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, (A)according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, (B)all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord 22 (C)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 (D)these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not (E)see the land of which I [a]swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant (F)Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and (G)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 (H)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 (I)“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? (J)I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. 28 Say to them, (K)‘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, (L)all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 (M)Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I [b]swore I would make you dwell in. 31 (N)But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall [c]know the land which (O)you have despised. 32 But as for you, (P)your[d] carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your sons shall (Q)be [e]shepherds in the wilderness (R)forty years, and (S)bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 (T)According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, (U)forty days, for each day you shall bear your [f]guilt one year, namely forty years, (V)and you shall know My [g]rejection. 35 (W)I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all (X)this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 14:23 solemnly promised
  2. Numbers 14:30 solemnly promised
  3. Numbers 14:31 be acquainted with
  4. Numbers 14:32 You shall die.
  5. Numbers 14:33 Vg. wanderers
  6. Numbers 14:34 iniquity
  7. Numbers 14:34 opposition