Numbers 14:39 states, "Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly." To understand the meaning, we need to look at the context.
Context: In Numbers 13, Moses sent out 12 spies to scout the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. When they returned (Numbers 14:1-35), ten of the spies gave a negative report, exaggerating the strength of the inhabitants and casting doubt on the Israelites' ability to conquer the land. Only Caleb and Joshua urged the people to trust God and proceed. The Israelites, believing the majority report, rebelled against God and Moses, complaining that they would rather die in the wilderness or return to Egypt. God, angered by their lack of faith, declared that none of the adults who had rebelled (except Caleb and Joshua) would enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that entire generation died out. Only their children would inherit the land.
"These Words": The "these words" that Moses spoke in verse 39 refer to God's judgment and pronouncement of their fate, specifically that they would not enter the Promised Land and would die in the wilderness.
"Mourned Greatly": The people "mourned greatly" because they realized the consequences of their rebellion and their lack of faith. They now understood that they would be denied the opportunity to possess the land God had promised to their ancestors. This was a profound loss and a source of deep sorrow.
In summary, Numbers 14:39 signifies that when Moses revealed to the Israelites that, as punishment for their rebellion and lack of faith, they would not enter the Promised Land but would instead die in the wilderness, they were overcome with grief and remorse.
Numbers 14:39 states, "Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly." To understand the meaning, we need to look at the context.
Context: In Numbers 13, Moses sent out 12 spies to scout the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. When they returned (Numbers 14:1-35), ten of the spies gave a negative report, exaggerating the strength of the inhabitants and casting doubt on the Israelites' ability to conquer the land. Only Caleb and Joshua urged the people to trust God and proceed. The Israelites, believing the majority report, rebelled against God and Moses, complaining that they would rather die in the wilderness or return to Egypt. God, angered by their lack of faith, declared that none of the adults who had rebelled (except Caleb and Joshua) would enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that entire generation died out. Only their children would inherit the land.
"These Words": The "these words" that Moses spoke in verse 39 refer to God's judgment and pronouncement of their fate, specifically that they would not enter the Promised Land and would die in the wilderness.
"Mourned Greatly": The people "mourned greatly" because they realized the consequences of their rebellion and their lack of faith. They now understood that they would be denied the opportunity to possess the land God had promised to their ancestors. This was a profound loss and a source of deep sorrow.
In summary, Numbers 14:39 signifies that when Moses revealed to the Israelites that, as punishment for their rebellion and lack of faith, they would not enter the Promised Land but would instead die in the wilderness, they were overcome with grief and remorse.