Study Desk

Then all the congregation ^(F1)raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept ^(F2)that night.

And all the sons of Israel ^(C1)grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the entire congregation said to them, "^(C2)If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or even if we had died in this wilderness!

"So why is the LORD bringing us into this land ^(C1)to fall by the sword? ^(C2)Our wives and our little ones will become plunder! Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"

So they said to one another, "^(C1)Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt!"

^(C1)Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.

And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "^(C1)The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.

"^(C1)If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—^(C2)a land which flows with milk and honey.

"Only ^(C1)do not rebel against the LORD; and do not ^(C2)fear the people of the land, for they will be our ^(F1)prey. Their ^(F2)protection is gone from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them."

^(C1)But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then ^(C2)the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.

^(C1)And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people be disrespectful to Me? And how long will ^(C2)they not ^(F1)believe in Me, despite all the signs that I have performed in their midst?

"I will strike them with ^(F1)(C1)plague and dispossess them, and I ^(C2)will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they."