1. Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
2. And all the children of Yisra’ĕl grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and all the congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Mitsrayim! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
3. “And why is יהוה bringing us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become a prey? Would it not be better for us to turn back to Mitsrayim?”
4. And they said to each other, “Let us appoint a leader, and let us turn back to Mitsrayim.”
5. Then Mosheh and Aharon fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
6. And Yehoshua son of Nun, and Kalĕḇ son of Yephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their garments,
7. and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
8. “If יהוה has delighted in us, then He shall bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which is flowing with milk and honey.’
9. “Only, do not rebel against יהוה, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their defence has turned away from them, and יהוה is with us. Do not fear them.”
10. But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the esteem of יהוה appeared in the Tent of Meeting before all the children of Yisra’ĕl.
11. And יהוה said to Mosheh, “How long shall I be scorned by these people? And how long shall I not be trusted by them, with all the signs which I have done in their midst?
12. “Let Me smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
13. And Mosheh said to יהוה, “Then the Mitsrites shall hear it, for by Your power You brought these people up from their midst,
14. and they shall say to the inhabitants of this land they have heard that You, יהוה, are in the midst of these people, that You, יהוה, are seen eye to eye and that Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a column of cloud by day and in a column of fire by night.
15. “Now if You shall kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your report shall speak, saying,
16. ‘Because יהוה was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’