Numbers 14:20-35

New International Reader's Version

²⁰ The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, just as you asked. ²¹ You can be sure that I live. You can be just as sure that my glory fills the whole earth. ²² And here is what you can be just as sure of. Not one of these people will see the land I promised to give them. They have seen my glory. They have seen the signs I did in Egypt. And they have seen what I did in the desert. But they did not obey me. And they have tested me ten times. ²³ So not even one of them will ever see the land I promised to give to their people of long ago. The person who has not respected me will never see it. ²⁴ But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He follows me with his whole heart. So I will bring him into the land he went to. And his children after him will receive land there. ²⁵ The Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys. So turn back tomorrow. Start out toward the desert. Go along the way that leads to the Red Sea.”

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²⁷ “How long will this evil community speak against me? I have heard these Israelites talk about how unhappy they are. ²⁸ So tell them, ‘Here is what I am announcing. I am the Lord. You can be sure that I live. And here is what you can be just as sure of. I will do to you the very thing that I heard you say. ²⁹ You will die in this desert. Every one of you 20 years old or more will die. Every one of you who was counted in the list of the people will die. Every one of you who has spoken out against me will be wiped out. ³⁰ I lifted up my hand and promised to make this land your home. But now not all of you will enter the land. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, will enter it. So will Joshua, the son of Nun. They are the only ones who will enter the land. ³¹ You have said that your enemies would capture your children. But I will bring your children in to enjoy the land you have turned your backs on. ³² As for you, you will die in the desert. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for 40 years. They will suffer because you were not faithful. They will suffer until the last of your bodies lies here in the desert. ³⁴ For 40 years you will suffer for your sins. That is one year for each of the 40 days you checked out the land. You will know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken. I will surely do these things to this entire evil community of Israel. They have joined together against me. They will meet their end in this desert. They will die here.”