The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.^{(A) 2} All the Israelites grumbled^(B) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(C) Or in this wilderness!^{(D) 3} Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?^(E) Our wives and children^(F) will be taken as plunder.^(G) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?^(H)” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.^(I)”

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(J) in front of the whole Israelite assembly^(K) gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(L) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(M) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(N) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(O) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(P) and will give it to us.^{(Q) 9} Only do not rebel^(R) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(S) of the people of the land,^(T) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(U) us.^(V) Do not be afraid of them.”^(W)

Allotment for Caleb

⁶ Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,^(A) and Caleb son of Jephunneh^(B) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God^(C) at Kadesh Barnea^(D) about you and me.^{(E) 7} I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea^(F) to explore the land.^(G) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,^{(H) 8} but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.^(I) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.^{(J) 9} So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance^(K) and that of your children^(L) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’^[a]

¹⁰ “Now then, just as the Lord promised,^(M) he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved^(N) about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!^{(O) 11} I am still as strong^(P) today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous^(Q) to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.^(R) You yourself heard then that the Anakites^(S) were there and their cities were large and fortified,^(T) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

¹³ Then Joshua blessed^(U) Caleb son of Jephunneh^(V) and gave him Hebron^(W) as his inheritance.^{(X) 14} So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.^{(Y) 15} (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba^(Z) after Arba,^(AA) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest^(AB) from war.