betwixt two parties, when it is broken on the one side, cannot be whole on the other; which, speaking after the manner of men, may be called a breach of promise; though God be so faithfull and firme in his promise, as that he will never breake for his part, unlesse the failing of his people (for their part) set him free.
V. 37. by the plague] Threatened, vers. 12. or some other sudden vengeance from God.
before the Lord] That is, at the place of Gods especiall presence; see vers. 10. 1 Chron. 13. 10. Or, before the Lord. That is, they die such a death, as that it was evident Gods especiall hand was with it, as the immediate executioner of it.
V. 41. Transgresse] They confesse they sinned by rebelling against God, but considered not they offended in going up without Gods commandement; for in that guidance or leading which he had appointed for them, he did expresly command that they should obey, and follow; and implicitly forbid that they should be leaders of themselves; much more was their wickednesse to go up against the expresse prohibition, as they presumed to do, vers. 44.
V. 45. Hormah] Which name was afterwards given to the place: see Chap. 21. 3.