Numbers 14:1-19 ▼

1 And all the congregation lifted up and gave forth their voices, and the people wept that night.

2 And all the sons 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 And why has YHWH brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”

4 And they said a man to his brother, “Let us set a leader and return to Egypt.”

5 And Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the face of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.

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 they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land that we passed through to spy out is a very exceedingly good land.

8 And if YHWH delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

9 Only against YHWH do not rebel—you?—nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has departed from them, and YHWH is with us. Do not fear them!”

10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. And the glory of YHWH appeared in the Tent of Meeting before all the sons of Israel.

11 And YHWH said to Moses, “How long will this people reject Me, and how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs that I have performed among them?

12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

13 And Moses said to YHWH, “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your power You brought up this people from among them.

14 And they will tell to those dwelling in this land that they have heard that You, O YHWH, are among this people, that eye to eye You are seen, O YHWH, and Your cloud stands above them, and in a pillar of cloud You go before their faces by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

15 And if You kill this people as one man, the nations that have heard of Your fame will speak, saying,

16 ‘Because YHWH was not able to bring this people to the land that He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’

17 And now, please, let the power of my Lord be great, as You have spoken, saying,

18 ‘YHWH is slow to anger, and abundant in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and He aquits by no means, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons on the thirds and on the fourths.’

19 Pardon, please, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your loving devotion, and as You have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.”