The Lord Pardons and Rebukes

20 So the Lord said, “(A)I have forgiven them in accordance with your word; 21 however, (B)as I live, [a](C)all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. 22 Certainly (D)all the people who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet (E)have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 (F)shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who were disrespectful to Me see it. 24 But as for My servant Caleb, (G)because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, (H)I will bring him into the land which he [b]entered, and his [c]descendants shall take possession of it. 25 (I)Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way of the [d]Red Sea.”

26 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron again, saying, 27 “How long shall I put up with this evil congregation who are (J)grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel which they are [e]voicing against Me. 28 Say to them, ‘(K)As I live,’ declares the Lord, ‘just as (L)you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you; 29 (M)your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, all (N)your [f]numbered men according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. 30 By no means will you come into the land where I [g]swore to settle you, (O)except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 (P)Your children, however, whom you said would become plunder—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. 32 (Q)But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Also, your sons will be shepherds in the wilderness for (R)forty years, and they will [h]suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your bodies perish in the wilderness. 34 In accordance with the (S)number of days that you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall suffer the punishment for your [i]guilt a year, that is, forty years, and you will know My opposition. 35 (T)I, the Lord, have spoken, I certainly will do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. They shall be worn out in this wilderness, and there they shall die.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 14:21 Lit and all
  2. Numbers 14:24 Lit entered there
  3. Numbers 14:24 Lit seed
  4. Numbers 14:25 Lit Sea of Reeds
  5. Numbers 14:27 Lit complaining
  6. Numbers 14:29 Lit mustered
  7. Numbers 14:30 Lit raised My hand
  8. Numbers 14:33 Lit bear
  9. Numbers 14:34 Or wrongdoings

20 Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the proof these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, 23 shall see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; and none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amal′ekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”

An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed

26 And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, 27 “How long shall this wicked congregation murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and of all your number, numbered from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephun′neh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken; surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.”

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20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them,(A) as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live(B) and as surely as the glory of the Lord(C) fills the whole earth,(D) 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs(E) I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times(F) 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath(G) to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt(H) will ever see it.(I) 24 But because my servant Caleb(J) has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,(K) I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.(L) 25 Since the Amalekites(M) and the Canaanites(N) are living in the valleys, turn(O) back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[a](P)

26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.(Q) 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,(R) declares the Lord, I will do to you(S) the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall(T)—every one of you twenty years old or more(U) who was counted in the census(V) and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land(W) I swore with uplifted hand(X) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh(Y) and Joshua son of Nun.(Z) 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.(AA) 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall(AB) in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,(AC) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years(AD)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land(AE)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things(AF) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.(AG)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 14:25 Or the Sea of Reeds