Numbers 14:15 - Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Numbers 14:15" mean?
Numbers 14:15, "Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying," is part of a plea made by Moses to God. Let's break down what it means within the context of the story:
Context: The Israelites, having been recently delivered from slavery in Egypt and brought to the edge of the Promised Land, have just received a discouraging report from the spies sent to scout out the land. They are terrified by the inhabitants and refuse to enter, essentially rebelling against God's command. God, in response to their lack of faith, threatens to destroy them and start over with Moses as a new nation.
"Now if you killed this people as one man..." This is the core of Moses's argument. "As one man" emphasizes the complete and utter destruction of the Israelites. Moses is saying, "If you wipe them all out completely, in a single, sweeping act."
"...then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying..." This is the crucial point. Moses is appealing to God's reputation and the perception of God by other nations. These nations have heard of God's power demonstrated through the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the desert. Moses is about to elaborate what these nations will say, as the following verse shows. (Verse 16 in some versions of the Bible is included to complete the thought.)
In essence, Moses is arguing that God's reputation will be tarnished if He destroys the Israelites now. The surrounding nations will interpret God's actions not as just punishment for rebellion, but as an inability to fulfill His promises. They will say that God wasn't powerful enough to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land, and that He could only bring them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness.
Moses's Overall Argument: Moses is trying to persuade God to show mercy and not destroy the Israelites, despite their rebellion. He is using two main arguments:
God's Honor/Reputation: Moses argues that God's destruction of the Israelites will be misinterpreted by other nations, making God look weak or unreliable.
God's Character: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, Moses implies that God's mercy and forgiveness are part of His character. He appeals to God to act in accordance with His own nature.
In conclusion, this verse is part of a powerful plea where Moses is using the potential damage to God's reputation as a key reason for God to reconsider destroying the Israelites. It highlights the importance of reputation and perceived power in the ancient world and how Moses strategically uses this to intercede on behalf of his people.
Numbers 14:15 - Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
What does "Numbers 14:15" mean?
Numbers 14:15, "Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying," is part of a plea made by Moses to God. Let's break down what it means within the context of the story:
Context: The Israelites, having been recently delivered from slavery in Egypt and brought to the edge of the Promised Land, have just received a discouraging report from the spies sent to scout out the land. They are terrified by the inhabitants and refuse to enter, essentially rebelling against God's command. God, in response to their lack of faith, threatens to destroy them and start over with Moses as a new nation.
"Now if you killed this people as one man..." This is the core of Moses's argument. "As one man" emphasizes the complete and utter destruction of the Israelites. Moses is saying, "If you wipe them all out completely, in a single, sweeping act."
"...then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying..." This is the crucial point. Moses is appealing to God's reputation and the perception of God by other nations. These nations have heard of God's power demonstrated through the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the desert. Moses is about to elaborate what these nations will say, as the following verse shows. (Verse 16 in some versions of the Bible is included to complete the thought.)
In essence, Moses is arguing that God's reputation will be tarnished if He destroys the Israelites now. The surrounding nations will interpret God's actions not as just punishment for rebellion, but as an inability to fulfill His promises. They will say that God wasn't powerful enough to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land, and that He could only bring them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness.
Moses's Overall Argument: Moses is trying to persuade God to show mercy and not destroy the Israelites, despite their rebellion. He is using two main arguments:
God's Honor/Reputation: Moses argues that God's destruction of the Israelites will be misinterpreted by other nations, making God look weak or unreliable.
God's Character: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, Moses implies that God's mercy and forgiveness are part of His character. He appeals to God to act in accordance with His own nature.
In conclusion, this verse is part of a powerful plea where Moses is using the potential damage to God's reputation as a key reason for God to reconsider destroying the Israelites. It highlights the importance of reputation and perceived power in the ancient world and how Moses strategically uses this to intercede on behalf of his people.