13 And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'Then have the Egyptians heard! for Thou hast brought up with Thy power this people out of their midst, 14 and they have said 'it' unto the inhabitant of this land, they have heard that Thou, Jehovah, 'art' in the midst of this people, that eye to eye Thou art seen—O Jehovah, and Thy cloud is standing over them,—and in a pillar of cloud Thou art going before them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 'And Thou hast put to death this people as one man, and the nations who have heard Thy fame have spoken, saying, 16 From Jehovah's want of ability to bring in this people unto the land which He hath sworn to them—He doth slaughter them in the wilderness.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 14:13-16
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.