Teks -- Numbers 14:18 (NET)

14:18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.’

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Num 14:18 - Visiting the iniquity

These words may seem to be improperly mentioned, as being a powerful argument to move God to destroy this wicked people, and not to pardon them. It may be answered, that Moses useth these words together with the rest, because he would not sever what God had put together. But the truer answer seems to be, that these words are to be translated otherwise, And in destroying he will not utterly destroy, though he visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation.

Clarke: Num 14:18 - The Lord is longsuffering

The Lord is longsuffering - See the note on Exo 34:6.

Calvin: Num 14:18 - NO PHRASE

Since I have expounded the 18^th verse elsewhere, ⁵⁹ let my readers refer to that place.

TSK: Num 14:18 - longsuffering // visiting

longsuffering : Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Psa 103:8, Psa 145:8; Jon 4:2; Mic 7:18; Nah 1:2, Nah 1:3; Rom 3:24-26; Rom 5:21; Eph 1:7, Eph 1:8

visiting : Exo 20:5, Exo 34:7; Jer 23:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Num 14:18 - unto the third and fourth generation

These words may seem to be very improperly mentioned, as being a powerful argument to move God to destroy this wicked people, and not to pardon them. It may be answered, that Moses useth these words together with the rest, partly because he would not sever what God had put. together, and partly to show that he did not desire a fulfil and absolute pardon, (but was willing that God should execute his vengeance upon the principal authors of this rebellion, and leave some character of his displeasure upon all the people, as God did,) but only that God would not disinherit them, Num 14:12 , nor kill all the people as one man , Num 14:15 , nor destroy them both root and branch, because he, had promised not to extend his wrath against them in punishing their sins beyond the third and fourth generation. But the truer answer seems to be, that these words are to be translated otherwise, and in destroying he will not utterly destroy , though he visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children ,

unto the third and fourth generation Of which See Poole "Exo 34:7" , where all this verse is explained.

Haydock: Num 14:18 - Mercy // Clear

Mercy. Septuagint, "merciful and true," as Exodus xxxiv. 6, 7. On that occasion, it is not written that God swore. (Haydock) ---

But equal credit is to be given to his word, as to an oath. (Menochius) ---

Clear, or, as St. Jerome expresses it in Exodus, and no man of himself is innocent before thee. (Calmet) ---

By these titles God will be addressed; and therefore Moses mentions them all, though some of them might seem to obstruct his petition of pardon. (Menochius) ---

He knew that none of God's perfections were contrary to one another, or to his nature of consummate goodness; and he sued for the pardon of his people, with all due submission to the dictates of his justice. (Haydock)

Gill: Num 14:18 - The Lord is longsuffering // 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

The Lord is longsuffering,.... Towards all men, and especially towards his own people:

and of great mercy, being abundant in goodness, and keeping mercy for thousands:

forgiving iniquity and transgression, all sorts of sin:

and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation; which may seem to make against the plea of Moses for mercy and forgiveness; but the reason of these words being expressed seems to be, because they go along with the others in the passage referred to, and are no contradiction to the forgiving mercy of God in a way of justice; nor did Moses request to have the guilty cleared from punishment altogether, but that God would show mercy, at least to such a degree as not to cut off the whole nation, and leave no posterity to inherit the land; which is supposed in visiting the sin of the fathers to the third or fourth generation.