15 If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say,
15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say,
15 If you kill this entire people in one stroke, all the nations that have heard what has been going on will say,
15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying,
15 Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 14:15
Commentary on Numbers 14:11-19
(Read Numbers 14:11-19)
Moses made humble intercession for Israel. Herein he was a type of Christ, who prayed for those that despitefully used him. The pardon of a nation's sin, is the turning away the nation's punishment; and for that Moses is here so earnest. Moses argued that, consistently with God's character, in his abundant mercies, he could forgive them.