Numbers 14:36

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,

Complete Jewish Bible:

The men whom Moshe had sent to reconnoiter the land and who, when they returned, made the entire community complain against him by giving an unfavorable report about the land -

Berean Standard Bible:

So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land—

American Standard Version:

And the men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the men^{H582}, which Moses^{H4872} sent^{H7971} to search^{H8446} the land^{H776}, who returned^{H7725}, and made all the congregation^{H5712} to murmur^{{H3885}{H3885}} against him, by bringing up^{H3318} a slander^{H1681} upon the land^{H776},

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Commentary for Numbers 14:36

**Numbers 14:36** is set within the broader context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The verse specifically references the events following the exploration of Canaan by a group of scouts sent by Moses at God's command. The historical context is the wilderness wandering period after the Exodus, when the Israelites are on the brink of entering the land promised to their ancestors.

**Themes:**

1. **Faith vs. Fear:** The scouts' report incites fear and doubt among the people rather than inspiring confidence in God's promise. This theme highlights the tension between trusting in God's plan and succumbing to fear based on human assessments.

2. **Leadership and Responsibility:** Moses' role as a leader is tested as he faces the challenge of guiding a skeptical and rebellious community. The verse underscores the impact of leadership decisions and the responsibility of leaders to inspire confidence in divine promises.

3. **Consequences of Disobedience:** The verse hints at the severe consequences of the scouts' actions and the people's response. Disobedience and lack of faith result in divine punishment, which is a recurring theme in the Pentateuch.

4. **Slander and Its Effects:** The slander brought by the scouts against the land has a demoralizing effect on the entire community, leading to widespread murmuring against Moses and Aaron. This theme addresses the power of words to incite or discourage, and the importance of speaking truthfully and responsibly.

5. **Divine Justice and Mercy:** Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader narrative includes God's judgment on the generation that refused to enter the Promised Land, as well as mercy in allowing their children to eventually inherit the land.

In summary, Numbers 14:36 encapsulates the tension between faith and fear, the role of leadership in times of crisis, the consequences of disobedience and slander, and the interplay of divine justice and mercy, all set against the historical backdrop of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
4. Strong's Number: H8446
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוּר
   Transliteration: tûwr
   Pronunciation: toor
   Description: a primitive root; to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially fortrade or reconnoitring; chap(-man), sent to descry, be excellent, merchant(-man), search (out), seek, (e-) spy (out).
   
5. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5712
   There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵדָה
   Transliteration: ʻêdâh
   Pronunciation: ay-daw'
   Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3885
   There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לוּן
   Transliteration: lûwn
   Pronunciation: loon
   Description: or לִין; a primitive root; to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain); abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure, grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night, in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all night, that night).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1681
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דִּבָּה
    Transliteration: dibbâh
    Pronunciation: dib-baw'
    Description: from דָּבַב (in the sense of furtive motion); slander; defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.