The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.d 2 All the Israelites grumblede against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!f Or in this wilderness!g 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?h Our wives and childreni will be taken as plunder.j Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?k” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.l”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedownm in front of the whole Israelite assemblyn gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nuno and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothesp 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.q 8 If the Lord is pleased with us,r he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,s and will give it to us.t 9 Only do not rebelu against the Lord. And do not be afraidv of the people of the land,w because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is withx us.y Do not be afraid of them.”z

10 But the whole assembly talked about stoninga them. Then the glory of the Lordb appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.