1. All through that night, the entire community raised up their voices. The people wept.
2. All Bnei-Yisrael grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole community said, “If only we had died in Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness!
3. Why is Adonai bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be like plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4. They said to each other, “Let’s choose a leader and let’s go back to Egypt!”
5. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the entire assembly of the community of Bnei-Yisrael.
6. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes.
7. They said to the whole assembly of Bnei-Yisrael, “The land through which we passed is an exceptionally good land!
8. If Adonai is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land and will give it to us—a land flowing with milk and honey.
9. Only don’t rebel against Adonai, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They will be food for us. The protection over them is gone. Adonai is with us! Do not fear them.”
10. But the whole assembly talked about violently stoning them. Then the glory of Adonai appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all Bnei-Yisrael.
11. Adonai said to Moses, “How long will these people treat Me contemptibly? How long will they neglect to trust in Me—in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?
12. I will strike them with the plague. I will destroy them. But you I will make into a nation greater and stronger than they!”