5. Moses and Aaron bowed down to pray in front of the crowd.
6. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in sorrow
7. and said:We saw the land ourselves, and it's very good.
8. If we obey the Lord, he will surely give us that land rich with milk and honey.
9. So don't rebel. We have no reason to be afraid of the people who live there. The Lord is on our side, and they won't stand a chance against us!
10. The crowd threatened to stone Moses and Aaron to death. But just then, the Lord appeared in a cloud at the sacred tent.
11. The Lord said to Moses, “I have done great things for these people, and they still reject me by refusing to believe in my power.
12. So they will no longer be my people. I will destroy them, but I will make you the ancestor of a nation even stronger than theirs.”
17. Show us your great power, Lord. You promised
18. that you love to show mercy and kindness. And you said that you are very patient, but that you will punish everyone guilty of doing wrong—not only them but their children and grandchildren as well.
19. You are merciful, and you treat people better than they deserve. So please forgive these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.
20. Then the Lord said to Moses:In answer to your prayer, I do forgive them.
21. But as surely as I live and my power has no limit,
24. But my servant Caleb isn't like the others. So because he has faith in me, I will allow him to cross into Canaan, and his descendants will settle there.
25. Now listen, Moses! The Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys of Canaan. And tomorrow morning, you'll need to turn round and head back into the desert towards the Red Sea.