Numbers 14:15 Study Bible: Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,

◄ Numbers 14:15 ►

If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,

If You kill
This phrase reflects Moses' intercession on behalf of the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "kill" is "harag," which implies a decisive act of taking life. In the context of the ancient Near East, divine retribution was a common theme, yet Moses appeals to God's mercy. This highlights the tension between justice and mercy, a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing God's patience and long-suffering nature.

this people
The term "this people" refers to the Israelites, God's chosen people, who were in a covenant relationship with Him. Historically, the Israelites were a distinct group set apart by God to be a light to the nations. This phrase underscores their identity and the gravity of their rebellion against God, which Moses is addressing.

as one man
The phrase "as one man" suggests a collective judgment, emphasizing the unity of the people in their rebellion. In Hebrew, "ke'ish echad" conveys the idea of a singular, unified entity. This reflects the biblical principle that the community often bears the consequences of individual and collective sin, highlighting the importance of communal responsibility and intercession.

the nations
"The nations" refers to the surrounding peoples who were aware of Israel's unique relationship with God. In the ancient world, the reputation of a deity was often tied to the fortunes of its people. This phrase indicates the broader implications of God's actions on His reputation among the Gentiles, stressing the missional aspect of Israel's calling.

who have heard of Your fame
This phrase acknowledges that God's mighty acts, such as the Exodus, had already spread among the nations. The Hebrew word for "fame" is "shem," meaning name or reputation. It underscores the importance of God's renown and the witness of His power and character to the world. Moses appeals to God's concern for His own glory and the testimony of His faithfulness.

will say
The phrase "will say" anticipates the reaction of the nations to God's actions. It implies a future declaration or judgment based on God's dealings with Israel. This highlights the prophetic nature of Moses' intercession, as he foresees the potential misunderstanding of God's character by the nations, should He choose to destroy His people. Moses' plea is rooted in a desire to uphold God's honor and the integrity of His promises.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, interceding on behalf of the people to God. He is concerned about God's reputation among the nations.

2. The Israelites
The people of God who have been delivered from Egypt but are now rebelling against God in the wilderness.

3. The Nations
Refers to the surrounding peoples who have heard of God's mighty acts and reputation, particularly His deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

4. The Wilderness
The setting where the Israelites are journeying and where this event of rebellion and intercession takes place.

5. God's Fame
The reputation and glory of God among the nations, which Moses is concerned about preserving.

Teaching Points

The Importance of God's Reputation
Moses' intercession highlights the importance of God's reputation among the nations. As believers, we should be concerned about how our actions reflect on God's name.

Intercessory Prayer
Moses models intercessory prayer, standing in the gap for others. We are called to pray for others, especially when they are in rebellion or need.

God's Mercy and Justice
This passage shows the balance of God's mercy and justice. While God is just and could punish, He is also merciful and listens to intercession.

The Consequences of Rebellion
The Israelites' rebellion serves as a warning about the consequences of disobedience. We should strive to obey God and trust His promises.

Faith in God's Promises
Despite the circumstances, Moses trusts in God's promises and character. We are encouraged to have faith in God's promises, even when situations seem dire.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Moses' concern for God's reputation among the nations challenge us in our daily lives and witness?

2. In what ways can we practice intercessory prayer for those who are struggling or in rebellion against God?

3. How do we see the balance of God's justice and mercy in our own lives, and how should this affect our view of God?

4. What are some modern-day "wilderness" experiences where we might be tempted to rebel, and how can we remain faithful?

5. How can we strengthen our faith in God's promises when faced with difficult circumstances, drawing from Moses' example?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 32
Moses similarly intercedes for the Israelites after the golden calf incident, emphasizing God's reputation among the nations.

Deuteronomy 9
Moses recounts the rebellion of the Israelites and his intercession, highlighting God's mercy and the importance of His name.

Psalm 106
Reflects on Israel's rebellion and God's mercy, showing the pattern of intercession and divine patience.

Ezekiel 20
God acts for the sake of His name, not allowing it to be profaned among the nations.

Sermons

Moses Standing in the Breach, or the Power of Intercessory Prayer	W. Binnie	Numbers 14:1-20
The Could not Enter in Because of Unbelief	W. Binnie	Numbers 14:1-45
Skilful Intercession	E.S. Prout	Numbers 14:11-19
God's Pardoning Grace in the Past an Encouragement to Seek for the Same in the Present	David Lloyd.	Numbers 14:13-19
Great Mercy	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Numbers 14:13-19
Long-Suffering of God	J. Pilkington.	Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' Expostulation	J. Parker, D. D.	Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' View of the Position	D. Young	Numbers 14:13-19
The Intercession of Moses for the Doomed Nation	W. Jones.	Numbers 14:13-19
The Mercy of God	Abp. Tillotson.	Numbers 14:13-19
The Power of Intercession	T. Chalmers.	Numbers 14:13-19

People

Aaron, Amalekites, Caleb, Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Jephunneh, Joshua, Moses, Nun

Places

Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red Sea

Topics

Death, Fame, Glory, Hast, Kill, Killed, Nations, Report, Saying, Slay, Slayest, Speak, Spoken

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Numbers 14:10-20

4843 plague

Numbers 14:11-19

8611 prayer, for others

Numbers 14:13-16

5857 fame
8605 prayer, and God's will

Numbers 14:13-19

8640 calling upon God

Numbers 14:13-39

6257 unbelievers

Library

Moses the Intercessor
'Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.' --NUM. xiv. 19. See how in this story a divine threat is averted and a divine promise is broken, thus revealing a standing law that these in Scripture are conditional. This striking incident of Moses' intercession suggests to us some thoughts as to I. The ground of the divine forgiveness. The appeal is not based on anything in the people. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Weighed, and Found Wanting
'And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 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! 3. 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? 4. And they said one …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Order and Argument in Prayer
It is further observable that though a good man hastens to God in his trouble, and runs with all the more speed because of the unkindness of his fellow men, yet sometimes the gracious soul is left without the comfortable presence of God. This is the worst of all griefs; the text is one of Job's deep groans, far deeper than any which came from him on account of the loss of his children and his property: "Oh that I knew where I might find HIM!" The worst of all losses is to lose the smile of my God. …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 12: 1866

The Spies
THE UNBELIEF OF THE CHILDREN of Israel, prompted them to send spies into Canaan. God had told them that it was a good land, and he had promised to drive out their enemies, they ought therefore to have marched forward with all confidence to possess the promised heritage. Instead of this, they send twelve princes to spy out the land, and "alas, for human nature," ten of these were faithless, and only two true to the Lord. Read over the narrative, and mark the ill effect of the lying message, and the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Afraid of Giants
'And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain; 18. And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19. And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20. And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Personality of Power.
A Personally Conducted Journey. Everyone enjoys the pleasure of travel; but nearly all shrink back from its tiresomeness and drudgery. The transportation companies are constantly scheming to overcome this disagreeable side for both pleasure and business travel. One of the popular ways of pleasure travel of late is by means of personally conducted tours. A party is formed, often by the railroad company, and is accompanied by a special agent to attend to all the business matters of the trip. A variation …
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power

Exploring Canaan by Faith
EXPLORING CANAAN BY FAITH I can not understand faith. What is faith, anyway? I try to believe; sometimes I feel that my faith is strong, but at other times I feel that my faith is giving way. Can you help me in this matter? Faith seems such a hazy, intangible, elusive thing; now I think I have it, now it seems certain I have it not. I feel at times that my faith is so strong I could believe anything, then again I feel that every bit of faith I had is gone. Can you give me any instructions that will …
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

Trinity Sunday the Doctrine of the Trinity.
Second Sermon. Text: Romans 11, 33-36. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.[1] [Footnote 1: This sermon was first printed in 1535, at Wittenberg.] 1. This festival requires us to instruct the people in the dogma of the Holy Trinity, and to strengthen both memory and faith concerning it. This is the reason why we take up the subject once more. Without proper instruction and a sound foundation in this regard, other dogmas cannot be rightly and successfully treated. The other festivals of the year present …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh
An unfinished commentary on the Bible, found among the author's papers after his death, in his own handwriting; and published in 1691, by Charles Doe, in a folio volume of the works of John Bunyan. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR Being in company with an enlightened society of Protestant dissenters of the Baptist denomination, I observed to a doctor of divinity, who was advancing towards his seventieth year, that my time had been delightfully engaged with John Bunyan's commentary on Genesis. "What," …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Earliest Christian Preaching
1. THUS far we have confined ourselves to the words of Jesus. The divine necessity of His death, indicated in the Old Testament and forming the basis of all His teaching regarding it, is the primary truth; the nature of that necessity begins to be revealed as the death is set in relation to the ransoming of many, and to the institution of a new covenant -- that is, a new religion, having as its fundamental blessing the forgiveness of sins. I do not think this view of our Lord's mind as to His own …
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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