Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 14:13-14

"And Moses said unto Jehovah, Then the Egyptians will hear it; for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them; and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night." — Numbers 14:13-14 (ASV)

And Moses said to the Lord ... — There is considerable difficulty regarding the correct rendering of these verses.

They may be rendered in accordance with the Authorised Version, or they may be rendered as follows: And Moses said to the LORD, The Egyptians have both heard that you have brought up this people from among them by your might, and they have also told (it) to the inhabitants of this land (i.e., the land of Canaan, as in Numbers 14:3); they (i.e., the Egyptians and the Canaanites) have heard that you LORD are in the midst of this people, for you LORD are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, etc.

Reference may be made to the following passages in illustration of the argument by which Moses enforced his intercessory prayer on behalf of Israel: Deuteronomy 32:26–27; Joshua 7:9; Isaiah 48:9; Isaiah 48:11; Ezekiel 36:22–23.