Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:3
And the people chided with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
3. And the people strove ] The root of the verb ( rbh) is also that of the word Merbhh (‘the place of strife’), the name of the place being thus explained by means of a play on words; cf. Num 20:13.
when our brethren died before Jehovah ] in the revolt of Korah (ch. 16).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i.e. Suddenly, rather than to die such a lingering and painful death. Their sin was much greater than their parents in like case, because they should have taken warning by their miscarriages, and by the terrible effects of them, which their eyes had seen.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the people chode with Moses,…. Contended with him in a wrangling and litigious manner, showing no reverence nor respect unto his person on account of the dignity of his office, and the many favours they had received from him; and this at a time, when, instead of quarrelling with him, they should have condoled him on the loss of his sister, and bewailed their own loss also of one who had been a prophetess to them, and a leader of them, Mic 6:4
and spake, saying, would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord; either at Taberah by fire, or as Korah and his company in like manner, or as the fourteen thousand and seven hundred by a pestilence, Nu 11:1 which they thought a much easier death, either of them, than to die of thirst: they might well call them brethren, not only because of the same nation, and nearly related to them, but because they were of the same temper and disposition, and indeed brethren in iniquity; and they seem to use this appellation, as being of the same sentiments with them, and in vindication of them, and adopt almost their very language; see Nu 14:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Would God that we had died . . . The reference seems to be to the plague which broke out after the insurrection of Korah. The language of the murmurers is very similar to that which is recorded in Num. 16:14, and the word gava (die, or expire), which is twice used in this verse, and which occurs in Num. 16:26; Num. 16:28, in connection with the history of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, is found only in one other place throughout the last four books of the Pentateuchviz., Num. 20:29. The probability that that plague was of comparatively recent occurrence, and not separated from the present murmuring by a period of nearly forty years, has been inferred from the use of the word brethren in this verse. The generation which was contemporary with those who perished in the plague which followed the rebellion of Korah is supposed by some to have been almost extinct at the time to which the events recorded in this chapter are commonly referred, and the word fathers, it is alleged, would, in that case, have been more applicable to those who perished than brethren. It may be observed, further, that the inquiry, Wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt? is more natural when regarded as the language of the generation which had come up out of Egypt as adults, and who looked back to the exodus as to a recent event, than when regarded as that of a generation of which a large number had been born in the wilderness, and the rest had left Egypt nearly forty years previously. These considerations, however, do not appear to be entitled to much weight. The older portion of the congregation, who would naturally be the spokesmen, would speak of those who perished in the insurrection of Korah as their brethren, whether the event itself was of recent occurrence or not; and the words which are rendered Why have ye brought up, &c.? may, with equal propriety, be rendered Why did ye bring up, &c.?(Comp. Num. 20:16 and Note).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Chode with Moses Greek, railed at; Hebrew, quarrelled with. As the government was a theocracy administered by Moses, this conduct was treason against God.
Would God we had died By the sudden stroke of divine wrath. Num 11:1. “Died by the plague before the Lord.” Num 14:37. Vivid in their memories must have been the swallowing up of Korah and two hundred and fifty princes, and the plague on the morrow, which cut down fourteen thousand and seven hundred murmurers. Num 16:32; Num 16:49. In their despair and rage they wickedly wish that they had thus miserably perished.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 20:3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
Ver. 3. And the people chode. ] Wanting both water and patience, they broke the peace with their superiors. See Trapp on “ Num 14:15 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Would God. Figure of speech Eonismos (App-6). No Hebrew for “God “here.
when. Compare Num 11:33.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
God: Num 14:1, Num 14:2, Exo 16:2, Exo 16:3, Exo 17:2, Job 3:10, Job 3:11
when: Num 11:1, Num 11:33, Num 11:34, Num 14:36, Num 14:37, Num 16:31-35, Num 16:49, Lam 4:9
Reciprocal: Num 16:13 – to kill Deu 6:16 – tempted him Jon 4:3 – take
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 20:3. Before the Lord Suddenly, rather than to die such a lingering death. Their sin was much greater than that of their parents, because they should have taken warning by their miscarriages, and by the terrible effects of them, which their eyes had seen.