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Numbers 14:3

Egypt
FearDoubtDiscouragement and depression

1 Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept.

2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

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?”

4 So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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?”
KJV
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
WEB
Why does the LORD bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?”
ASV
And wherefore doth Jehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
DARBY
And why is Jehovah bringing us to this land that we may fall by the sword, that our wives and our little ones may become a prey? Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?
BLB
And why has YHWH brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
ÅB
Hvorfor fører Herren oss inn i dette land, så vi må falle for sverdet? Våre hustruer og våre barn vil bli til rov. Var det ikke bedre for oss å vende tilbake til Egypt?
OTB
Hvorfor fører Herren oss til dette landet for å falle for sverdet? Våre koner og barn vil bli tatt som bytte. Ville det ikke være bedre for oss å vende tilbake til Egypt?”
B1930
Hvorfor fører Herren oss inn i dette land, så vi må falle for sverdet? Våre hustruer og våre barn vil bli til rov. Var det ikke bedre for oss å vende tilbake til Egypten?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 14:31–32

    But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 9:3

    “They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 78:40

    How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!

    Read in context