³⁰ Then Caleb^(A) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”^{(B) 32} And they spread among the Israelites a bad report^(C) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours^(D) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.^{(E) 33} We saw the Nephilim^(F) there (the descendants of Anak^(G) come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers^(H) in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.^{(I) 2} All the Israelites grumbled^(J) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(K) Or in this wilderness!^{(L) 3} Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?^(M) Our wives and children^(N) will be taken as plunder.^(O) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?^(P)” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.^(Q)”

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(R) in front of the whole Israelite assembly^(S) gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(T) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(U) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(V) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(W) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(X) and will give it to us.^{(Y) 9} Only do not rebel^(Z) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(AA) of the people of the land,^(AB) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(AC) us.^(AD) Do not be afraid of them.”^(AE)

¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning^(AF) them. Then the glory of the Lord^(AG) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.