Numbers 14:1–10

Israel’s Refusal to Enter Canaan

14 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, e and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. f Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” g 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. h 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, i and give it to us. 9 Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. j Their protection k has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”

10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, l the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.