Numbers 14:1–9

The People Complain

14 Then all the community ⌊lifted up their voices⌋,a and the people wept during that night. 2 And all the ⌊Israelites⌋b grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and all the community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or in this desert! 3 Why did Yahweh bring us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little children will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 ⌊They said to each other⌋,c “Let us appoint a leader, and we will return to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces ⌊before⌋d the assembly of the community of the ⌊Israelites⌋.e 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the explorers of the land, tore their garments. 7 And they said to all the community of the ⌊Israelites⌋,f “The land that we went through to explore is an ⌊exceptionally good land⌋.g 8 If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and he will give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against Yahweh, and you will not fear the people of the land, because they will be our food. ⌊Their protection⌋h has been turned from them; Yahweh is with us. You should not fear them.”