Num 14:1-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 14:1-45: 14:1-45 The testimony of the faithful spies Joshua and Caleb was rejected, and rebellion spread through the entire community. Only Moses’ intervention saved Israel from complete destruction. Those who failed to obey God died during a forty-year wilderness sojourn.

Summary for Num 14:1-45: 14:1-45 ^a The testimony of the faithful spies Joshua and Caleb was rejected, and rebellion spread through the entire community. Only Moses’ intervention saved Israel from complete destruction. Those who failed to obey God died during a forty-year wilderness sojourn.
Summary for Num 14:3-4: 14:3-4 ^b The threats about which they complained were real, but the Israelites should have trusted the Lord. In the ancient Near East, women and children were often taken as plunder in the aftermath of battle.

• return to Egypt: How quickly the Israelites forgot their bondage (Exod 2:23-24 ^c) and the hardship of the wilderness (Num 11:1 ^d)!
14:5 ^e Moses and Aaron prostrated themselves out of humility, fear, grief, and anguish.
14:6 ^f Joshua and Caleb joined in the effort to reverse the rebellion and avert God’s wrath; they tore their clothing in a gesture of grief.
Summary for Num 14:7-9: 14:7-9 ^g Joshua and Caleb understood that Israel’s lack of courage and their criticism of Moses and Aaron were rebellion against the Lord, and they knew what results this would produce.

• the Lord is with us: This was the source of their confidence (cp. Rom 8:31 ^h).
14:10 ⁱ Joshua and Caleb, with their encouragement and expression of trust in God, brought even more opposition; the protests against the leaders were converted into threats of violence against the faithful spies. All of the Israelites’ objections came to a sudden stop when the Lord’s glorious presence (Hebrew kabod; see Exod 24:15-18 ^j; Ezek 1 ^k) appeared at the Tabernacle, the site of divine communication.
14:11 ^l God marveled that Israel had not yet learned to trust him, even after he had miraculously rescued them from slavery and provided for their needs as they traveled in the wilderness (cp. Deut 4:32-40 ^m; Matt 11:21 ⁿ; Luke 10:13 ^o).
14:12 ^p God is patient, but he will not tolerate outright rebellion from his people (cp. Exod 32:7-10 ^q). The writer of Hebrews refers to this episode in his effort to strengthen the faith of Christians whose trust in the Good News was wavering (Heb 3:7-19 ^r; 12:3 ^s, 25 ^t; cp. Ps 95:8-11 ^u).