Israel’s Rebellion Predicted

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death^(A) is near. Call Joshua^(B) and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.^(C)” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.^(D)

¹⁵ Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.^{(E) 16} And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors,^(F) and these people will soon prostitute^(G) themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake^(H) me and break the covenant I made with them. ¹⁷ And in that day I will become angry^(I) with them and forsake^(J) them; I will hide^(K) my face^(L) from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters^(M) and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’^{(N) 18} And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

¹⁹ “Now write^(O) down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness^(P) for me against them. ²⁰ When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,^(Q) and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods^(R) and worship them,^(S) rejecting me and breaking my covenant.^{(T) 21} And when many disasters and calamities come on them,^(U) this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do,^(V) even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” ²² So Moses wrote^(W) down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

²³ The Lord gave this command^(X) to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,^(Y) for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”