Numbers 14
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
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! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; 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.’
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites. 6 And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the Israelites, ‘The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only, do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’ 10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone them.
Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.’
Moses Intercedes for the People
13 But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 16 “It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.” 17 And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,
18 “The Lord is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.”
19 Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.’
20 Then the Lord said, ‘I do forgive, just as you have asked; 21 nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.’[a]
An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed
26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 27 How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live’, says the Lord, ‘I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness; and of all your number, included in the census, from twenty years old and upwards, who have complained against me, 30 not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that 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 for 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 I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.
36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought an unfavourable report about the land died by a plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh alone remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land.
39 When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, ‘Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.’ 41 But Moses said, ‘Why do you continue to transgress the command of the Lord? That will not succeed. 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you; do not let yourselves be struck down before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will confront you there, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.’ 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, even though the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, had not left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them, pursuing them as far as Hormah.
Footnotes
- Numbers 14:25 Or Sea of Reeds
Numbers 14
King James Version
14 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
13 And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
16 Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
26 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me.
30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
35 I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.
41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.
42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.
44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Numbers 14
New King James Version
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.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron [b]fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: (F)“The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord (G)delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, (H)‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only (I)do not rebel against the Lord, (J)nor fear the people of the land, for (K)they[c] are our bread; their protection has departed from them, (L)and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
10 (M)And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now (N)the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.
Moses Intercedes for the People
11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people (O)reject[d] Me? And how long will they not (P)believe Me, with all the [e]signs which I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will (Q)make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
13 And (R)Moses said to the Lord: (S)“Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have (T)heard that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not (U)able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 18 (V)‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, (W)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 (X)Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, (Y)according to the greatness of Your mercy, just (Z)as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”
20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, (AA)according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, (AB)all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 (AC)because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now (AD)these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not (AE)see the land of which I [f]swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant (AF)Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and (AG)has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 25 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and (AH)move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.”
Death Sentence on the Rebels
26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 (AI)“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? (AJ)I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. 28 Say to them, (AK)‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, (AL)all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 (AM)Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I [g]swore I would make you dwell in. 31 (AN)But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall [h]know the land which (AO)you have despised. 32 But as for you, (AP)your[i] carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your sons shall (AQ)be [j]shepherds in the wilderness (AR)forty years, and (AS)bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 (AT)According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, (AU)forty days, for each day you shall bear your [k]guilt one year, namely forty years, (AV)and you shall know My [l]rejection. 35 (AW)I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all (AX)this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ ”
36 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, (AY)died by the plague before the Lord. 38 (AZ)But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.
A Futile Invasion Attempt(BA)
39 Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, (BB)and the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, (BC)“Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned!”
41 And Moses said, “Now why do you [m]transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. 42 (BD)Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; (BE)because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.”
44 (BF)But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as (BG)Hormah.
Footnotes
- Numbers 14:3 be killed in battle
- Numbers 14:5 prostrated themselves
- Numbers 14:9 They shall be as food for our consumption.
- Numbers 14:11 despise
- Numbers 14:11 miraculous signs
- Numbers 14:23 solemnly promised
- Numbers 14:30 solemnly promised
- Numbers 14:31 be acquainted with
- Numbers 14:32 You shall die.
- Numbers 14:33 Vg. wanderers
- Numbers 14:34 iniquity
- Numbers 14:34 opposition
- Numbers 14:41 overstep
4 Mosebok 14
Svenska Folkbibeln
Folket gör uppror
14 Då började hela menigheten ropa och skrika, och folket grät den natten. 2 Alla Israels barn knotade mot Mose och Aron, och hela menigheten sade till dem: "Om vi ändå hade fått dö i Egyptens land, eller om vi ändå hade fått dö här i öknen! 3 Varför leder Herren oss in i detta land, där vi måste falla för svärd och där våra hustrur och barn skall bli fiendens byte? Vore det inte bättre för oss att vända tillbaka till Egypten?" 4 Och de sade till varandra: "Vi väljer en anförare och vänder tillbaka till Egypten."
5 Då föll Mose och Aron ner på sina ansikten inför hela den samlade menigheten av Israels barn. 6 Och Josua, Nuns son, och Kaleb, Jefunnes son, som var med bland dem som hade bespejat landet, rev sönder sina kläder 7 och sade till hela Israels menighet: "Det land som vi har vandrat igenom och bespejat är ett mycket, mycket gott land. 8 Om Herren har behag till oss, skall han föra oss in i det landet och ge det åt oss, ett land som flödar av mjölk och honung. 9 Men var inte upproriska mot Herren och frukta inte för folket i landet, för de skall bli som en munsbit för oss. Deras beskydd har vikit ifrån dem, men Herren är med oss. Frukta inte för dem."
10 Men hela menigheten ropade att man skulle stena dem. Då visade sig Herrens härlighet i uppenbarelsetältet för alla Israels barn. 11 Och Herren sade till Mose: "Hur länge skall detta folk förakta mig? Och hur länge skall de vägra tro på mig trots alla de tecken jag har gjort ibland dem? 12 Jag skall slå dem med pest och utrota dem, men dig vill jag göra till ett folk som är större och mäktigare än detta."
Mose medlar för folket
13 Mose sade till Herren: "Egyptierna har ju hört att du med din kraft har fört detta folk ut från dem hit upp, 14 och de har talat om det för dem som bor här i landet. De har hört att du, Herre, är mitt ibland detta folk, att du, Herre, visar dig ansikte mot ansikte, att din molnsky står över dem och att du går framför dem i en molnstod om dagen och i en eldstod om natten. 15 Om du dödar detta folk, alla på en gång, skall folken som hört talas om dig säga: 16 'Därför att Herren inte förmådde föra detta folk in i det land som han med ed hade lovat dem, har han slaktat dem i öknen.' 17 Nej, låt nu Herrens kraft bevisa sig stor, så som du själv har sagt: 18 Herren är sen till vrede och rik på nåd, han förlåter missgärning och överträdelse, men låter inte någon bli ostraffad, utan låter straffet för fädernas missgärning drabba barnen, ja, tredje och fjärde släktledet. 19 Förlåt nu detta folks missgärning efter din stora nåd, så som du har låtit din förlåtelse följa detta folk allt ifrån Egypten och ända hit."
Herren förlåter och straffar
20 Då sade Herren: "Jag förlåter dem enligt ditt ord. 21 Men så sant jag lever och så sant Herrens härlighet uppfyller hela jorden: 22 Av alla de män som har sett min härlighet och sett de tecken jag har gjort i Egypten och i öknen, och som nu tio gånger har frestat mig och inte lyssnat till min röst, 23 av dem skall ingen få se det land som jag med ed har lovat deras fäder. Ingen av dem som har föraktat mig skall få se det. 24 Men i min tjänare Kaleb är en annan ande, och han har i allt följt mig. Därför skall jag föra honom in i det land där han nu har varit, och hans avkomlingar skall ta det i besittning. 25 Men eftersom amalekiterna och kananeerna bor i dalen, så vänd er i morgon åt ett annat håll och tag vägen mot öknen åt Röda havet till."
26 Herren talade till Mose och Aron. Han sade: 27 "Hur länge skall denna onda menighet knota mot mig? Jag har hört hur Israels barn ständigt knotar mot mig. 28 Säg nu till dem: Så sant jag lever, säger Herren, jag skall göra med er så som ni själva har sagt inför mig. 29 Här i öknen skall era döda kroppar falla, alla ni som har blivit inmönstrade, alla som är tjugo år eller äldre, eftersom ni har knotat mot mig. 30 Ingen av er skall komma in i det land som jag med upplyft hand lovade er att få bo i, ingen utom Kaleb, Jefunnes son, och Josua, Nuns son. 31 Men era barn, som ni sade skulle bli fiendens byte, dem skall jag föra in där, och de skall lära känna det land som ni har förkastat. 32 Men era döda kroppar skall falla här i öknen. 33 Och era barn skall vara herdar i öknen i fyrtio år och få lida för er trolöshet, till dess att era döda kroppar förmultnat i öknen. 34 Så som ni under fyrtio dagar har bespejat landet, skall ni under fyrtio år - ett år för varje dag - bära på era synder. Ni skall då få erfara att jag har tagit min hand ifrån er. 35 Jag, Herren, har talat. Jag skall i sanning göra så med hela denna onda menighet som har rotat sig samman mot mig. Här i öknen skall de omkomma, här skall de dö."
36 De män som Mose hade sänt för att bespeja landet och som vid sin återkomst hade fått hela menigheten att knota mot honom genom att tala illa om landet, 37 ja, dessa män som hade talat illa om landet dog genom en hemsökelse, inför Herrens ansikte. 38 Av de män som hade gått ut för att bespeja landet överlevde endast Josua, Nuns son, och Kaleb, Jefunnes son.
Israels barn drivs tillbaka
39 Mose talade detta till alla Israels barn, och folket sörjde mycket. 40 De steg upp tidigt följande morgon för att bege sig upp mot den övre bergsbygden och sade: "Se, här är vi. Vi har syndat, men nu vill vi dra upp till den plats som Herren har talat om." 41 Men Mose sade: "Varför vill ni överträda Herrens befallning? Det kommer inte att lyckas. 42 Herren är inte med er. Därför skall ni inte dra dit upp för att inte bli slagna inför era fiender. 43 Amalekiterna och kananeerna skall där möta er, och ni kommer att falla för svärd, ty ni har vänt er bort ifrån Herren, och därför kommer Herren inte att vara med er."
44 I sitt övermod drog de ändå upp mot den övre bergsbygden, men Herrens förbundsark och Mose lämnade inte lägret. 45 Amalekiterna och kananeerna, som bodde där i bergsbygden, kom då ner och slog dem och drev dem på flykten ända till Horma.
Numbers 14
Lexham English Bible
The People Complain
14 Then all the community lifted up their voices,[a] and the people wept during that night. 2 And all the Israelites[b] grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and all the community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or in this desert! 3 Why did Yahweh bring us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little children will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 They said to each other,[c] “Let us appoint a leader, and we will return to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before[d] the assembly of the community of the Israelites.[e] 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the explorers of the land, tore their garments. 7 And they said to all the community of the Israelites,[f] “The land that we went through to explore is an exceptionally good land.[g] 8 If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and he will give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against Yahweh, and you will not fear the people of the land, because they will be our food. Their protection[h] has been turned from them; Yahweh is with us. You should not fear them.” 10 And all the community said to stone them with stones, but the glory of Yahweh appeared in the tent of assembly among the Israelites.[i]
11 And Yahweh said to Moses, “How long until this people will despise me, and how long until they will not believe in me, and in all the signs that I have done in their[j] midst? 12 I will strike them[k] with disease, and I will dispossess them;[l] I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than them.”[m]
13 And Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear that you brought up this people from their[n] midst in your power, 14 and they will tell it[o] to the inhabitants of this land. They heard that you, Yahweh, are in the midst of this people, that you are seen eye to eye, and your cloud is standing over them, and in a column of cloud you go before them by day and in a column of fire at night. 15 But if you destroy this people all at once,[p] the nations that will have heard your message will say, 16 ‘Yahweh was unable to bring this people in the land that he swore by an oath, and he slaughtered them in the desert.’ 17 But now, please, let the power of my Lord be great, just has you spoke,
18 ‘Yahweh is slow to anger[q]
and great of loyal love,
forgiving[r] sin and rebellion;
but surely he leaves nothing unpunished,
visiting the sin of the fathers on the sons
to the third and fourth generations.’
19 Please forgive the sin of this people according to the greatness of your loyal love, just as you forgave[s] this people, from Egypt until now.”
20 Yahweh said, “I have forgiven them according to your word; 21 but as I am alive, the glory of Yahweh will fill all the earth. 22 But because all the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the desert yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice, 23 they will not see the land that I swore by oath to their ancestors,[t] and all those who despised me will not see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because another spirit was with him, he remained true after me, and I will bring him into the land that he entered,[u] and his offspring will take possession of it. 25 And the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; tomorrow turn and set out for the desert by way of the Red Sea.”[v]
26 And Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 “How long will I bear this evil community who are grumbling against me? I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites[w] which they are making[x] against me. 28 Say to them, ‘Surely as I live,’ declares[y] Yahweh, ‘just as you spoke in my hearing,[z] so I will do to you; 29 in this desert your corpses will fall, and all your counted ones, according to all your number, from twenty years old[aa] and above who grumbled against me. 30 You yourselves will not come into the land that I swore by oath[ab] to make you to dwell in it, but Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 But your little children, whom you said would be plunder, I will bring them, and they will know the land that you rejected. 32 But for you, all your corpses will fall in this desert. 33 And your children will be shepherds in the desert forty years,[ac] and you will bear your unfaithfulness until all your corpses have fallen[ad] in the desert. 34 According to the number of the days[ae] that you explored the land, forty days,[af] a day for each year,[ag] you will bear your sins forty years,[ah] and you will know my opposition.’ 35 I, Yahweh, have spoken; I will surely do this to all this evil community who has banded together against me. In this desert they will come to an end, and there they will die.”
36 As for the men whom Moses sent to explore the land, who returned and made the community grumble against him by spreading a report over the land, 37 the men who spread the evil report of the land died by the plague before Yahweh.[ai] 38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh lived from among the men who went to explore the land.
39 And Moses spoke words to all the Israelites,[aj] and the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose early in the morning and went to the top of the mount, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that Yahweh said, because we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why are you going against the command of Yahweh? It will not succeed. 42 You should not go up because Yahweh is not in your midst; do not let yourselves be defeated in the presence of your enemies, 43 because the Amalekites[ak] and the Canaanites[al] are there before you,[am] and you will fall by the sword; because you have turned back from Yahweh, and Yahweh will not be with you.” 44 But they dared to go to the top of the mountain, and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and Moses did not depart from the midst of the camp. 45 So the Amalekites[an] and the Canaanites[ao] who were living on the mountain descended, and they beat them down, up to Hormah.
Footnotes
- Numbers 14:1 Hebrew “they lifted up and gave their voice”
- Numbers 14:2 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:4 Literally “A man said to his brother”
- Numbers 14:5 Literally “in the presence of”
- Numbers 14:5 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:7 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:7 Literally “the land is very very good”
- Numbers 14:9 Literally “Their shadow”
- Numbers 14:10 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:11 Hebrew “his”
- Numbers 14:12 Hebrew “him”
- Numbers 14:12 Hebrew “him”
- Numbers 14:12 Hebrew “him”
- Numbers 14:13 Hebrew “his”
- Numbers 14:14 Literally “say”
- Numbers 14:15 Literally “as one man”
- Numbers 14:18 Literally “slow of noses”
- Numbers 14:18 Literally “lifting up”
- Numbers 14:19 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 14:23 Or “fathers”
- Numbers 14:24 Or “he went to”
- Numbers 14:25 Literally “sea of reed”
- Numbers 14:27 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:27 Literally “they are grumbling”
- Numbers 14:28 Literally “declaration of”
- Numbers 14:28 Literally “in my ears”
- Numbers 14:29 Literally “a son of twenty years”
- Numbers 14:30 Literally “I lifted up my hand”
- Numbers 14:33 Hebrew “year”
- Numbers 14:33 Literally “until to complete your corpses”
- Numbers 14:34 Hebrew “day”
- Numbers 14:34 Hebrew “day”
- Numbers 14:34 Literally “a day for a year a day for a year”
- Numbers 14:34 Hebrew “year”
- Numbers 14:37 Literally “in the presence of Yahweh”
- Numbers 14:39 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 14:43 Hebrew “Amalekite”
- Numbers 14:43 Hebrew “Canaanite”
- Numbers 14:43 Literally “in your presence”
- Numbers 14:45 Hebrew “Amalekite”
- Numbers 14:45 Hebrew “Canaanite”
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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