Numbers 14:9

_ONLY REBEL NOT YE AGAINST THE LORD, NEITHER FEAR YE THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND; FOR THEY ARE BREAD FOR US: THEIR DEFENCE IS DEPARTED FROM THEM, AND THE LORD IS WITH US: FEAR THEM NOT._ Their defense is departed, х_ CAAR_ (H5493) _ TSILAAM_ (H6738)] - their shadow is turned, is departed. The departing of the shadow was regarded as an indication of some evil. The Sultan of Turkey and the Shah of Persia are called 'the shadow of God,' 'the refuge of the world.' So that the meaning of the phrase, "their defense is departed" from them, is, that the favour of God was now lost to those whose iniquities were full (Genesis 15:16), and transferred to the Israelites....

5-10 Moses and Aaron were astonished to see a people throw away their own mercies. Caleb and Joshua assured the people of the goodness of the land. They made nothing of the difficulties in the way of their gaining it. If men were convinced of the desirableness of the gains of religion, they would not stick at the services of it. Though the Canaanites dwell in walled cities, their defence was departed from them. The other spies took notice of their strength, but these of their wickedness. No people can be safe, when they have provoked God to leave them. Though Israel dwell in tents, they are fortified. While we have the presence of God with us, we need not fear the most powerful force against us. Sinners are ruined by their own rebellion. But those who, like Caleb and Joshua, faithfully expose themselves for God, are sure to be taken under his special protection, and shall be hid from the...

Verse Numbers 14:9. _THEIR DEFENCE_] צלם _tsillam, their shadow_, a metaphor highly expressive of _protection_ and _support_ in the sultry eastern countries. The _protection_ of God is so called; see Psalms 91:1; Psalms 121:5; see also Isaiah 51:16; Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 30:2. The Arabs and Persians have the same word to express the same thing. [Persian] _nemayeed zulli doulet mamdood bad_. "May the _shadow_ of thy prosperity b

THEIR DEFENSE - literally, “their shadow,” i. e. their shelter as from the scorching sun: an Oriental figure. Compare the marginal references....

EXPOSITION THE REBELLION AT KADESH (continued) (Numbers 13:1, Numbers 14:1). NUMBERS 14:1 AND THE PEOPLE WEPT THAT NIGHT. As the spies repeated their dismal tidings, each to the leading men of his own tribe, and as the report was spread swiftly through the tents (cf. Deuteronomy 1:27) with ever-increasing exaggerations, the lamentation became universal. NUMBERS 14:2 Murmured against Moses

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, 1 Samuel 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 pleas

CHAPTER 14 The Rebellion of the People, Moses' Intercession and the Divine Sentence _ 1. The rebellion (Numbers 14:1)_ 2. The intercession of Moses (Numbers 14:11) 3. The divine sentence (Numbers 14:26) 4. The presumption of the people and the defeat (Numbers 14:40) The words of unbelief of the ten spies yielded an awful harvest among the people. The camp was transformed into a camp of despair, weeping and crying during the night. Outspoken rebellion against Moses and Aaron was heard on all sides. Worse than that took place; they accused Jehovah of deception. Such is unbelief. They

NUMBERS 14:1 (P). THE PEOPLE'S DISCOURAGEMENT AT THE REPORT OF THE SPIES. This section is also a fusion of JE and P: its composite character is suggested by the repetitions in Numbers 14:1. In Numbers 14:6 the minority report proceeds from Joshua and Caleb (not from Caleb only, as in Numbers 13:30, JE), and so is derived from P. But the protest in Numbers 14:7 f., though appearing to be made by both jointly, is really Caleb's, for like Numbers 13:30 it is directed a

DEFENCE. Hebrew. shadow. Note Figure of speech _Ellipsis_ (App-6.) Literally "they [are] like our bread (= manna), their shadow hath turned aside from off them.". The manna when out of the shade melted, though hard (Compare Numbers 11:8 and Exodus 16:21): so the hearts of their enemies would melt away, not having Jehovah for their shadow, or defence. Compare Exodus 15:15.Joshua 2:9; Joshua 2:11.Isaiah 13:7;...

DISCOURSE: 155 THE PEOPLE MURMURING AT THE REPORT OF THE SPIES Numbers 14:6._ And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them; and the Lord is with us: fear them not._ WHEN actions originate in an evil principle, however specious they be, the motives from whence they proceed cannot long be hidden: a thousand things in the course of tune will arise to elicit truth, and to discover the principles whic