³⁴ The Lord heard what you said. He was angry and he swore: ³⁵ Not even one of these people—this wicked generation!—will see the wonderful land that I promised to give to your ancestors. ³⁶ The only exception is Caleb, Jephunneh’s son. He will see it. I will give the land he walked on to him and his children for this reason: he was completely devoted to the Lord.

(³⁷ The Lord was even angry with me because of what you did. “You won’t enter the land either,” God said. ³⁸ “But Nun’s son Joshua, your assistant, will enter it. Strengthen him because he’s the one who will help Israel inherit the land.”)

³⁹ Now as for your toddlers, those you said would be taken in war, and your young children who don’t yet know right and wrong—they will enter the land. I will give it to them. They will possess it! ⁴⁰ But you all must now turn around. Head back toward the wilderness along the route of the Reed Sea.^[a]