In the wilderness east of the Jordan, across from the Red Sea, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab, Moses gathered the Israelites. It was the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month. There, Moses spoke all that the Lord had commanded him, after Israel had defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan.
Standing in the plains of Moab, Moses began to teach the law, saying, "The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and go to the hill country of the Amorites, to the neighboring peoples in the plains, the mountains, the Negev, and the coastland—to Lebanon and all the way to the Euphrates River. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of it, just as I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.'"
Then Moses reminded them, "At that time I said to you, 'You are too many for me to lead alone. The Lord has increased you until you are as countless as the stars. May He increase you a thousand times more! But how can I carry all your problems, burdens, and disputes by myself? Choose wise and respected men from each tribe, and I will appoint them as your leaders.'"
The people agreed, and Moses chose capable men—commanders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens—to judge fairly among the tribes. He told them, "Hear both small and great alike. Show no partiality, and do not fear man, for judgment belongs to God."
Then Moses continued the story: "We left Horeb and traveled through that vast and dreadful wilderness until we reached Kadesh Barnea. There I said to you, 'You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord your God gives you. Go up and take it; do not fear or be discouraged.'
But you came to me and said, 'Let us send men to explore the land first.' The idea seemed good, so I sent twelve men, one from each tribe. They went up into the hill country, reached the Valley of Eshcol, and brought back fruit from the land, saying, 'It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.'
Yet you refused to go up. You complained in your tents, saying, 'The Lord hates us; He brought us from Egypt to let the Amorites destroy us. The people are taller and stronger than we are; their cities have walls reaching to the sky, and we saw the Anakites there.'
Then I told you, 'Do not be afraid. The Lord your God will fight for you, just as He did in Egypt and in the wilderness, where He carried you as a father carries his child.' But still, you did not trust Him, though He went ahead of you by fire at night and cloud by day, showing you the way."
The Lord heard their words and swore in His anger, "None of this wicked generation will see the good land I promised, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will receive it because he followed Me wholeheartedly."
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Because of them, you too will not enter the land. But Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, will lead the people. Strengthen him."
The Lord also said, "Your little ones, whom you said would be captured, will enter the land and possess it. But you—turn back toward the Red Sea."
The people then admitted their sin and said, "We will go up and fight." They armed themselves and went into the hills, but the Lord warned, "Do not go up, for I am not with you." Still, they went, and the Amorites came out against them like swarming bees, chasing them from Seir to Hormah.
Defeated and humiliated, they returned and wept before the Lord, but He did not listen. So they remained in Kadesh for many days, as long as they stayed there.