3. Why is the Lord taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?”
4. So they said to one another, “Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!”
5. Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people.
6. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow
7. and said to the people, “The land we explored is an excellent land.
8. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land.
9. Do not rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The Lord is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid.”
10. The whole community was threatening to stone them to death, but suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appear over the tent.
11. The Lord said to Moses, “How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them?
12. I will send an epidemic and destroy them, but I will make you the father of a nation that is larger and more powerful than they are!”
13. But Moses said to the Lord, “You brought these people out of Egypt by your power. When the Egyptians hear what you have done to your people,
14. they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, Lord, are with us, that you are plainly seen when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
15. Now if you kill all your people, the nations who have heard of your fame will say
16. that you killed your people in the wilderness because you were not able to bring them into the land you promised to give them.
17. So now Lord, I pray, show us your power and do what you promised when you said,
18. ‘I, the Lord, am not easily angered, and I show great love and faithfulness and forgive sin and rebellion. Yet I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents.’
19. And now, Lord, according to the greatness of your unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”
20. The Lord answered, “I will forgive them, as you have asked.