Why? Because I am the Lord. And I will say what I want to say, and that thing will happen! And I won’t let the time stretch out. Those troubles are coming soon—in your own lifetime. You rebellious people, when I say something, I make it happen.” The Lord my Master said those things.
The people started complaining about their troubles. The Lord heard their complaints. The Lord heard these things and became angry. Fire from the Lord burned among the people. The fire burned some of the areas at the edge of the camp.
The people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. All the people came together and said to Moses and Aaron, “We should have died in Egypt or in the desert. {That would have been better than being killed in this new land.}
I made a promise to their ancestors. [186] I promised that I would give them that land. But none of these people who turned against me will ever enter that land!
‘None of the people who came from Egypt and are 20 years old or older will be allowed to see this land. I made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised to give this land to these people. But they have not truly followed me. {So they will not get this land}.
It was 38 years from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until the time we crossed Zered Valley. All the fighting men of that generation in our camp had died. The Lord had sworn (promised) that that would happen.