Numbers 20:3 - Good News Translation (US Version) and complained: “It would have been better if we had died in front of the Lord's Tent along with the other Israelites. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And the people contended with Moses, and said, Would that we had died when our brethren died [in the plague] before the Lord! [Num. 16:49.] American Standard Version (1901) And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah! Common English Bible Then the people confronted Moses and said to him, “If only we too had died when our brothers perished in the LORD’s presence! Catholic Public Domain Version And as it turned into sedition, they said: "If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And making a sedition, they said: Would God we had perished among our brethren before the Lord. |
They complained to Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses answered, “Why are you complaining? Why are you putting the Lord to the test?”
Those who died in the war were better off than those who died later, who starved slowly to death, with no food to keep them alive.
The people began to complain to the Lord about their troubles. When the Lord heard them, he became angry and sent fire on the people. It burned among them and destroyed one end of the camp.
Why is the Lord taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?”
The number of people who died was 14,700, not counting those who died in Korah's rebellion.