A reading from the Book of Numbers.

Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.

And 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?

Why 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? And they said to one

another, let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron

fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.

And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jafuna, who were among those who had spied out

the land, tore their clothes, and 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.

If 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. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land,

for they are bred for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us.

Do not fear them. Then 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.

And 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? I will strike them

with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and

mightier than they.

But Moses said to the Lord, Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this

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