John Calvin Commentary Numbers 16:13

"is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?" — Numbers 16:13 (ASV)

Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us. It is not enough for these wicked men, when they are invited to discussion, stubbornly to reject the superiority of Moses, unless they also attack him with counter-accusations. The crime they allege against him must be noted.

They reproach him for having led them up out of the land of Egypt, though they cunningly suppress its name, while they grandly extol its fruitfulness, in order to overshadow all that God had promised concerning the land of Canaan. Moreover, they seem to cunningly transfer to Egypt the very phrase Moses had often used, so that in this way God’s blessing might be, so to speak, buried. But what gross ingratitude it showed, to allege as a crime against Moses, God’s minister, that deliverance, which was such an extraordinary act of His kindness!

Next, they reproach him with having brought them into the desert to die; and this they elaborate on in the next verse, maliciously inquiring, "Where is the truth of the promises?" Finally, they conclude that Moses is impudent in his deceptions, since it plainly appears that the people had been deceived by him—as if it were his fault that they had deprived themselves of the possession of the promised land. Moses had urged them, by God’s command, to enter the inheritance promised to them. What dishonesty and insolence, therefore, it was for them, having shut the door against themselves, to complain about Moses, when it was not his fault that they were not enjoying fields and vineyards!

Thirdly, they taunt Moses with seeking to domineer over a free people. He did indeed preside over them; but how far short of dominion was that moderate control, which was as burdensome to Moses as it was advantageous to the whole people!

But this is the condition of God’s servants: that their path is through reproaches,⁹² though they are conducting themselves rightly.

⁹² Addition in Fr., “comme dit Sainct Paul.” “comme dit Sainct Paul.”