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 14:14
14:14 then they will tell it to the inhabitants 3 of this land. They have heard that you, Lord, are among this people, that you, Lord, are seen face to face, 4 that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night.
Numbers 14:42
14:42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, and you will be 5 defeated before your enemies.
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 The singular participle is to be taken here as a collective, representing all the inhabitants of the land.
4 tn “Face to face” is literally “eye to eye.” It only occurs elsewhere in Isa 52:8. This expresses the closest communication possible.
5 tn This verb could also be subordinated to the preceding: “that you be not smitten.”