Numbers 14 : 1 (ERVEN)
That night all the people in the camp began shouting loudly.
Numbers 14 : 2 (ERVEN)
The Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron. All the people came together and said to Moses and Aaron, "We should have died in Egypt or in the desert.
Numbers 14 : 3 (ERVEN)
Did the Lord bring us to this new land to be killed in war? The enemy will kill us and take our wives and children! It would be better for us to go back to Egypt."
Numbers 14 : 4 (ERVEN)
Then the people said to each other, "Let's choose another leader and go back to Egypt."
Numbers 14 : 5 (ERVEN)
Moses and Aaron bowed low to the ground in front of all the people gathered there.
Numbers 14 : 6 (ERVEN)
Joshua and Caleb became very upset. (Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh were two of the men who explored the land.)
Numbers 14 : 7 (ERVEN)
These two men said to all of the Israelites gathered there, "The land that we saw is very good.
Numbers 14 : 8 (ERVEN)
It is a land filled with many good things. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land. And the Lord will give that land to us.
Numbers 14 : 9 (ERVEN)
So don't turn against the Lord! Don't be afraid of the people in that land. We can defeat them. They have no protection, nothing to keep them safe. But we have the Lord with us, so don't be afraid!"
Numbers 14 : 10 (ERVEN)
All of the people began talking about killing Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the Glory of the Lord appeared over the Meeting Tent where all the people could see it.
Numbers 14 : 11 (ERVEN)
The Lord spoke to Moses and said, "How long will these people continue to turn against me? They show that they don't trust me or believe in my power, in spite of the many miracles I have done among them.
Numbers 14 : 12 (ERVEN)
I will kill them all with a terrible sickness. I will destroy them, and I will use you to make another nation. Your nation will be greater and stronger than these people."
Numbers 14 : 13 (ERVEN)
Then Moses said to the Lord, "If you do that, the Egyptians will hear about it! They know that you used your great power to bring your people out of Egypt.
Numbers 14 : 14 (ERVEN)
The Egyptians have already told the people in Canaan about it. They already know you are the Lord. They know that you are with your people. They know that the people saw you. Those people know about the special cloud. They know you use the cloud to lead your people during the day. And they know the cloud becomes a fire to lead your people at night.
Numbers 14 : 15 (ERVEN)
So you must not kill these people now. If you kill them, all the nations who have heard about your power will say,
Numbers 14 : 16 (ERVEN)
'The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he promised them. So he killed them in the desert.'
Numbers 14 : 17 (ERVEN)
"So now, Lord, show your strength! Show it the way you said you would.
Numbers 14 : 18 (ERVEN)
You said, 'The Lord is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He forgives those who are guilty and break the law. But the Lord always punishes those who are guilty. He punishes them, and he also punishes their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren for those bad things.'
Numbers 14 : 19 (ERVEN)
Now, show your great love to these people. Forgive their sin. Forgive them the same way you have been forgiving them since the time they left Egypt until now."
Numbers 14 : 20 (ERVEN)
The Lord answered, "Yes, I will forgive the people as you asked.
Numbers 14 : 21 (ERVEN)
But, I tell you the truth. As surely as I live and as surely as my power fills the whole earth, I make you this promise:
Numbers 14 : 22 (ERVEN)
None of the people I led out of Egypt will ever see the land of Canaan. They saw my glory and the great signs that I did in Egypt and in the desert. But they disobeyed me and tested me ten times.
Numbers 14 : 23 (ERVEN)
I promised their ancestors that I would give them that land. But none of those people who turned against me will ever enter that land!
Numbers 14 : 24 (ERVEN)
But my servant Caleb was different. He follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land that he has already seen, and his people will get that land.
Numbers 14 : 25 (ERVEN)
The Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valley. So tomorrow you must leave this place. Go back to the desert on the road to the Red Sea."
Numbers 14 : 26 (ERVEN)
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
Numbers 14 : 27 (ERVEN)
"How long will these evil people continue to complain against me? I have heard their complaints and their griping.
Numbers 14 : 28 (ERVEN)
So tell them, 'The Lord says that he will surely do all those things to you that you complained about. This is what will happen to you:
Numbers 14 : 29 (ERVEN)
You will die in this desert. Every person who is 20 years old or older and was counted as one of my people will die. You complained against me, the Lord.
Numbers 14 : 30 (ERVEN)
So none of you will ever enter and live in the land that I promised to give you. Only Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun will enter that land.
Numbers 14 : 31 (ERVEN)
You were afraid and complained that your enemies in that new land would take your children away from you. But I tell you that I will bring them into the land. They will enjoy what you refused to accept.
Numbers 14 : 32 (ERVEN)
As for you people, you will die in this desert.
Numbers 14 : 33 (ERVEN)
"'Your children will wander around like shepherds here in the desert for 40 years. They will suffer because you were not faithful to me. They must suffer until all of you lie dead in the desert.
Numbers 14 : 34 (ERVEN)
For 40 years you will suffer for your sins. (That is one year for each of the 40 days that the men explored the land.) You will know that it is a terrible thing for me to be against you.'
Numbers 14 : 35 (ERVEN)
"I am the Lord, and I have spoken. And I promise that I will do these things to all of these evil people. They have come together against me. So they will all die here in this desert."
Numbers 14 : 36 (ERVEN)
The men Moses sent to explore the new land were the ones who came back complaining about him to all the Israelites. They said that the people were not strong enough to enter that land.
Numbers 14 : 37 (ERVEN)
The men were responsible for spreading the trouble among the Israelites. So the Lord caused a sickness to kill all those men.
Numbers 14 : 38 (ERVEN)
But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh were among the men who were sent out to explore the land, and the Lord saved them. They did not get the sickness that caused the other ten men to die.
Numbers 14 : 39 (ERVEN)
When Moses told the Israelites this, they were very sad.
Numbers 14 : 40 (ERVEN)
Early the next morning the people started to go up to the high hill country. They said, "We have sinned. We are sorry that we did not trust the Lord. We will go to the place that the Lord promised."
Numbers 14 : 41 (ERVEN)
But Moses said, "Why are you not obeying the Lord's command? You will not be successful!
Numbers 14 : 42 (ERVEN)
Don't go into that land. The Lord is not with you, so your enemies will easily defeat you.
Numbers 14 : 43 (ERVEN)
The Amalekites and Canaanites will fight against you there. You have turned away from the Lord, so he will not be with you when you fight them. And you will all be killed in battle."
Numbers 14 : 44 (ERVEN)
But the people did not believe Moses. They went toward the high hill country. But Moses and the Box of the Lord's Agreement did not go with the people.
Numbers 14 : 45 (ERVEN)
The Amalekites and the Canaanites living in the hill country came down and attacked the Israelites and easily defeated them and chased them all the way to Hormah.
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