1Da brød hele folket ud i klageråb, og de græd og klagede hele natten.2Derefter gik de hen til Moses og Aron og beklagede sig: „Gid vi var døde i Egypten—eller endda her i ørkenen.3Hvorfor har Herren ført os hertil, når vi skal dø i krig og vores koner og børn føres bort som slaver. Lad os dog vende om og se at komme tilbage til Egypten.”4Længslen efter Egypten bredte sig i lejren. „Ja, lad os vælge en anden leder og vende tilbage til Egypten!” blev der råbt.5Da kastede Moses og Aron sig ned foran folket med ansigtet mod jorden,6og to af spionerne—Josva og Kaleb—som havde været inde og udspejde landet, rev flænger i deres tøj af fortvivlelse over folkets oprør.7„Begriber I ikke, at det er et vidunderligt land?” råbte de.8„Hvis vi er lydige mod Herren, vil han føre os ind i landet og give det til os. Det er et fantastisk frugtbart land, der i den grad ‚flyder med mælk og honning’.9Hvorfor vil I gøre oprør imod Herren? Hvorfor er I bange for landets indbyggere? Vi kan sagtens indtage landet, for Herren er med os, mens de er uden beskyttelse. Hvad er I bange for?”10Josvas og Kalebs ord gjorde kun ondt værre, og folket talte allerede om at stene dem. Da viste Herrens herlighed sig pludselig over åbenbaringsteltet,11og Herren sagde til Moses: „Hvor længe skal det her folk have lov til at foragte mig? Hvor længe vil de nægte at tro på mig, selv efter alle de undere, jeg har udført iblandt dem?12Jeg vil sende sygdom imod dem og udrydde dem, og så vil jeg begynde forfra med dig og gøre dig til et endnu mægtigere folk end dem.”
Moses går i forbøn for folket
13„Men hvad vil egypterne sige, når de hører om det?” indvendte Moses. „De så jo din vældige kraft demonstreret, da du befriede dit folk.14Indbyggerne i dette land er også allerede klar over, at du bor blandt dit folk Israel og taler til dem ansigt til ansigt. De har hørt om skysøjlen, der går foran os om dagen, og ildsøjlen, der lyser for os om natten.15Men hvis du nu udrydder dit folk, vil disse nationer sige:16‚Herren dræbte sit folk, fordi han ikke var i stand til at føre dem ind i det land, han havde lovet dem.’17Herre, vis nu din storhed ved at stå ved de ord, du har udtalt:18at du sjældent bliver vred, og at din trofasthed er stor. Du tilgiver mennesker deres synd og oprør, også selv om den skyldige skal straffes og fædrenes synd får konsekvenser indtil tredje eller fjerde slægtled.19Jeg trygler dig, Herre: Vis din trofasthed og nåde imod dette folk, så du tilgiver dem deres synd, sådan som du har tilgivet dem hele vejen, siden de forlod Egypten.”20Da svarede Herren: „Godt, jeg vil tilgive dem, sådan som du har bedt om.21Men så sandt jeg er den levende Gud, så sandt min herlighed fylder hele jorden,22så skal ingen af de mænd, som har været vidne til de undere, jeg gjorde i Egypten og i ørkenen, og som nu for tiende gang har provokeret mig med deres ulydighed,23få det land at se, som jeg lovede deres forfædre. Ingen af dem, der har vist mig foragt, skal få landet at se.24Men min tjener Kaleb har en anden ånd end resten af folket, og han har bevist sin lydighed imod mig. Derfor skal han få lov til at komme ind i landet, og hans efterkommere skal tage deres del i besiddelse.25Da nu amalekitterne og kana’anæerne bor i lavlandet,[1] skal I i morgen tidlig bryde op og vende tilbage til ørkenen ad vejen mod Det Røde Hav.”
Herrens straf over det vantro folk
26Herren sagde til Moses og Aron:27„Hvor længe skal jeg finde mig i, at det her onde folk hele tiden beklager sig? Jeg har set deres oprør og hørt deres beklagelser.28Giv dem nu følgende besked fra mig: Så sandt jeg lever, skal I få, hvad I har bedt om:29I skal få lov at dø i ørkenen—alle I, der er over 20 år, I, der beklagede jer over mig.30Ingen af jer skal nå ind i det land, som jeg svor at give til jer—bortset fra Kaleb og Josva.31I sagde, at jeres børn ville blive taget til fange og gjort til slaver; men jeg siger, at det bliver dem, der går ind og tager det land i besiddelse, som I har vraget,32mens I selv skal dø i ørkenen.33Jeres børn skal vokse op som nomader, mens I vandrer rundt i ørkenen i 40 år, indtil den sidste af jer, som gjorde oprør, er død. Det er resultatet af jeres troløshed.34Ligesom spionerne vandrede rundt i landet i 40 dage, skal I vandre rundt i ørkenen i 40 år—ét år for hver dag er straffen for jeres synd. På den måde vil jeg lære jer, hvilke konsekvenser det får, når I forkaster mig.35Jeg, Herren, har talt. Sådan vil jeg gøre mod dette onde folk, som har rottet sig sammen imod mig og derfor skal dø her i ørkenen.”36-38De ti spioner, som havde foranlediget oprøret imod Herren ved at sprede frygt blandt folket, faldt derefter døde om for Herrens ansigt; kun Josva og Kaleb var tilbage.39Og da Moses bekendtgjorde Herrens ord til folket, blev de grebet af dyb sorg.40Men tidligt næste morgen var de klar til at drage af sted mod løfternes land. „Vi tog fejl,” sagde de, „men nu er vi parat til at gå ind i det land, Herren har lovet os.”41„Nej,” svarede Moses, „I har forspildt jeres chance. Vil I nu synde igen ved at gøre oprør mod Herrens ordre om at vende tilbage til ørkenen?42Gå ikke ind i landet nu, for Herren er ikke med jer. Gør I det alligevel, vil I blot blive slået af fjenderne.43Amalekitterne og kana’anæerne vil besejre jer. Når I vender jer fra Herren, vender han sig fra jer.”44Alligevel satte de kursen mod bjerglandet, selv om pagtens ark og Moses blev tilbage i lejren.45Men de amalekitter og kana’anæere, der boede på vejen til bjerglandet, rykkede ud mod dem, slog dem og forfulgte dem helt til Horma.
1Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. (4.Mos 11,4)2And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! (2.Mos 15,24; 2.Mos 16,2; 2.Mos 17,3; 4.Mos 14,27; 4.Mos 14,29; 4.Mos 14,33; 4.Mos 16,41; Josva 9,18; Salm 106,25)3Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” (4.Mos 14,31)4And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (5.Mos 17,16; Neh 9,17; Ap G 7,39)5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. (4.Mos 16,4; 4.Mos 16,22; 4.Mos 20,6)6And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes (4.Mos 13,6; 4.Mos 13,8; 4.Mos 14,30)7and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. (4.Mos 13,27; 5.Mos 1,25)8If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. (2.Mos 3,8; 5.Mos 10,15; 2.Sam 22,20; 1.Kong 10,9; Salm 18,19; Salm 22,8; Es 62,4)9Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” (4.Mos 24,8; 5.Mos 7,18; 5.Mos 20,3; Josva 22,16; Josva 22,18; Josva 22,29; Salm 14,4; Salm 74,14)10Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. (2.Mos 17,4; 3.Mos 9,23)11And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? (4.Mos 14,23; 4.Mos 16,30; 5.Mos 1,32; 5.Mos 9,23; Salm 78,22; Salm 78,32; Salm 106,24; Joh 12,37; Heb 3,18)12I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” (2.Mos 32,10)
Moses Intercedes for the People
13But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, (2.Mos 32,12; 5.Mos 9,28; 5.Mos 32,27; Salm 106,23; Ez 20,9; Ez 20,14)14and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. (2.Mos 13,21; 2.Mos 15,14; Josva 2,9; Josva 5,1)15Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say,16‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ (5.Mos 9,28; Josva 7,9)17And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying,18‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ (2.Mos 20,5; 2.Mos 34,6)19Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” (2.Mos 34,9; Salm 78,38; Salm 106,45)
God Promises Judgment
20Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. (Salm 106,23; Jak 5,16; 1.Joh 5,14)21But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, (Salm 72,19; Hab 2,14)22none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, (1.Mos 31,7; 5.Mos 1,35; Job 19,3; Salm 95,11; Salm 106,26; Heb 3,17)23shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. (4.Mos 26,64; 4.Mos 32,11; Ez 20,15)24But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. (4.Mos 13,6; 4.Mos 14,6; 4.Mos 32,12; Josva 14,8)25Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” (4.Mos 13,29; 4.Mos 14,43; 4.Mos 14,45; 5.Mos 1,40)26And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,27“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. (2.Mos 16,7; 2.Mos 16,12; 4.Mos 14,35)28Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: (4.Mos 14,2; 4.Mos 14,21; 4.Mos 14,23; 4.Mos 26,65)29your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, (2.Mos 30,14; 4.Mos 1,3; 4.Mos 1,45; 4.Mos 26,64; 5.Mos 1,35; 1.Kor 10,5; Heb 3,17)30not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. (1.Mos 14,22; 4.Mos 13,6; 4.Mos 14,6; 4.Mos 14,38)31But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. (4.Mos 14,3; 5.Mos 1,39; Salm 106,24)32But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. (4.Mos 14,29)33And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. (4.Mos 32,13; 5.Mos 2,14; Salm 95,10; Salm 107,40; Ez 23,35)34According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ (4.Mos 13,25; Ez 4,6)35I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.” (4.Mos 14,27; 4.Mos 23,19)36And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— (4.Mos 13,32)37the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord. (1.Kor 10,10; Heb 3,17; Judas 1,5)38Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive. (4.Mos 13,16; 4.Mos 26,65)
Israel Defeated in Battle
39When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. (2.Mos 33,4)40And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” (5.Mos 1,41)41But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? (2.Krøn 24,20)42Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. (5.Mos 1,42; 5.Mos 31,17)43For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” (4.Mos 13,29; 4.Mos 14,25; 4.Mos 14,45)44But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. (5.Mos 1,43; 1.Sam 4,3)45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah. (4.Mos 14,43; 4.Mos 21,3; 5.Mos 1,44; Dom 1,17)