Numbers 14:1–9

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.”