Numbers 14:3
14:3 Why has the Lord brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder? Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
Numbers 14:9
14:9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. 1 Their protection 2 has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear them!”
Numbers 16:14
16:14 Moreover, 3 you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you think you can blind 4 these men? We will not come up.”
Numbers 20:5
20:5 Why 5 have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to 6 this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!”
1 sn The expression must indicate that they could destroy the enemies as easily as they could eat bread.
2 tn Heb “their shade.” The figure compares the shade from the sun with the protection from the enemy. It is also possible that the text is alluding to their deities here.
3 tn Here אַף (’af) has the sense of “in addition.” It is not a common use.
4 tn Heb “will you bore out the eyes of these men?” The question is “Will you continue to mislead them?” (or “hoodwink” them). In Deut 16:19 it is used for taking a bribe; something like that kind of deception is intended here. They are simply stating that Moses is a deceiver who is misleading the people with false promises.
5 tn Heb “and why.”
6 tn Here also the infinitive construct (Hiphil) forms the subordinate clause of the preceding interrogative clause.