Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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18 The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity
and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto
the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
God’s Punishment on Israel
20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
We have here God's answer to the prayer of Moses, which sings both of mercy and judgment. It is given privately to Moses (Nu 14:20-25), and then directed to be made public to the people, Nu 14:26-35. The frequent repetitions of the same things in it speak these resolves to be unalterable. Let us see the particulars.
I The extremity of the sentence is receded from (Nu 14:20): "I have pardoned, so as not to cut them all off at once, and disinherit them." See the power of prayer, and the delight God takes in putting an honour upon it. He designed a pardon, but Moses shall have the praise of obtaining it by prayer: it shall be done according to thy word; thus, as a prince, he has power with God, and prevails. See what countenance and encouragement God gives to our intercessions for others, that we may be public-spirited in prayer. Here is a whole nation rescued from ruin by the effectual fervent prayer of one righteous man. See how ready God is to forgive sin, and how easy to be entreated: Pardon, says Moses (Nu 14:19); I have pardoned, says God, Nu 14:20. David found him thus swift to show mercy, Ps 32:5. He deals not with us after our sins, Ps 103:10.
II The glorifying of God's name is, in the general, resolved upon, Nu 14:21. It is said, it is sworn, All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Moses in his prayer had shown a great concern for the glory of God. "Let me alone,"