Numbers 14:1-25

And so, crying out, the entire crowd wept throughout that night. And all the sons of Israel were murmuring against Moses and Aaron, saying: "If only we had died in Egypt," and, "If only we would perish in this vast wilderness," and, "May the Lord not lead us into this land, lest we fall by the sword, and our wives, as well as our children, be led away as captives. Is it not better to return to Egypt?" And they said to one another, "Let us appoint our leader, and so return to Egypt." And when Moses and Aaron heard this, they fell prone on the ground in the sight of the multitude of the sons of Israel. Yet truly, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who themselves had also viewed the land, tore their garments, and they said to the entire multitude of the sons of Israel: "The land that we circled through is very good. If the Lord will be gracious to us, he will lead us into it, and he will give us the land flowing with milk and honey. Do not choose to be rebellious against the Lord. And do not fear the people of this land, for, like bread, so are we able to devour them. All protection has withdrawn from them. The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid." And when the entire multitude cried out, and they wanted to crush them with stones, the glory of the Lord appeared, over the roof of the covenant, to all the sons of Israel. And the Lord said to Moses: "How long will this people disparage me? How long will they refuse to believe me, despite all the signs that I have wrought before them? Therefore, I will strike them with a pestilence, and so I will consume them. But you I will make the ruler over a great nation, and one which is mightier than this one." And Moses said to the Lord: "But then the Egyptians, from whose midst you led out this people, and the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that you, O Lord, are among this people, and that you are seen face to face, and that your cloud protects them, and that you go before them with a column of cloud by day, and a column of fire by night, may hear that you have killed so great a multitude, as if they were one man, and they may say: 'He was not able to lead the people into the land about which he had sworn. Therefore, he slew them in the wilderness.' Therefore, may the strength of the Lord be magnified, just as you swore, saying: 'The Lord is patient and full of mercy, taking away iniquity and wickedness, and forsaking no one who is harmless. He visits the sins of the fathers upon the sons, to the third and fourth generation.' Forgive, I beg you, the sins of this people, according to the greatness of your mercy, just as you have been gracious to them in their journey from Egypt to this place." And the Lord said: "I have forgiven them according to your word. Also, as I live, the entire world shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. And yet, all the men who have seen my majesty, and the signs that I have wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and who have tested me ten times already, and yet have not obeyed my voice, these shall not see the land, about which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who detracted me gaze upon it. My servant Caleb, who, being full of another spirit, has followed me, I will lead into this land, through which he has wandered, and his offspring shall possess it. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys. Tomorrow, move the camp and return into the wilderness, by the way of the Red Sea."