³⁰ Then ^(A)Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

^31 (B)But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” ³² And they ^(C)gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and ^(D)all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. ³³ There we saw the ^[a]giants (^(E)the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were ^(F)like^[b] grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were ^(G)in their sight.”

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.”

Death Sentence on the Rebels

²⁶ And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ^27 (A)“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? ^(B)I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. ²⁸ Say to them, ^(C)‘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, ^(D)all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. ^30 (E)Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I ^[a]swore I would make you dwell in. ^31 (F)But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall ^[b]know the land which ^(G)you have despised.