Numbers 14:20-45
New International Version
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)”
36 So the men Moses had sent(AH) to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble(AI) against him by spreading a bad report(AJ) about it— 37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report(AK) about the land were struck down and died of a plague(AL) before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land,(AM) only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.(AN)
39 When Moses reported this(AO) to all the Israelites, they mourned(AP) bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country,(AQ) saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!(AR)”
41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!(AS) 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,(AT) 43 for the Amalekites(AU) and the Canaanites(AV) will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you(AW) and you will fall by the sword.”
44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up(AX) toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.(AY) 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites(AZ) who lived in that hill country(BA) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.(BB)
Footnotes
- Numbers 14:25 Or the Sea of Reeds
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