Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Numbers 14

This chapter gives us an account of that fatal quarrel between God and Israel upon which, for their murmuring and unbelief, he swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest. Here is, I. The mutiny and rebellion of Israel against God, upon the report of the evil spies, Numbers 14:1-14:4. II. The fruitless endeavour of Moses and Aaron, Caleb and Joshua, to still the tumult, Numbers 14:5-14:10. III. Their utter ruin justly threatened by an offended God, Numbers 14:11, 14:12. IV. The humble intercession of Moses for them, Numbers 14:13-14:19. V. A mitigation of the sentence in answer to the prayer of Moses; they shall not all be cut off, but the decree goes forth ratified with an oath, published to the people, again and again repeated, that this whole congregation should perish in the wilderness, and none of them enter Canaan but Caleb and Joshua only, Numbers 14:20-14:35. VI. The present death of the evil spies, Numbers 14:36-14:39. VII. The rebuke given to those who attempted to go forward notwithstanding, Numbers 14:40-14:45. And this is written for our admonition, that we “fall not after the same example of unbelief.” MHBCC 132.1