3. Why is the Lord bringing us into this land only to have us fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be taken as spoil. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4. So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5. But Moses and Aaron fell prostrate before the whole assembled community of the Israelites;
6. while Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who had been among those that reconnoitered the land, tore their garments
7. and said to the whole community of the Israelites, “The land which we went through and reconnoitered is an exceedingly good land.
8. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us in to this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.
9. Only do not rebel against the Lord! You need not be afraid of the people of the land, for they are but food for us! Their protection has left them, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
10. The whole community threatened to stone them. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.
11. And the Lord said to Moses: How long will this people spurn me? How long will they not trust me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?
12. I will strike them with pestilence and disown them. Then I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.
13. But Moses said to the Lord: “The Egyptians will hear of this, for by your power you brought out this people from among them.
14. They will tell the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that you, Lord, are in the midst of this people; you, Lord, who directly revealed yourself! Your cloud stands over them, and you go before them by day in a column of cloud and by night in a column of fire.
15. If now you slay this people all at once, the nations who have heard such reports of you will say,
16. ‘The Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them; that is why he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’
17. Now then, may my Lord’s forbearance be great, even as you have said,