Numbers 14:2

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

And all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} murmured {H3885} against Moses {H4872} and against Aaron {H175}: and the whole congregation {H5712} said {H559} unto them, Would God {H3863} that we had died {H4191} in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}! or would God {H3863} we had died {H4191} in this wilderness {H4057}!

Moreover, all the people of Isra'el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert!

All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, โ€œIf only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness!

Commentary

Numbers 14:2 captures a pivotal moment in the Israelites' wilderness journey, immediately following the return of the twelve spies from Canaan. This verse reveals the congregation's profound fear, lack of faith, and open rebellion against God and His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron.

Context

After being miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage, the Israelites arrived at the border of the Promised Land. Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe, to scout the land. Ten of these spies returned with a discouraging report, emphasizing the formidable strength of the Canaanites and their fortified cities, instilling great fear in the people. Only Caleb and Joshua brought a positive report, urging faith in God's ability to give them the land (Numbers 13:30). Instead of trusting God, the people gave in to despair and fear, leading to the lament expressed in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Disbelief and Lack of Faith: The primary theme is the Israelites' profound lack of faith in God's power and His promise to deliver the land into their hands. Despite witnessing incredible miracles, including the parting of the Red Sea and the daily provision of manna, they doubted His ability to overcome the giants.
  • Rebellion and Murmuring: The "murmuring" (Hebrew: lun, ืœื•ืŸ) signifies a deep-seated grumbling and open complaint, not just against Moses and Aaron, but implicitly against God Himself. This was not their first instance of complaining in the wilderness, but this episode marked a severe turning point.
  • Ingratitude: The desire to have died in Egypt or the wilderness reveals an astonishing ingratitude for their liberation and God's continued provision and presence. They preferred the perceived security of slavery or the finality of death over the challenges of trusting God for freedom and inheritance.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This act of rebellion directly led to severe consequences, as detailed later in the chapter, where God declared that this generation would indeed die in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:29).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "would God that we had died" (Hebrew: ืœื•ึผ ืžึทืชึฐื ื•ึผ - *lu matnu*) expresses a strong, almost desperate wish for an alternative, even if it is death. It's a lament born of extreme fear and regret, highlighting their complete despair and rejection of God's plan. The repeated use of "murmured" throughout the Pentateuch highlights a recurring spiritual problem for the Israelites: a tendency to complain and doubt God's goodness and power when faced with difficulties.

Practical Application

Numbers 14:2 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of unbelief and complaining. It reminds us that:

  1. Fear can paralyze faith: When we focus on obstacles rather than God's power, fear can prevent us from moving forward in His will.
  2. Complaining dishonors God: Murmuring against circumstances or leadership can be a direct expression of discontent with God's sovereign plan.
  3. Trust is essential: Even when circumstances seem overwhelming, God calls us to trust in His faithfulness and promises. Like Caleb and Joshua, we are called to see challenges through the lens of God's power, not human limitation.
  4. Ingratitude blinds us: Forgetting God's past blessings and provisions can lead to a distorted perspective, causing us to wish for a return to past difficulties rather than pressing into God's future for us.
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 15:24

    And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

  • Numbers 16:41

    ยถ But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

  • Exodus 17:3

    And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

  • Philippians 2:14

    ยถ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

  • Philippians 2:15

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

  • Jude 1:16

    These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

  • Numbers 14:27

    How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
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