Numbers 32 10

Numbers 32:10 kjv

And the LORD's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,

Numbers 32:10 nkjv

So the LORD's anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying,

Numbers 32:10 niv

The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath:

Numbers 32:10 esv

And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying,

Numbers 32:10 nlt

Then the LORD was very angry with them, and he vowed,

Numbers 32 verses

Numbers 32 10 Meaning

Numbers 32:10 succinctly states that God's righteous indignation was justly kindled against the nation of Israel due to their deep-seated rebellion. As a direct consequence, the entire generation that exhibited evil and unbelief in His sight was divinely compelled to wander in the wilderness for a period of forty years, leading to their complete demise before they could enter the Promised Land. This judgment ensured that only a new generation, unburdened by their forefathers' sin, would inherit the land promised by God.

Numbers 32 10 Context

Numbers chapter 32 recounts the request of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh to settle in the fertile lands east of the Jordan River, rather than cross into Canaan. Moses is initially outraged by their request, seeing it as a replay of the disobedience and lack of faith displayed by the previous generation. He reminds them of the disastrous events that unfolded after the spies returned from Canaan, when the people chose to disbelieve God and refused to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14).

Numbers 32:10 is Moses' direct recall of that specific divine judgment. He reminds these Transjordan tribes that their ancestors' refusal to obey God's command to enter Canaan resulted in God's furious anger. This anger condemned that entire generation to wander and eventually die in the wilderness for forty years, precisely because of their wickedness and rebellion in God's sight. Moses uses this historical event as a dire warning: if the current generation were to repeat their forefathers' unfaithfulness and shrink from God's command to conquer Canaan, they would bring a similar, if not worse, calamity upon the entire congregation. The verse serves as a potent reminder of the severe consequences of unbelief and disobedience to God's directives.

Numbers 32 10 Word analysis

• And (וַ): This simple conjunction (vav conjunctive) links the immediate preceding context, the request of the Reubenites and Gadites, to Moses' stern reminder of a past, severe consequence. It signals a cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting that if the new generation repeats the sin, the consequences will follow.
• the LORD's (יהוה, YHWH): This refers to the covenant God of Israel, the self-existent and personal God who reveals Himself. The use of His sacred name here emphasizes that His response is not capricious but an act of a sovereign, just, and holy God upholding His covenant. His character guarantees that His anger is righteous, not temperamental.
• anger (אַף, 'aph): Literally meaning "nose" or "nostril," it metaphorically represents strong emotion, particularly intense indignation or fury, often expressed by heavy breathing or flaring nostrils. Here, it denotes God's holy displeasure and wrath against rebellion and unbelief. It is not a human, sinful rage, but a perfect, righteous reaction to sin that defiles His holiness.
• was kindled (וַיִּחַר, vayyihar from חָרָה, charah): This verb means "to burn," "to be hot," or "to glow." It creates a vivid image of a swift and intense outburst of divine wrath, showing that God's displeasure was actively and fully aroused. It wasn't passive but a decisive, blazing response.
• against Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, b'Yisrael): This specifies the object of God's anger: the collective nation of Israel, particularly the adult members of the first generation who had come out of Egypt, who directly participated in the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea.
• and he made them wander (וַיְּנִעֵם, vay'ni'em from נוּעַ, nua'): This is a Hiphil (causative) verb, meaning God caused or forced them to wander. It emphasizes that their wandering was not random aimlessness but a deliberate divine act of judgment and control. It signifies God's active involvement in their punishment, orchestrating the 40-year period.
• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר, bammidbar): The very place they were commanded to leave, and which they expressed fear of. The wilderness, intended as a short passage to the Promised Land, became their place of prolonged judgment, hardship, and death. It served as a stark physical manifestation of their spiritual separation from God's promise.
• forty years (אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, arba'im shanah): A significant biblical period often associated with testing, purification, judgment, or a complete generation. Here, it is the exact duration decreed for their punishment, corresponding to the forty days the spies spent in Canaan. It signifies the full extent of the purging process God deemed necessary.
• until all the generation (עַד תֹּם כָּל־הַדּוֹר, 'ad tom kol-haddor): This phrase indicates the absolute completion or finality of the judgment. "Dor" (דּוֹר) signifies a generation or age group. The emphasis is on the total eradication of that specific adult cohort, ensuring no remnant of that rebellious mindset would enter the land.
• that had done evil (אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ הָרָע, 'asher 'asu hara'): This clause explicitly states the reason for their judgment: their actions were inherently evil or wicked. Their "evil" consisted of murmuring, doubting God's power and faithfulness, despising the Promised Land, rejecting God's chosen leaders, and outright refusing to obey His command to enter Canaan (Num 14:26-30). It underscores personal accountability.
• in the sight of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, b'einei YHWH): This emphasizes that their "evil" was not hidden, nor was it merely a human perception of wrong. It was seen and known directly by God, who is omniscient and perfectly righteous. This phrase validates the justice and purity of God's judgment; He saw their true heart and intentions.
• was consumed (תָּמַם, tamam): This verb means "to be completed," "finished," "ended," or "perished." It signifies total annihilation or expiry. It underscores the severity and comprehensiveness of the divine judgment – that specific, rebellious generation completely died out, making way for a new, purified generation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel": This phrase powerfully conveys the intensity and righteous basis of God's displeasure. It highlights God's active response to His people's collective sin. The anger is divine, purposeful, and deserved by "Israel" (the rebellious generation).
• "and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years": This part specifies the precise nature and duration of the judgment. It wasn't accidental but God's deliberate decree, transforming a potential journey of a few days into decades of punitive wandering, symbolizing judgment and purgation. The "forty years" is a divine sentence.
• "until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed": This extended clause provides the reason for the judgment and its scope and completion. The cause is their active "evil," explicitly "in the sight of the LORD" (emphasizing God's perfect discernment). The "consumption" of the entire generation indicates the uncompromising nature of God's justice in purging sin from His people and clearing the path for the fulfillment of His covenant promise through a new generation.

Numbers 32 10 Bonus section

The "forty years" is not merely a chronological marker but a profoundly symbolic duration in the Bible, often associated with periods of testing, judgment, discipline, and preparation for new beginnings. In this context, it marks the span required for the purification of a rebellious people and the preparation of a new, faithful generation to undertake the momentous task of inheriting the Promised Land. It signifies God's patient yet firm disciplinary hand.

Moses's forceful reiteration of this judgment in Numbers 32 serves a crucial didactic purpose for the current generation standing at the precipice of entering Canaan. It is a historical precedent and a vivid reminder that collective actions of disobedience and unbelief incur severe divine penalties. The gravity of this historical event profoundly shaped Israel's understanding of God's justice, the sanctity of His promises, and the absolute necessity of faith and obedience. The lessons learned here were not to be forgotten, reverberating throughout later prophetic and wisdom literature, culminating in the New Testament warnings in Hebrews to not follow their example of unbelief and disobedience and miss out on God's spiritual "rest."

Numbers 32 10 Commentary

Numbers 32:10 serves as a pivotal summary and a profound cautionary tale within the biblical narrative. It reiterates God's unwavering holiness and His righteous indignation towards rebellion and unbelief. The verse states that God's anger "was kindled," indicating an intense and immediate divine response to the nation's faithlessness at Kadesh-Barnea, where they refused to trust His power and enter the Promised Land. This was not a passing emotion, but a just consequence for their direct affront to His authority and goodness.

The consequence was precisely calibrated: "he made them wander in the wilderness forty years." This lengthy period was not arbitrary but directly linked to their disbelief (Num 14:33-34), mirroring the forty days the spies took to scout the land. The wilderness, intended as a path, became a proving ground and a tomb. This enforced wandering effectively acted as a divinely orchestrated purification process, ensuring that the "generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD" would completely "be consumed." The phrase "done evil in the sight of the LORD" stresses that their sin was not minor or unnoticed, but a blatant act of rebellion and distrust known intimately by an omniscient God. Their unbelief disqualified them from the promised inheritance. This severe judgment, while seemingly harsh, underscores God's commitment to His covenant. It demonstrated that His promises are steadfast, but require faithful obedience, and those who scorn them will face inevitable consequences. It ultimately paved the way for a new, prepared generation to enter and possess the land, fulfilling God's original purpose.

Examples of practical application:

• Delaying obedience to God's clear commands can lead to missed opportunities or prolonged hardships, just as the Israelites' delay cost them entry into Canaan.
• Ignoring lessons from history (personal or communal) can lead to repeating costly mistakes, as Moses warned the new generation not to repeat their parents' errors.
• Disbelief in God's promises can result in not experiencing the full blessings He intends for us.