34. For forty years you will suffer for your sins—a year for each of the forty days you explored the land. You will know me as your enemy.’
35. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will certainly do these things to all these evil people who have come together against me. So they will all die here in this desert.”
36. The men Moses had sent to explore the land had returned and spread complaints among all the people. They had given a bad report about the land.
37. The men who gave a very bad report died; the Lord killed them with a terrible sickness.
38. Only two of the men who explored the land did not die—Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh.
39. When Moses told these things to all the Israelites, they were very sad.