THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
The spies faced death first for preventing the people from claiming the land they deeply desired; as a result, they unwittingly unlocked the gates of the grave for the six hundred thousand who followed them into that abyss.
Numbers 14:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
Therefore all the men, whom Moses had sent to view the land, and who at their return had made the whole multitude to murmur against him, speaking ill of the land that it was naught,
וְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּשֻׁ֗בוּ וילונו וַיַּלִּ֤ינוּ עָלָיו֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לְהוֹצִ֥יא דִבָּ֖ה עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
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Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Num 13:31In the mean time Caleb, to still the murmuring of the people that rose against Moses, said: Let us go up and possess the land, for we shall be able to conquer it.
- Num 13:33And they spoke ill of the land, which they had viewed, before the children of Israel, saying: The land which we have viewed, devoureth its inhabitants: the people, that we beheld are of a tall stature.
- Num 13:4Moses did what the Lord had commanded, sending from the desert of Pharan, principal men, whose names are these:
- Num 13:16Of the tribe of Gad, Guel the son of Machi.