“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.
We have here God's answer to the prayer of Moses, which sings both of mercy and judgment. It is given privately to Moses (Num 14:20-25), and then directed to be made public to the people, Num 14:26-35. The frequent repetitions of the same things in it speak these resolves to be unalterable. Let us see the particulars. I.
Commenting on Numbers 14:20-35
Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the Lord,.... The form of an oath, as in Num 14:21, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you; what they had wished for, and expressed in the hearing of the Lord, he threatens them should be their case.
Num 14:27 This announcement commences in a tone of anger, with an aposiopesis, “How long this evil congregation” (sc., “shall I forgive it,” the simplest plan being to supply אשּׂא, as Rosenmüller suggests, from Num 14:18), “that they murmur against Me?”