Numbers 14:7-16

⁷And they spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: 'The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.

⁸If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it unto us — a land which floweth with milk and honey.

⁹Only rebel not against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defence is removed from over them, and the LORD is with us; fear them not.'

¹⁰But all the congregation bade stone them with stones, when the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel.

¹¹And the LORD said unto Moses: 'How long will this people despise Me? and how long will they not believe in Me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them?

¹²I will smite them with the pestilence, and destroy them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.'

¹³And Moses said unto the LORD: 'When the Egyptians shall hear — for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them —

¹⁴they will say to the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that Thou LORD art in the midst of this people; inasmuch as Thou LORD art seen face to face, and Thy cloud standeth over them, and Thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night;

¹⁵now if Thou shalt kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of Thee will speak, saying:

¹⁶Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which He swore unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness.