²⁴ And the people ^(A)complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

² Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel ^(A)complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

^11 (A)Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?

Apostates Predicted

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they ^(A)mouth great swelling words, ^(B)flattering people to gain advantage.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(A)without ^[a]complaining and ^(B)disputing,^[b]

⁵ And the people ^(A)spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul ^[a]loathes this worthless bread.”

^2 (A)Now there was no water for the congregation; ^(B)so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. ³ And the people ^(C)contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died ^(D)when our brethren died before the Lord! ^4 (E)Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? ⁵ And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.”

Israel Refuses to Enter Canaan

14 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people ^(A)wept that night. ^2 (B)And all the children of Israel complained 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! ³ Why has the Lord brought us to this land to ^[a]fall by the sword, that our wives and ^(C)children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” ⁴ So they said to one another, ^(D)“Let us select a leader and ^(E)return to Egypt.”