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

² The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.^(A)

¹¹ They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?^(A)

⁵ The people 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 we detest this miserable food.”^(A)

² Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron.^{(A) 3} The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had died when our kindred died before the Lord!^{(B) 4} Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?^{(C) 5} Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”

The People Rebel

14 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. ² And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!^{(A) 3} Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain and go back to Egypt.”

¹⁶ These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their lusts;^[a] their mouths utter bombastic nonsense, flattering people to their own advantage.^(A)

¹⁴ Do all things without murmuring and arguing,^(A)

¹⁰ And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.^(A)