36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land-the ones who incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report- 37 were struck dead with a plague before the Lord . 38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.
39 When Moses reported the Lord 's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 14:36-39
Commentary on Numbers 14:36-39
(Read Numbers 14:36-39)
Here is the sudden death of the ten evil spies. They sinned in bringing a slander upon the land of promise. Those greatly provoke God, who misrepresent religion, raise dislike in men's minds toward it, or give opportunity to those to do so, who seek occasion. Justly are murmurers made mourners. If they had mourned for the sin, when they were faithfully reproved, the sentence had been prevented; but as they mourned for the judgment only, it did them no service. There is in hell such mourning as this; but tears will not quench the flames, nor cool the tongue.