John Calvin Commentary Numbers 14:10

"But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of Jehovah appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel." — Numbers 14:10 (ASV)

But all the congregation bade stone them. When these wicked men began by murmuring against God and openly criticizing Him, it is no wonder that they also raged against His servants.

For when we try to subdue pride, it generally produces cruelty; and similarly, when iniquity is rebuked, it always ultimately ends in fury.

Caleb and Joshua did not restrain them by force, nor did they threaten them. Instead, they only persuaded them to trust in God’s promise and not to hesitate to advance into the land of Canaan. Yet, because in their obstinacy the people had determined not to believe God, they champed at the bit, as it were, when corrected, and desired to stone those who rebuked them.

How great the intensity of their anger was is evident from this: God did not attempt to calm their fury, nor to restrain them by threats or by His authority. Instead, He openly displayed His power from heaven and miraculously protected His servants by the manifestation of His glory, as if He were rescuing them from wild beasts.

Indeed, there is no explicit mention of the cloud. However, we may infer that the sign to which they were accustomed was given not merely to terrify them, but also to cast them prostrate. This was so that they would be deprived of their power to inflict injury and would stop, even against their wills.

For the majesty of God, although it truly humbles only believers, yet sometimes subdues the reprobate and the lost, or renders them astounded in all their ferocity.