God did not on this occasion pronounce judgments upon those whose wicked course had so provoked Moses and Aaron. All the reproof fell upon the leaders. Those who stood as God's representatives had not honored Him. Moses and Aaron had felt themselves aggrieved, losing sight of the fact that the murmuring of the people was not against them but against God. It was by 419 looking to themselves, appealing to their own sympathies, that they unconsciously fell into sin, and failed to set before the people their great guilt before God.

Ved denne lejlighed afsagde Gud ikke nogen dom over dem, hvis onde færden havde udæsket Moses og Aron. Lederne fik hele skylden. De, der stod som Guds repræsentanter, havde ikke æret Gud. Moses og Aron var blevet irriteret og havde tabt den kendsgerning af syne, at folkets knurren ikke var rettet mod dem, men mod Gud. Det var ved at se på sig selv, at de ubevidst faldt i synd og undlod at foreholde folket deres store skyld over for Gud.