Israel’s Rebellion
The people spend the night weeping, grumbling against Moses and Aaron, and wishing for death rather than the land ahead. Their fear hardens into a plan to appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt.
T1hen the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
Moses and Aaron fall before the assembly, while Joshua and Caleb plead for trust in the LORD and in the goodness of the land. The congregation answers their appeal by threatening to stone them.
5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!” 10But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb.
The glory of the LORD appears at the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD asks how long this people will despise him despite his signs. He tells Moses that he will strike them and raise up a greater nation from him instead.
11Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting. And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them with a plague and destroy them — and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”