Numbers 14:5-10, 22-24, 26-38

Then Moses and Aaron bowed facedown in front of all the Israelites gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who had explored the land, tore their clothes. They said to all of the Israelites, “The land we explored is very good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land and give us that fertile land. Don’t turn against the LORD! Don’t be afraid of the people in that land! We will chew them up. They have no protection, but the LORD is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.” Then all the people talked about killing them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the Meeting Tent to all the Israelites.

All these people saw my glory and the miracles I did in Egypt and in the desert, but they disobeyed me and tested me ten times. So not one of them will see the land I promised to their ancestors. No one who rejected me will see that land. But my servant Caleb thinks differently and follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land he has already seen, and his children will own that land.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “How long will these evil people complain about me? I have heard the grumbling and complaining of these Israelites. So tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says. I heard what you said, and as surely as I live, I will do those very things to you: You will die in this desert. Every one of you who is twenty years old or older and who was counted with the people—all of you who complained against me—will die. Not one of you will enter the land where I promised you would live; only Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun will go in. You said that your children would be taken away, but I will bring them into the land to enjoy what you refused. As for you, you will die in this desert. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years. Because you were not loyal, they will suffer until you lie dead in the desert. For forty years you will suffer for your sins—a year for each of the forty days you explored the land. You will know me as your enemy.’ I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will certainly do these things to all these evil people who have come together against me. So they will all die here in this desert.” The men Moses had sent to explore the land had returned and spread complaints among all the people. They had given a bad report about the land. The men who gave a very bad report died; the LORD killed them with a terrible sickness. Only two of the men who explored the land did not die—Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh.