MOSES INTERCEDES FOR THE PEOPLE

Moses Intercedes for the People. But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up these people from among them, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, LORD, are among these people [of Israel], that You, LORD, are seen face to face, while Your cloud stands over them; and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

AN UNBELIEVING AND REBELIOUS PEOPLE

An unbelieving and rebellious people. Then all the congregation [of Israel] raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night. All the Israelites murmured [in discontent] against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!

THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS

The majority and minority reports. Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it. “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”

MIRIAM AND AARON OPPOSE MOSES

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses. Now Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, “Has the LORD really spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken also through us?” And the LORD heard i

ISRAEL LEAVES SINAI

Israel Leaves Sinai. On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year [since leaving Egypt], the cloud [of the Lord’s presence] was lifted from over the tabernacle of the Testimony,
and the Israelites set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud [of the LORD’S guiding presence] settled down in the Wilderness of Paran