1. After the Israelites heard the report from the twelve men who had explored Canaan, the people cried all night
2. and complained to Moses and Aaron, “We wish we had died in Egypt or somewhere out here in the desert!
3. Is the Lord leading us into Canaan, just to have us killed and our women and children captured? We'd be better off in Egypt.”
4. Then they said to one another, “Let's choose our own leader and go back.”
5. Moses and Aaron bowed down to pray in front of the crowd.
6. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in sorrow
7. and said:We saw the land ourselves, and it's very good.
8. If we obey the Lord, he will surely give us that land rich with milk and honey.
9. So don't rebel. We have no reason to be afraid of the people who live there. The Lord is on our side, and they won't stand a chance against us!
10. The crowd threatened to stone Moses and Aaron to death. But just then, the Lord appeared in a cloud at the sacred tent.
11. The Lord said to Moses, “I have done great things for these people, and they still reject me by refusing to believe in my power.