Only rebel not ye against the Lord,.... Nothing, it is suggested, could hinder them from the, possession of it but their rebellion against the Lord; which might provoke him to cut them off by his immediate hand, or to deliver them into the hands of their enemies; for rebellion is a dreadful sin, and highly provoking, 1Sa 15:23;neither fear ye the people the land; on account of their number, strength, the walled cities they dwell in; they had nothing to fear from them, so be it they feared the Lord, and were not disobedient to him:for they [are] bread for us; as easy to be cut to pieces, and to be devoured, consumed, and destroyed as thoroughly, as bread is when eaten; and their fields, vineyards, all they have without and within, even all their substance, will be a prey to us, and furnish out sufficient provision for us, on which we may pleasantly and plentifully live, as on bread: see Ps 14:4;their defence is departed from them; they had no heart nor spirit left in them; no courage to defend themselves, and therefore the strength of their bodies and their walled towns would be of no avail unto them; see Jos 2:9; or "their shadow" , which covered and protected them, the providence of God which was over them, and continued them in the land, and quiet possession of it, until the measure of their iniquity was filled up, and the time come for his people Israel to inhabit it; but now it was departed:and the Lord [is] with us; as was evident by the cloud upon the tabernacle, and by the manna being spread around their camp every morning: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are,"the Word of the Lord is for our help:''fear them not; the Canaanites, notwithstanding the strength of their bodies, or of their cities, the Lord is mightier than they.
Bible Commentary
Numbers 14:9
Numbers 14:9
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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Numbers 14 — OverviewNumbers 14 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter gives us an account of that fatal quarrel between God and
Israel upon which, for their murmuring and unbelief, he swore in his
wrath that they should not enter into his rest. Here is, I. The mutiny…Numbers 14 — OverviewNumbers 14 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 14:1, The people murmur at the news; Numbers 14:6, Joshua and Caleb labour to still them; v.11, God threatens them; v.13, Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon; v.26, The murmurers are debarred from…Numbers 14 — OverviewNumbers 14 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter treats or the murmurings of the children of Israel upon the evil report of the spies, which greatly distressed Moses and Aaron, Nu 14:1; and of the endeavours of Joshua and Caleb to quiet the minds of the…Numbers 14:5-10Numbers 14:5-10 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe friends of Israel here interpose to save them if possible from
ruining themselves, but in vain. The physicians of their state would
have healed them, but they would not be healed; their watchmen gave
them…Numbers 14:9Numbers 14:9 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeOnly rebel: Deuteronomy 9:7, Deuteronomy 9:23-24; Isaiah 1:2, Isaiah 63:10; Daniel 9:5, Daniel 9:9; Philippians 1:27
neither: Deuteronomy 7:18, Deuteronomy 20:3
are bread: Numbers 24:8; Deuteronomy 32:42; Psalms 14:4,…