John Calvin Commentary Numbers 14:44

"But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and Moses, departed not out of the camp." — Numbers 14:44 (ASV)

But they presumed to go up unto the hill-top. Indeed, it was not their intention deliberately to set themselves against God; rather, they endeavored to appease Him by this means of propitiation. Nor was their self-deceit without a plausible pretext, since they were ready to welcome death cheerfully, so as to offer their lives in sacrifice and thus compensate for their previous hesitation and inaction.

Thus, the zeal of the wicked is fervent when it ought to be still; whereas, when God commands, coldness and apathy possess their minds, so that they are no more aroused by His voice than if they were stones. In short, when it ought to be quiet, unbelief is always active, prompt, and bold; but when God would have it advance, it is timid, slow, and dead.

In conclusion, Moses adds that their foolish enterprise was punished, for they were not merely routed and put to flight by their enemies, but utterly destroyed.⁷⁹ From this we gather that their audacity failed them in the trial and was deficient in true courage. At the same time, he recounts another sign of their senselessness: they left behind the ark of God, as well as Moses, and rushed forward like doomed persons to be slaughtered. Therefore, it appears that unbelievers, when carried away by the blind impulse of their zeal, are as much lacking in reason and discretion as if they deliberately conspired for their own destruction.

⁷⁹ “Sed etiam contriti.” — Lat. “Discomfited them.” — “Discomfited them.” — A.V. The Geneva version renders the word “consumed.” — Hebr. ויכתום, from , from כחת, which Taylor renders, , which Taylor renders, “contundere, conterere. To beat, to crush, to knock, and mash all to pieces.”To beat, to crush, to knock, and mash all to pieces.”