The People Rebel
1That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
10But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
13Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’
17“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.14:25 Or the Sea of Reeds”
26The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27“How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
36So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. 38Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.
39When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”
41But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! 42Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
44Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
Watu Wanaasi
114:1 Mwa 27:38; Kut 33:4; Hes 25:6; Kum 1:45; Amu 20:23-26; 2Sam 3:32; Ay 31:29Usiku ule watu wote wa jumuiya walipaza sauti zao na kulia kwa sauti kuu. 214:2 Kut 16:3; 15:24; Ebr 3:16; Hes 11:1; 16:13; 20:4; 21:5Waisraeli wote wakanungʼunika dhidi ya Mose na Aroni, nalo kusanyiko lote wakawaambia, “Laiti tungekuwa tumefia humo nchi ya Misri! Au humu kwenye hili jangwa! 314:3 Kut 5:21; Kum 1:39; Mwa 34:29; Za 109:11; Isa 33:4; Eze 7:21; 25:7; 26:5; Mdo 7:39Kwa nini Bwana anatuleta katika nchi hii ili tufe kwa upanga? Wake zetu na watoto wetu watachukuliwa kama nyara. Je, isingekuwa bora kwetu kurudi Misri?” 414:4 Neh 9:17; Mdo 7:36; Ebr 11:15Wakasemezana wao kwa wao, “Inatupasa kumchagua kiongozi na kurudi Misri.”
514:5 Law 9:24; 19:2; Hes 16:4, 22, 45; 20:6; Yos 5:12; Eze 1:28; 2Sam 14:4; 1Nya 21:16Ndipo Mose na Aroni wakaanguka kifudifudi mbele ya kusanyiko lote la Kiisraeli lililokusanyika hapo. 614:6 Hes 11:28; Mwa 37:29-34; Amu 11:35; 2Sam 13:31; 1Fal 19:1; Ezr 9:3; Es 4:1; Mk 14:63Yoshua mwana wa Nuni na Kalebu mwana wa Yefune, waliokuwa miongoni mwa watu wale waliokwenda kuipeleleza nchi, wakararua nguo zao, 714:7 Hes 13:27; Kum 1:25wakasema na kusanyiko lote la Kiisraeli, wakawaambia, “Nchi tuliyopita katikati yake na kuipeleleza ni nzuri sana sana. 814:8 Kum 1:21; 7:8; 10:15; Za 18:19; 22:8; 37:23; 41:11; 56:9; 147:11; Mit 11:20; Isa 62:4; Mal 2:17; Hes 13:27Ikiwa Bwana anapendezwa nasi, atatuongoza kuingia katika nchi ile, nchi itiririkayo maziwa na asali, naye atatupa nchi hiyo. 914:9 Kum 1:21, 26; 7:18; 9:7; 20:1; Mwa 21:22; 26:24; 2Nya 13:12; 32:7; Za 118:6; Hag 2:4; 1:13; Yer 15:20; 41:18; 42:11; 46:28Ila tu msimwasi Bwana. Wala msiwaogope watu wa nchi hiyo, kwa sababu tutawameza. Ulinzi wao umeondoka, lakini Bwana yupo pamoja nasi. Msiwaogope.”
1014:10 Kut 17:4; 24:16; Law 9:24Lakini kusanyiko lote likazungumza juu ya kuwapiga kwa mawe. Ndipo utukufu wa Bwana ukaonekana katika Hema la Kukutania kwa Waisraeli wote. 1114:11 Kut 3:20; 4:17; 10:1; 23:21; Hes 15:31; 16:30; 1Sam 2:17; Yn 3:25; Eze 31:14; Mal 1:13; Kum 1:32; Za 78:22; 106:24Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Watu hawa watanidharau mpaka lini? Wataendelea kukataa kuniamini mimi mpaka lini, ingawa nimetenda ishara za miujiza miongoni mwao? 1214:12 Kut 5:3; 33:10; Kum 9:14; 29:20; 32:26; Za 109:13Nitawapiga kwa tauni na kuwaangamiza, lakini nitakufanya wewe kuwa taifa kubwa lenye nguvu kuliko wao.”
1314:13 Kut 32:11; Za 106:23Mose akamwambia Bwana, “Ndipo Wamisri watasikia juu ya jambo hili! Kwa uweza wako uliwapandisha watu hawa kutoka miongoni mwao. 1414:14 Kut 13:21; 15:14; 33:16; Hes 5:3; 16:3; Yos 2:9; Kum 5:4; 34:10Nao watawaambia wenyeji wa nchi hii jambo hili. Wao tayari wameshasikia kwamba wewe, Ee Bwana, upo pamoja na watu hawa, na kuwa wewe, Ee Bwana, umeonekana uso kwa uso, nalo wingu lako hukaa juu yao. Tena wewe unawatangulia kwa nguzo ya wingu mchana na kwa nguzo ya moto usiku. 15Ikiwa utawaua watu hawa wote mara moja, mataifa ambayo yamesikia taarifa hii kukuhusu wewe watasema, 1614:16 Hes 11:12; Kut 32:12; Yos 7:7‘Bwana alishindwa kuwaingiza watu hawa katika nchi aliyowaahidi kwa kiapo; hivyo akawaua jangwani.’
17“Basi sasa nguvu za Bwana na zionekane, sawasawa na vile ulivyosema: 1814:18 Kut 20:5-6; 34:6; Za 145:8; Yon 4:2; Yak 5:11‘Bwana si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo na mwenye kusamehe dhambi na uasi. Lakini haachi kumwadhibu mwenye hatia, huadhibu watoto kwa ajili ya dhambi ya baba zao hata kizazi cha tatu na cha nne.’ 1914:19 Kut 34:9; 1Fal 8:34; Za 85:2; 103:3; 10:6; 65; 78:38Kwa kadiri ya upendo wako mkuu, usamehe dhambi ya watu hawa, kama vile ulivyowasamehe tangu wakati walitoka Misri mpaka sasa.”
2014:20 Kut 34:6; Za 99:8; 106:23; Mik 7:18-20Bwana akajibu, “Nimewasamehe kama ulivyoomba. 2114:21 Hes 14:28; Kum 32:40; Amu 8:19; Rut 3:13; 1Sam 14:39; 19:6; Isa 6:3; 40:5; 49:18; Yer 4:2; Eze 5:11; Law 9:6; Za 72:19; Hab 2:14Hata hivyo, kwa hakika kama niishivyo, na kwa hakika kama utukufu wa Bwana uijazavyo dunia yote, 2214:22 Kut 14:11; 17:7; 32:1; Za 81:7; 1Kor 10:5hakuna hata mmoja wa watu hawa ambao waliuona utukufu wangu na ishara za miujiza niliyotenda huko Misri na huko jangwani, lakini ambaye hakunitii na akanijaribu mara hizi kumi, 2314:23 Kut 33:1; Hes 32:11; Kum 1:34; Ebr 3:18; Za 95:11; 106:26hakuna hata mmoja wao atakayeona nchi niliyowaahidi baba zao kwa kiapo. Hakuna hata mmoja ambaye amenidharau atakayeiona. 2414:24 Hes 13:6; 26:65; 32:12; Kum 1:36; Yos 14:8, 14; Za 25:13; 37:9-11Lakini kwa sababu mtumishi wangu Kalebu ana roho ya tofauti na ananifuata kwa moyo wote, nitamwingiza katika nchi aliyoiendea, nao wazao wake watairithi. 2514:25 Mwa 14:7; 10:18; Kum 1:40; Kut 23:31; Hes 21:4; 1Fal 9:26Kwa kuwa Waamaleki na Wakanaani wanaishi katika mabonde, kesho geukeni mwelekee jangwani kwa kufuata njia iendayo Bahari ya Shamu.”14:25 Yaani Bahari Nyekundu au Bahari ya Mafunjo.
2614:26 Kut 16:12; Kum 1:34-35Bwana akamwambia Mose na Aroni: 2714:27 Kut 16:28; Mt 17:17; Mk 9:19; Kut 16:12; 1Kor 10:10“Jumuiya hii ovu itanungʼunika dhidi yangu hadi lini? Nimesikia malalamiko ya hawa Waisraeli wanaonungʼunika. 2814:28 Hes 33:56; Ebr 3:17Hivyo waambie, ‘Hakika kama niishivyo, asema Bwana, nitawafanyia vitu vilevile nilivyosikia mkisema: 2914:29 Hes 1:45; 26:65; 32:13; 1Kor 10:5; Ebr 3:17; Yud 5; Kut 30:12Kila mmoja wenu mwenye umri wa miaka ishirini au zaidi ambaye alihesabiwa na amenungʼunika dhidi yangu, miili yenu itaanguka katika jangwa hili. 3014:30 Kut 6:8; Kum 32:40; Neh 9:15; Za 106:26; Eze 20:5; 36:7; Hes 13:6; 11:28Hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayeingia katika nchi niliyoapa kwa mkono ulioinuliwa kuwa makao yenu, isipokuwa Kalebu mwana wa Yefune, na Yoshua mwana wa Nuni. 3114:31 Law 26:43Lakini watoto wenu ambao mlisema watachukuliwa kama mateka, nitawaingiza humo ili waifurahie nchi ambayo ninyi mmeikataa. 3214:32 1Kor 10:5Lakini ninyi, miili yenu itaanguka katika jangwa hili. 3314:33 Kut 16:35; Mdo 13:18; Ebr 3:9Watoto wenu watakuwa wachungaji wa mifugo hapa kwa miaka arobaini, wakiteseka kwa ajili ya kukosa uaminifu kwenu, hadi mwili wa mtu wenu wa mwisho ulale katika jangwa hili. 3414:34 Hes 13:25; 14:32, 33; Za 95:10; Eze 4:6; Za 77:8; Ebr 4:1Kwa miaka arobaini, mwaka mmoja kwa kila siku katika zile siku arobaini mlizoipeleleza nchi, mtateseka kwa ajili ya dhambi zenu, na kujua jinsi ilivyo vibaya kunifanya mimi kuwa adui yenu.’ 3514:35 Hes 23:19Mimi Bwana nimesema, na hakika nitafanya mambo haya kwa jumuiya hii yote ovu, ambayo imefungamana pamoja dhidi yangu. Watakutana na mwisho wao katika jangwa hili; hapa ndipo watafia.”
3614:36 Hes 13:4-16, 32Hivyo watu wale ambao Mose alikuwa amewatuma kuipeleleza nchi, waliorudi na kuifanya jumuiya nzima kunungʼunika dhidi ya Mose kwa kueneza taarifa mbaya kuhusu hiyo nchi: 3714:37 Hes 13:32; 16:49; 25:9; 26:1; 31:16; 1Kor 10:10; Ebr 3:17; Kum 4:3watu hawa waliohusika kueneza taarifa mbaya kuhusu hiyo nchi walipigwa na kuanguka kwa tauni mbele za Bwana. 3814:38 Hes 13:4-16; Yos 14:6Miongoni mwa watu waliokwenda kuipeleleza hiyo nchi, ni Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, na Kalebu mwana wa Yefune peke yao waliosalia.
3914:39 Kut 33:4; Mit 19:3; Mt 8:12; Ebr 12:17Mose alipotoa taarifa hii kwa Waisraeli wote, waliomboleza kwa uchungu. 4014:40 Hes 13:17; Kut 9:27; Kum 1:41Mapema asubuhi siku iliyofuata walipanda juu kuelekea kwenye nchi ya vilima virefu, wakasema, “Tumetenda dhambi. Tutakwea mpaka mahali Bwana alipotuahidi.”
4114:41 2Nya 24:20; Ay 9:4; Isa 59:1, 2; Yer 2:37Lakini Mose akasema, “Kwa nini hamtii amri ya Bwana? Jambo hili halitafanikiwa! 4214:42 Kum 1:42Msipande juu, kwa kuwa Bwana hayupo pamoja nanyi. Mtashindwa na adui zenu, 4314:43 Amu 1:19; 6:16; 3:13; Hes 13:29; Mwa 39:23; Kum 21:8; Yos 6:27; 1Sam 3:19; 18:14; 2Nya 1:1kwa kuwa Waamaleki na Wakanaani watapambana nanyi huko. Kwa sababu mmemwacha Bwana, hatakuwa pamoja nanyi, ninyi mtaanguka kwa upanga.”
4414:44 Kum 1:43; Hes 31:6Hata hivyo, kwa kiburi chao walipanda juu kuelekea nchi ya vilima virefu, ijapokuwa Mose hakutoka kambini wala Sanduku la Agano la Bwana. 4514:45 Hes 21:3; Kum 1:44; Yos 12:14; 15:30; 19:4; Amu 1:17; 1Sam 30:30; 1Nya 4:30Ndipo Waamaleki na Wakanaani walioishi katika hiyo nchi ya vilima wakateremka na kuwashambulia, wakawapiga njia yote hadi Horma.
