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Numbers 14:4 So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 14:4 So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/14-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/04_Num_14_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 14:4 - The People Rebel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So they said to one another, Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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(Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />And they said to each other, &#8220We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then they plotted among themselves, &#8220;Let&#8217;s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And they said to one another, &#8220;Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let&#8217;s appoint a leader and return to Egypt!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So they said one to another, &#8220;Let us appoint a [new] leader and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let&#8217;s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220Let&#8217s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then they said to one another, "Let's choose our own leader and go back." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/14.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />They said to each other, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So they said to one another, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then they told each other, "Let's assign a leader and go back to Egypt."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, ?Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, "Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And they said to one another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They said to one another, &#8220;Let&#8217;s choose a leader, and let&#8217;s return into Egypt.&#8221; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And they say to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint a head and return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And they say one unto another, 'Let us appoint a head, and turn back to Egypt.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will say, a man to his brother, We will give a head, and turn back to Egypt.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they said one to another: Let us appoint a captain, and let us return into Egypt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they said to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint our leader, and so return to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So they said to one another, &#8220;Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.&#8221;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us appoint a leader, and let us return to Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they said, each man to his brother, &#8220;Come, we shall make a Leader for us and we shall return to Egypt!&#8221;<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And they said one to another: 'Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they said one to another, Let us make a ruler, and return into Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/14-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=4285" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/14.htm">The People Rebel</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">3</span>Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?&#8221; <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way&#183;y&#333;&#183;m&#601;&#183;r&#363; (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">So they said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: &#8217;el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: &#8217;&#238;&#353; (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: &#8217;&#257;&#183;&#7717;&#238;w (N-msc:: 3ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">another,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nit&#183;t&#601;&#183;n&#257;h (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">&#8220;Let us appoint</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: r&#333;&#353; (N-ms) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">a leader</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: w&#601;&#183;n&#257;&#183;&#353;&#363;&#183;&#7687;&#257;h (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">and return</a> <a href="/hebrew/4714.htm" title="4714: mi&#7779;&#183;r&#257;&#183;y&#601;&#183;m&#257;h (N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- A son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa. Dual of matsowr; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt.">to Egypt.&#8221;</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/16-3.htm">Exodus 16:3</a></span><br />&#8220;If only we had died by the LORD&#8217;s hand in the land of Egypt!&#8221; they said. &#8220;There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/17-3.htm">Exodus 17:3</a></span><br />But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: &#8220;Why have you brought us out of Egypt&#8212;to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-27.htm">Deuteronomy 1:27</a></span><br />You grumbled in your tents and said, &#8220;Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-17.htm">Nehemiah 9:17</a></span><br />They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-25.htm">Psalm 106:25</a></span><br />They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39</a></span><br />But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11-12</a></span><br />They said to Moses, &#8220;Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, &#8216;Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians&#8217;? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-23.htm">Deuteronomy 9:23</a></span><br />And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, &#8220;Go up and possess the land that I have given you.&#8221; But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/8-7.htm">1 Samuel 8:7</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Samuel, &#8220;Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/44-16.htm">Jeremiah 44:16-17</a></span><br />&#8220;As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! / Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-8.htm">Ezekiel 20:8</a></span><br />But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-24.htm">Ezekiel 20:24</a></span><br />For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm">Hebrews 3:16-19</a></span><br />For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1-2</a></span><br />Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:10</a></span><br />And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/17-16.htm">Deuteronomy 17:16</a></b></br> But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-68.htm">Deuteronomy 28:68</a></b></br> And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy <i>you</i>.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/9-16.htm">Nehemiah 9:16,17</a></b></br> But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, &#8230; </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/6-26.htm">Appoint</a> <a href="/numbers/2-29.htm">Captain</a> <a href="/exodus/34-16.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/numbers/14-3.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/numbers/10-27.htm">Head</a> <a href="/numbers/13-25.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/27-16.htm">Appoint</a> <a href="/joshua/5-14.htm">Captain</a> <a href="/numbers/16-5.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/numbers/14-19.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/numbers/17-3.htm">Head</a> <a href="/numbers/14-25.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-1.htm">The people murmur at the news</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-6.htm">Joshua and Caleb labor to still them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-11.htm">God threatens them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-13.htm">Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-26.htm">The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-36.htm">The men who raised the evil report die by a plague</a></span><br><span class="reftext">40. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/14-40.htm">The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book&nbsp;&#9702;</a>&nbsp;<a href="/study/chapters/numbers/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter&nbsp;</a></tr></table></div><b>So they said to one another</b><br>This phrase indicates a collective decision-making process among the Israelites. It reflects a moment of communal despair and rebellion against God's plan. The Israelites had just received the report from the spies about the Promised Land, and their fear led them to consider drastic measures. This moment is a turning point, showing a lack of faith in God's promises and leadership through Moses.<p><b>Let us appoint a leader</b><br>The desire to appoint a new leader signifies a rejection of Moses, who was chosen by God to lead them out of Egypt. This reflects a deeper spiritual rebellion, as Moses was not just a political leader but a mediator between God and the people. The Israelites' call for a new leader can be seen as a rejection of divine authority, paralleling other biblical instances where God's chosen leaders were challenged, such as the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16).<p><b>and return to Egypt</b><br>Returning to Egypt symbolizes a desire to go back to a place of bondage and slavery, both physically and spiritually. Egypt, in biblical typology, often represents sin and the world from which God delivers His people. This longing to return highlights the Israelites' lack of trust in God's provision and plan for their future. It also foreshadows the human tendency to revert to old ways when faced with challenges, rather than moving forward in faith. This moment contrasts with the New Testament call to leave behind the old life and press on toward the new life in Christ (<a href="/philippians/3-13.htm">Philippians 3:13-14</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now journeying through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader chosen by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and guide them through the wilderness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a></b><br>Moses' brother and the high priest, who assists Moses in leading the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promised_land.htm">The Promised Land</a></b><br>The land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants as their inheritance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>The desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_rebellion.htm">The Danger of Rebellion</a></b><br><a href="/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4</a> highlights the Israelites' desire to appoint a leader to return to Egypt, demonstrating a rebellious spirit against God's plan. This serves as a warning against turning back to old ways when faced with challenges.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_promises.htm">Trust in God's Promises</a></b><br>Despite the difficulties, God had promised the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey. Believers today are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when the path seems uncertain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_influence.htm">Leadership and Influence</a></b><br>The Israelites' desire to choose a new leader shows the importance of godly leadership. Leaders should guide people towards God's will, not away from it.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_unbelief.htm">The Consequences of Unbelief</a></b><br>The Israelites' lack of faith led to 40 years of wandering. This teaches us that unbelief can delay or even derail God's plans for our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_persevere.htm">The Call to Persevere</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to continue towards the Promised Land, Christians are called to persevere in their faith journey, trusting in God's ultimate plan.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_causes_evil_to_exist_in_the_world.htm">How did Israel test God ten times?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_israel_test_god_ten_times.htm">How did Israel test God ten times?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_a_nation_want_egypt_after_miracles.htm">In Numbers 14:2, how plausible is it that a whole nation would suddenly wish to return to Egypt after seeing so many miraculous events?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_god's_patience_consistent_with_swift_judgment.htm">Numbers 14:18 insists that God is slow to anger yet punishes sin; how can this be consistent with the immediate, severe judgment in the same chapter?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.</span> Although this was only proposed in the wildness of their distress, yet it was a height of rebellion to which they had never risen before. They had lamented that they had not died in Egypt, and they had wished themselves back in Egypt, but they had never proposed to take any overt steps towards returning thither. Nothing less than an entire and deliberate revolt was involved in the wish to elect a captain for themselves, for the angel of the covenant was the Captain of the Lord's host (<a href="/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14, 15</a>). The proposal to depose him, and to choose another in his place, marked the extremity of the despair, the unbelief, and the ingratitude of the people. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/14-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So they said</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1463;&#1497;&#1468;&#1465;&#1488;&#1502;&#1456;&#1512;&#1430;&#1493;&#1468;</span> <span class="translit">(way&#183;y&#333;&#183;m&#601;&#183;r&#363;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1488;&#1462;&#1500;&#1470;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8217;el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1488;&#1460;&#1443;&#1497;&#1513;&#1473;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8217;&#238;&#353;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">another,</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1488;&#1464;&#1495;&#1460;&#1425;&#1497;&#1493;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8217;&#257;&#183;&#7717;&#238;w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct &#124; third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">&#8220;Let us appoint</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1504;&#1460;&#1514;&#1468;&#1456;&#1504;&#1464;&#1445;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(nit&#183;t&#601;&#183;n&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a leader</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1512;&#1465;&#1430;&#1488;&#1513;&#1473;</span> <span class="translit">(r&#333;&#353;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and return</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1456;&#1504;&#1464;&#1513;&#1473;&#1445;&#1493;&#1468;&#1489;&#1464;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(w&#601;&#183;n&#257;&#183;&#353;&#363;&#183;&#7687;&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Egypt.&#8221;</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1502;&#1460;&#1510;&#1456;&#1512;&#1464;&#1469;&#1497;&#1456;&#1502;&#1464;&#1492;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(mi&#7779;&#183;r&#257;&#183;y&#601;&#183;m&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular &#124; third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4714.htm">Strong's 4714: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/14-4.htm">Numbers 14:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/14-4.htm">OT Law: Numbers 14:4 They said one to another Let us (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/14-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 14:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 14:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/14-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 14:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 14:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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