Numbers 14:12

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

I will smite {H5221} them with the pestilence {H1698}, and disinherit {H3423} them, and will make {H6213} of thee a greater {H1419} nation {H1471} and mightier {H6099} than they.

I am going to strike them with sickness, destroy them and make from you a nation greater and stronger than they are!"

I will strike them with a plague and destroy themโ€”and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.โ€

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.

Commentary

In Numbers 14:12, God expresses His profound anger and frustration with the Israelites, who have just rebelled against Him by refusing to enter the Promised Land. This verse captures a pivotal moment where divine judgment hangs precariously over the nation.

Context of Rebellion and Divine Anger

This declaration from God comes immediately after the Israelites' monumental failure of faith. Following the report of the twelve spies sent into Canaan (see Numbers 13), ten of them brought back a discouraging report emphasizing the strength of the inhabitants and fortified cities, causing the people to lose heart and complain bitterly. Despite the faithful witness of Joshua and Caleb, who urged trust in God (see Numbers 14:8-9), the congregation threatened to stone them and even proposed returning to Egypt. This outright rejection of God's command and promises provoked God's righteous wrath, leading to the severe pronouncement in this verse. God's patience had reached a breaking point, and He offered Moses a radical alternative.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Unbelief and Disobedience: The primary message is the severe outcome of defying God. The Israelites' lack of faith directly leads to God's threat to "smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them." This highlights that while God is merciful, He is also just and holds His people accountable for their rebellion.
  • God's Righteous Anger: The intensity of God's reaction underscores His holiness and His intolerance for persistent rebellion against His covenant promises and leadership.
  • A Renewed Offer to Moses: God offers to "make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they." This mirrors a similar offer made to Moses after the golden calf incident in Exodus 32:10, and echoes the original promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2). It demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even if it means raising a new nation from a faithful remnant (Moses' lineage) rather than the rebellious generation.
  • Setting the Stage for Intercession: This dramatic pronouncement serves as a direct challenge to Moses, setting the stage for his powerful and selfless intercession on behalf of the very people who had just threatened him (see Numbers 14:13-19).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pestilence" (dever, ื“ึถึผื‘ึถืจ) often refers to a divinely sent plague or epidemic, a common instrument of God's judgment in the Old Testament. To "disinherit them" means to strip them of their rightful claim to the land of Canaan, fulfilling the consequences of their unbelief. The phrase "make of thee a greater nation" emphasizes God's sovereign power to fulfill His purposes through whomever He chooses, even if it requires starting anew with a faithful individual, thereby preserving the covenant line.

Practical Application and Reflection

Numbers 14:12 serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of unbelief and rebellion against God's clear commands and promises. It challenges believers today to:

  • Trust God's Promises: Even when circumstances appear daunting, our faith should rest in God's power and faithfulness, not in our own perceived limitations or the size of the obstacles. The Israelites' failure to trust God's ability to give them the land led to significant loss.
  • Guard Against Complaining and Disobedience: The Israelites' example shows how quickly murmuring can escalate into open rebellion, leading to forfeited blessings and hindering spiritual progress.
  • Embrace Intercession: Moses' subsequent response to God's offer (not to accept the personal gain but to plead for his people) is a powerful model for intercessory prayer and selfless leadership. It highlights the importance of standing in the gap for others.

This verse underscores God's justice, but also His willingness to listen to the pleas of His faithful servants, ultimately leading to a demonstration of His patience and mercy, though not without consequences for that rebellious generation (Numbers 14:34-35).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 32:10

    Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

  • Numbers 16:46

    And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

  • Numbers 16:49

    Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

  • 2 Samuel 24:12

    Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee.

  • 2 Samuel 24:15

    So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

  • Numbers 25:9

    And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

  • 2 Samuel 24:1

    ยถ And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
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