37. They were responsible for the bad report. So the Lord killed them with a terrible sickness.
38. Only two of the men did not die. They were Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh.
39. When Moses told these things to the Israelites, they were very sad.
40. Early the next morning they started to go toward the beginning of the mountains. They said, “We have sinned. We will go where the Lord told us.”
41. But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? You will not win!
42. Don’t go. The Lord is not with you. You will be beaten by your enemies.
43. You will run into the Amalekites and Canaanites. They will kill you with swords. You have turned away from the Lord. He will not be with you.”
44. But they were proud. They went toward the beginning of the mountains. But Moses and the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord did not leave the camp.