14 The assembled people cried loudly that entire night, 2 and then they started to protest against Mosheh and Aharon. They were all saying, “If only we’d died in Egypt or back there in this wilderness. 3 Why did Yahweh bring us to this place only to be slaughtered in battle with our wives and children being taken as plunder? Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to each other, “Let’s choose a new leader to take us back to Egypt.”

5 Then Mosheh and Aharon fell to their knees with their faces bowed in front of all the assembled Israelis. 6 Then Nun’s son Yehoshua and Yefunneh’s son Kalev, two of those who’d explored that land, tore their clothes in grief 7 and spoke to all those Israelis gathered there, “The land that we passed throughout and explored is a very, very good place. 8 If Yahweh is pleased with us, then he’ll take us into it and give it to us—that land flowing with milk and honey. 9 However, you all mustn’t rebel against Yahweh, and you mustn’t be scared of the people in that area because they’ll be like bread for us. There’s nothing left to protect them as Yahweh is with us, so don’t be afraid.” 10 Then the mass of people talked about killing them by throwing rocks at them, but Yahweh’s brilliant light suddenly appeared to all the Israelis from the sacred tent.

11 Yahweh said to Mosheh, “How long will this people group spurn me for? How long will they refuse to believe in me for, despite all the miracles that I’ve done among them? 12 I’ll strike them with a plague and destroy them. I’m make you into a nation that’s greater and more powerful than them.”

13 But Mosheh disagreed with Yahweh, “Then Egypt will hear about how you used your power to bring these people out from among them, 14 and they’ll report to the inhabitants of Kanaan, because those inhabitants have heard that you, Yahweh, are right here in the middle of us Israeli people, and how your cloud rests on us, and how you lead us with that pillar of cloud that becomes a pillar of fire at night. 15 If you exterminate all the Israelis, those nations who’ve heard about your fame will say, 16 ‘That Yahweh couldn’t take those people into the land that he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17 So may the power of my master be great, just as you’ve previously said, 18 ‘Yahweh is slow to anger and quick to show loyal commitment, forgiving disobedience and rebellion. Yet he doesn’t leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the father’s disobedience onto the next three generations.’ 19 Please forgive this people for their disobedience, applying your incredible loyal commitment like how you did when you brought these people from Egypt all the way to here.”

20 “I’ve forgiven as per your request,” Yahweh replied, 21 “however, as surely as I live and as all the land is filled with Yahweh’s light, 22 and despite them all seeing my power and the miracles that I did both in Egypt and in the wilderness, they’ve now tested me many times and haven’t done what I told them, 23 so there’s no way that they’ll enter the land that I promised to their ancestors. All those who despised me won’t get to enter it. 24 However, my servant Kalev (Caleb) has a different spirit with him, and he wholeheartedly followed me, so I’ll take him into the land that he explored, and his descendants will inherit it.[ref] 25 The Amalekites and Kanaanites live in the valleys. Tomorrow, you all must turn and set off towards the wilderness via the route to the Red Sea.

26 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh and Aharon, 27 “How much longer do I have to put up with this evil gathering that grumble against me? I’ve heard the complaints that the Israelis are making against me. 28 Tell them this, ‘Yahweh declares that as I live, your own words that I heard are exactly what I’ll do to you all. 29 Indeed you’ll die there in the wilderness—all those men who were listed as being twenty years old and older that complained against me. 30 You all won’t enter that land that I would have used my power to settle you into. The only exceptions are Yefunneh’s son Kalev (Caleb) and Nun’s son Yehoshua (Joshua). 31 The children of you all that you said would be taken as plunder, I take them in and they’ll experience the land that you all have rejected, 32 but your bodies will remain in this wilderness. 33 Your sons will become shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness until you yourselves all become corpses in the wilderness. 34 For each day that you explored the land, you’ll all bear your disobedience for one year, so forty days will be forty years of experiencing my displeasure. 35 I, Yahweh, have spoken that I’ll certainly do that to this evil community that joined together against me. They’ll meet their end and die there in the wilderness.’ ”