Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 14:20-25
Yahweh Grants His Pardon But Refuses to Consider Their Entering His Land (14:20-25).
‘And Yahweh said, “I have pardoned according to your word, but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh, because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of them who despised me see it.”
Yahweh responded to Moses' pleading. In accordance with Moses' request He was granting His pardon. He would not totally cast them off. Nevertheless by His own life and by His own glory, that glory with which the whole world would one day be filled, He swore that because they had witnessed all His glory and His signs in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet had tested Him many number of times, refusing to listen to His voice, they would not be permitted to enter the land. None of those who had despised His glory would even see it. They were barred from Yahweh's land.
“These ten times.” That is, ‘these many times'. Ten is used here as a round number signifying many times. Compare especially Genesis 31:7.
“ But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into which he went, and his seed shall possess it.”
Only Caleb would be allowed to see it, because he along had proved faithful to Yahweh. He had within him a right spirit and had followed Yahweh fully. He therefore would be brought into the land and his children would possess it.
Some question why Joshua was not mentioned here, but the answer is simple. He was one of the establishment of Moses, Aaron and Joshua. His faithfulness and his future was never in doubt. And at this point all recognised that all three of these would not be included in Yahweh's strictures. They did not need to be mentioned. Although two would eventually fail. (So the none mention of Joshua actually confirms that the writing was contemporary with these).
“ Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley. Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”
He finished by pointing out that the valley ahead contained Amalekites and Canaanites. Thus by their own admission these foe were too powerful to fight. Well, so be it. In their present state they were right. Let them now turn round and go back to the wilderness from which they had come out. And let them make their way back to the Reed Sea. That was symbolic of Egypt. If they wanted Egypt they could have it. For that was what they had sought.