Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:5

"Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." — 1 Corinthians 10:5 (ASV)

But with many of them.—Better, Nevertheless not with the greater part of them was God pleased. This introduces the point from which the Apostle seeks to draw the great lesson of self-distrust.

All had all these privileges—privileges of a baptism and a spiritual meat and drink which correspond with the sacramental ordinances which are proofs and pledges of all the privileges of us Christians. Yet with the greater part—in fact, with all except two—of that vast multitude God was not pleased, as is proved by the fact that all except Caleb and Joshua perished in the wilderness (Numbers 14:16).