Numbers 14:16

Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

Because the LORD {H3068} was not {H1115} able {H3201} to bring {H935} this people {H5971} into the land {H776} which he sware {H7650} unto them, therefore he hath slain {H7819} them in the wilderness {H4057}.

that the reason ADONAI slaughtered this people in the desert is that he wasn't able to bring them into the land which he swore to give them.

‘Because the LORD was unable to bring this people into the land He swore to give them, He has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

Because Jehovah was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 14:16 is a pivotal verse within Moses' impassioned intercession on behalf of the rebellious Israelites. Following the return of the twelve spies from Canaan, ten of whom brought a fearful report, the people despaired and rebelled against the LORD, wishing to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:2-4). In response, God threatened to disinherit them and make a new nation from Moses. Here, Moses appeals to God's character and reputation among the surrounding nations, particularly the Egyptians, who had witnessed God's mighty acts of deliverance.

Moses' argument is rhetorical: he is not suggesting God is truly "not able," but rather that if God were to destroy His people in the wilderness, the nations would misinterpret it as a sign of divine weakness or inability to fulfill His covenant promise to bring Israel into the land He had sworn to give them (Genesis 12:7).

Key Themes

  • God's Reputation and Glory: The primary concern driving Moses' intercession is the glory and reputation of the LORD among the Gentiles. Moses understood that God's actions, even judgments, should ultimately magnify His power and faithfulness, not diminish them in the eyes of the world.
  • Divine Faithfulness vs. Human Unbelief: While the verse presents a human perception of God's "ability," it highlights the tension between God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and the Israelites' profound unbelief. It was the people's lack of faith that prevented their entry into the Promised Land, not any deficiency on God's part (Hebrews 3:19).
  • The Power of Intercession: Moses' prayer demonstrates the significant role of a mediator. His bold appeal to God's character effectively turned away God's immediate wrath, showcasing the power of intercessory prayer.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "was not able" in KJV translates the Hebrew verb יָכֹל (yakol), meaning "to be able," "to prevail," or "to overcome." In this context, Moses is not questioning God's omnipotence. Instead, he uses it rhetorically, arguing from the perspective of how God's actions might be perceived by the surrounding pagan nations. They might conclude that God lacked the power to complete His promise, rather than understanding it as a just judgment on His people's rebellion and unbelief.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • Concern for God's Name: We should always be mindful of how our lives and actions reflect on God. Just as Moses was concerned about God's reputation among the nations, Christians are called to live in a way that honors God's name and draws others to Him.
  • The Danger of Unbelief: The Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land due to their unbelief serves as a powerful warning. Lack of faith can hinder us from experiencing God's full blessings and promises in our own lives.
  • The Importance of Intercession: Moses' fervent prayer models the vital practice of intercession. We are encouraged to pray for others, for our communities, and for the world, appealing to God's character and purposes.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 9:28 (5 votes)

    Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.

  • Joshua 7:9 (4 votes)

    For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear [of it], and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

  • Joshua 7:7 (3 votes)

    And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

  • Deuteronomy 32:26 (2 votes)

    ¶ I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

  • Deuteronomy 32:27 (2 votes)

    Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, [and] lest they should say, Our hand [is] high, and the LORD hath not done all this.