Numbers 14:3

KJV

And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

KJV (with Strong's)

And wherefore hath the LORD {H3068} brought {H935} us unto this land {H776}, to fall {H5307} by the sword {H2719}, that our wives {H802} and our children {H2945} should be a prey {H957}? were it not better {H2896} for us to return {H7725} into Egypt {H4714}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"

Berean Standard Bible

Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

American Standard Version

And wherefore doth Jehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:3 captures the Israelites' profound crisis of faith and outright rebellion at the very threshold of the Promised Land. Following a disheartening report from ten of the twelve spies, the congregation succumbs to paralyzing fear and despair, accusing the LORD of malicious intent in bringing them out of Egypt only to perish in Canaan. This verse articulates their desperate desire to reverse divine providence, preferring the perceived security of Egyptian bondage over the challenges of trusting God's covenant faithfulness and entering the land He promised.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the emotional and theological climax of the people's immediate reaction to the spies' report, detailed in [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent Out"). Moses had dispatched twelve leaders to scout Canaan ([Numbers 13:1-2](/numbers/13-1-2 "Numbers 13:1-2 - Spies Sent Into Canaan")), and upon their return, ten delivered a demoralizing assessment, emphasizing the formidable strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities. Only Caleb and Joshua offered a dissenting, faith-filled report, urging the people to trust God's power ([Numbers 13:26-33](/numbers/13-26-33 "Numbers 13:26-33 - The Spies' Report and Caleb's Faith")). The people's immediate response of weeping and grumbling, recorded in [Numbers 14:1-2](/numbers/14-1-2 "Numbers 14:1-2 - Israel Complains Against Moses and Aaron"), directly precedes this verse. Numbers 14:3 then escalates their complaint into a direct accusation against the LORD and a desperate proposal to appoint a new leader to facilitate a return to Egypt. This pivotal moment precipitates God's severe judgment and sets the stage for the subsequent forty years of wilderness wandering, a consequence detailed later in the chapter ([Numbers 14:34](/numbers/14-34 "Numbers 14:34 - Forty Years of Wilderness Wandering")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this juncture, the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh-Barnea, strategically positioned on the southern border of Canaan. This location represented a critical turning point, the culmination of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt and their arduous journey through the wilderness. Their fear of the Canaanites, described as powerful peoples dwelling in heavily fortified cities, was a natural human reaction to a superior military threat. However, this fear tragically overshadowed God's consistent demonstrations of power against far mightier adversaries, such as the Egyptian army at the [Red Sea](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - Crossing the Red Sea") and the provision of manna in the wilderness ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail")). The dread that their wives and children would become "prey" reflects the brutal realities of ancient warfare, where the defeated population, particularly women and children, often faced enslavement, rape, or death. Their longing for Egypt, despite its history of brutal slavery, highlights a common human tendency to prefer known discomforts and perceived security over the unknown challenges of freedom and divine leading.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 14:3 powerfully illustrates several recurring themes prevalent throughout the Pentateuch. First, it underscores the pervasive theme of **unbelief and rebellion** against God, a persistent sin that marked Israel's wilderness journey, standing in stark contrast to the unwavering faith God continually called them to embrace ([Deuteronomy 1:32](/deuteronomy/1-32 "Deuteronomy 1:32 - Israel's Unbelief")). Second, the verse highlights the **danger of fear** overriding faith, leading to distorted perceptions of reality and a catastrophic failure to remember God's past faithfulness and His unfailing promises ([Psalm 78:17-20](/psalms/78-17-20 "Psalm 78:17-20 - Israel's Rebellion and God's Patience")). Third, this passage reveals the **peril of a distorted memory**, where the immediate hardships of the present cause the people to romanticize a past of oppression, preferring the "fleshpots of Egypt" over the freedom, provision, and inheritance God graciously provides ([Exodus 16:3](/exodus/16-3 "Exodus 16:3 - Israel Complains for Food")). Finally, it dramatically showcases the **severe consequences of rejecting God's covenant faithfulness**, as their profound lack of trust directly precipitates divine judgment, preventing that entire generation from entering the Promised Land.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **brought (Hebrew, _bôwʼ_):** This verb, derived from the primitive root H935, means "to go or come" in a wide variety of applications, including "to bring" or "to lead." In this context, the Israelites' use of "brought" is deeply accusatory, implying that the LORD deliberately led them to a place of destruction. It transforms God's gracious act of deliverance into a malevolent intention in their minds, revealing a profound misinterpretation of His character and purposes.
* **prey (Hebrew, _baz_):** From H957, this term refers to "plunder, booty, spoil(-ed)." The fear that their wives and children would become "prey" speaks to their deepest anxieties about the vulnerability of their families in the face of a superior enemy. This fear, however, is presented as an inevitable outcome of God's supposed ill-will, rather than a challenge to be overcome with divine assistance and protection.
* **return (Hebrew, _shûwb_):** From H7725, this primitive root means "to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively." The rhetorical question, "were it not better for us to return into Egypt?", expresses a profound desire to reverse God's entire redemptive work. It represents a spiritual regression, a rejection of their identity as God's liberated people, and a longing for the perceived safety of their former bondage, effectively seeking to undo the Exodus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land,"**: This opening rhetorical question is a direct, accusatory challenge to God's leadership and His ultimate purpose for them. The Israelites question the very reason for their exodus, implying that God's intention in bringing them to Canaan was not benevolent but sinister. It reflects a complete and utter loss of trust in His good will and sovereign plan.
* **"to fall by the sword,"**: This phrase expresses their terrified conviction that death by the sword at the hands of the Canaanites is their inevitable and immediate fate. It is an exaggerated, fear-driven conclusion, completely ignoring God's demonstrated power to fight for them, as He had done repeatedly in Egypt and at the Red Sea. They foresee utter defeat and annihilation rather than divine victory and protection.
* **"that our wives and our children should be a prey?"**: This adds a deeply emotional and desperate dimension to their complaint, tapping into their most primal fears. The thought of their most vulnerable family members becoming victims of war's brutality fuels their despair and anger. It implies that God is either indifferent to, or even intends, the suffering and destruction of their families, further distorting His character.
* **"were it not better for us to return into Egypt?"**: This second rhetorical question reveals the profound depth of their spiritual blindness and rebellion. It is not a genuine inquiry but a declaration of preference for their former slavery over the freedom and inheritance God had promised and was actively providing. This statement represents the ultimate rejection of God's redemptive plan and a desire to undo His mighty acts of deliverance, preferring the known oppression to the unknown path of faith.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:3 is rich in **Rhetorical Questions**, which function not as genuine inquiries but as powerful vehicles for expressing deep accusation, despair, and a rebellious preference for a past of bondage over a future of divine promise. The questions "And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land...?" and "were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" are laden with bitterness, resentment, and a complete lack of faith. The verse also employs **Hyperbole**, as the Israelites exaggerate their impending doom ("to fall by the sword," "our wives and our children should be a prey") to justify their fear and rebellion, rather than acknowledging God's omnipotent power to protect and provide for them. There is profound **Irony** in their desire to return to Egypt, the very land of their brutal slavery from which God miraculously delivered them with mighty signs and wonders. They perceive the unknown challenges of the Promised Land as worse than the known oppression of their past, highlighting their distorted memory and spiritual blindness. The verse functions as a collective **Lament** or **Complaint**, but unlike the psalms of lament, it is directed against God in accusation and defiance rather than humble petition, revealing their hardened hearts and rebellious spirit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:3 stands as a stark warning against the destructive power of unbelief and the persistent human tendency to question God's good intentions when faced with daunting adversity. It underscores the critical importance of unwavering faith in God's promises, even when the path ahead seems fraught with peril. The Israelites' catastrophic failure to trust God's power and love, despite overwhelming evidence of His faithfulness throughout their journey, led to severe consequences, demonstrating that unbelief is not merely a passive state but an active rebellion against the divine will. This pivotal episode highlights how fear can profoundly distort truth, leading to a romanticization of past bondage and a tragic rejection of the freedom and inheritance God graciously offers.

* [Deuteronomy 1:26-33](/deuteronomy/1-26-33 "Deuteronomy 1:26-33 - Israel's Rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea")
* [Psalm 106:24-27](/psalms/106-24-27 "Psalm 106:24-27 - Rebellion in the Wilderness and God's Judgment")
* [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7-19 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Warning Against Unbelief and Hardened Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:3 offers a timeless and profound lesson for believers navigating the complex challenges of life. When confronted with daunting obstacles or seemingly insurmountable "giants" in our own spiritual journeys, it is remarkably easy to succumb to the same paralyzing fear and doubt that afflicted the Israelites. This verse challenges us to deeply examine our own hearts: Do we genuinely trust God's sovereign leading even when the path is difficult, unfamiliar, or appears to lead into danger? Do we allow past comforts, even those that were ultimately unhealthy or restrictive, to tempt us away from God's perfect, liberating plan for our lives? The Israelites' desperate desire to return to Egypt serves as a potent reminder that spiritual regression is a very real and dangerous possibility when faith falters under pressure. Our response to adversity, therefore, reveals the true depth of our trust in God's unchanging character and His unwavering commitment to fulfill His promises. We are called to press forward in faith, actively remembering God's past faithfulness and clinging to His assurance that He is always with us, empowering us to overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of His divine purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "giants" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your life are currently tempting you to doubt God's good intentions or His ability to deliver?**
* **In what specific ways might you be romanticizing a past situation or comfort, rather than embracing the challenging but ultimately freeing path God has for you?**
* **How can you proactively choose faith over fear when God's leading takes you out of your comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory?**
* **What specific promises of God can you cling to and meditate upon when you feel tempted to complain, question His plan, or retreat from His calling?**

### FAQ

**What was the immediate consequence of the Israelites' complaint in Numbers 14:3?**

Answer: The immediate and severe consequence of their unbelief and desire to return to Egypt was God's declaration of judgment. Because of their hardened hearts and lack of faith, God decreed that the entire generation of Israelites twenty years old and upward, with the sole exceptions of Caleb and Joshua, would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for forty years, a year for each day the spies explored the land, until that rebellious generation had completely died off ([Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26-35 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment and the Forty Years of Wandering")).

**Did the Israelites actually try to return to Egypt?**

Answer: While [Numbers 14:4](/numbers/14-4 "Numbers 14:4 - They Propose a New Leader") explicitly states, "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt," the biblical text does not describe them physically turning back towards Egypt. Their intention to appoint a new leader to facilitate this return was a clear and overt act of rebellion against both God and Moses's divinely appointed leadership. God's immediate judgment and the subsequent forty years of wilderness wandering effectively prevented them from executing this rebellious plan, trapping them in the wilderness as a direct consequence of their profound unbelief and disobedience.

**How does this event relate to the concept of "testing" God?**

Answer: The Israelites' complaint in [Numbers 14:3](/numbers/14-3 "Numbers 14:3 - Israel's Complaint and Desire to Return to Egypt") is a quintessential example of "testing" God in a negative and rebellious sense. Instead of humbly trusting God's omnipotence and faithfulness, they challenged His intentions and His ability to fulfill His promises, essentially daring Him to prove Himself or accusing Him of failure. This type of testing, born of doubt and rebellion, is unequivocally condemned throughout Scripture. [Psalm 95:8-11](/psalms/95-8-11 "Psalm 95:8-11 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts") directly references this very event, warning against hardening one's heart as Israel did at Meribah (which includes the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea), lest one fail to enter God's rest.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:3, with its stark portrayal of Israel's unbelief and their tragic rejection of God's promised land, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment and typological significance in the New Testament. The wilderness generation's failure to enter the earthly Canaan due to their hardened hearts and lack of faith serves as a powerful type and shadow for the spiritual inheritance offered through Christ. Just as ancient Israel was called to enter a physical land of rest, believers today are called to enter God's true spiritual rest, a profound reality found exclusively in Christ Jesus. The author of [Hebrews](/hebrews/3 "Hebrews 3 - Warning Against Unbelief") repeatedly draws upon this wilderness narrative, particularly the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, as a solemn and urgent warning to Christians not to fall into the same destructive pattern of unbelief. [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7-19 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Warning Against Unbelief and Disobedience") explicitly links the "hardening of hearts" in the wilderness to the grave danger of unbelief preventing entry into God's spiritual rest, which is found in Christ. Jesus, as the ultimate and perfectly faithful leader, unlike Moses in this context, perfectly leads His people into the true Promised Land—eternal life and an unbreakable communion with God. He is the ["author and perfecter of our faith"](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, Author and Perfecter of Faith"), enabling us to overcome the "giants" of sin, the world, and our own doubts, and to trust God's good intentions even when the path is challenging. Unlike Israel who longed for the bondage of Egypt, Christ sets us truly free from the slavery of sin ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")), inviting us to press on towards the heavenly Jerusalem ([Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem, Mount Zion")) with unwavering faith in His finished work on the cross.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 14:31

But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

Numbers 14:32

But [as for] you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.

Jeremiah 9:3

And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

Psalms 78:40

¶ How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] grieve him in the desert!