The People Rebel

1 Then all the congregation 1lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept 2that night.

2 All the sons of Israel agrumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “bWould that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

3 “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, ato fall by the sword? bOur wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”

4 So they said to one another, “aLet us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

5 aThen Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.

6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “aThe land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.

8 “aIf the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—ba land which flows with milk and honey.

9 “Only ado not rebel against the Lord; and do not bfear the people of the land, for they will be our 1prey. Their 2protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

10 aBut all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then bthe glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.