37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord.
37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land-- died by plague before the Lord.
37 all these men died. Having spread false rumors of the land, they died in a plague, confronted by God.
37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
37 were struck dead with a plague before the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 14:37
Commentary on Numbers 14:36-39
(Read Numbers 14:36-39)
Here is the sudden death of the ten evil spies. They sinned in bringing a slander upon the land of promise. Those greatly provoke God, who misrepresent religion, raise dislike in men's minds toward it, or give opportunity to those to do so, who seek occasion. Justly are murmurers made mourners. If they had mourned for the sin, when they were faithfully reproved, the sentence had been prevented; but as they mourned for the judgment only, it did them no service. There is in hell such mourning as this; but tears will not quench the flames, nor cool the tongue.