Liber Numeri 14
1 Igitur vociferans omnis turba flevit nocte illa,
That night, all the Israeli people cried loudly.
2 et murmurati sunt contra Moysen et Aaron cuncti filii Israël, dicentes:
The next day they all complained to Aaron and Moses/me. All the men said, “We wish that we had died in Egypt, or in this desert!
3 Utinam mortui essemus in Ægypto: et in hac vasta solitudine utinam pereamus, et non inducat nos Dominus in terram istam, ne cadamus gladio, et uxores ac liberi nostri ducantur captivi. Nonne melius est reverti in Ægyptum?
Why is Yahweh bringing us to this land, where we men will be killed with swords? And our wives and children will be taken away [to be slaves]. [Instead of going to Canaan]. It would be better for us to return to Egypt!”
4 Dixeruntque alter ad alterum: Constituamus nobis ducem, et revertamur in Ægyptum.
Then [some of] them said to each other, “We should choose a leader who will take us back to Egypt!”
5 Quo audito, Moyses et Aaron ceciderunt proni in terram coram omni multitudine filiorum Israël.
Then Aaron and Moses/I bowed down [to pray] in front of all the Israeli people who had gathered there.
6 At vero Josue filius Nun et Caleb filius Jephone, qui et ipsi lustraverant terram, sciderunt vestimenta sua,
Joshua and Caleb, two of the men who had explored the land, tore their clothes [because they were very dismayed].
7 et ad omnem multitudinem filiorum Israël locuti sunt: Terra, quam circuivimus, valde bona est.
They said to the Israeli people, “The land that we explored is very good.
8 Si propitius fuerit Dominus, inducet nos in eam, et tradet humum lacte et melle manantem.
If Yahweh is pleased with us, he will lead us into that very fertile [IDM] land, and he will give it to us.
9 Nolite rebelles esse contra Dominum: neque timeatis populum terræ hujus, quia sicut panem ita eos possumus devorare. Recessit ab eis omne præsidium: Dominus nobiscum est, nolite metuere.
So do not rebel against Yahweh! And do not be afraid of the people in that land! We will (gobble them up/completely destroy them) [MET]! They do not have anyone who will protect them, but Yahweh will be with us [and help us]. So do not be afraid of them!”
10 Cumque clamaret omnis multitudo, et lapidibus eos vellet opprimere, apparuit gloria Domini super tectum fœderis cunctis filiis Israël.
Then all the Israeli people talked about [killing Caleb and Joshua by] throwing stones at them. But [suddenly] Yahweh’s glory appeared to them at the Sacred Tent.
11 Et dixit Dominus ad Moysen: Usquequo detrahet mihi populus iste? quousque non credent mihi, in omnibus signis quæ feci coram eis?
Then Yahweh said to Moses/me, “How long will these people reject me [RHQ]? I am tired of them not believing in what I [can do], in spite of all the miracles I have performed among them [RHQ]!
12 Feriam igitur eos pestilentia, atque consumam: te autem faciam principem super gentem magnam, et fortiorem quam hæc est.
So I will cause a (plague/widespread sickness) to strike them and get rid of them. But I will cause your [descendants] to become a great nation. They will be a nation that is much greater and stronger than these people are.”
13 Et ait Moyses ad Dominum: Ut audiant Ægyptii, de quorum medio eduxisti populum istum,
But Moses/I replied to Yahweh, “[Please do not do that, because] the people of Egypt will hear about it! You brought these Israeli people from Egypt by your great power,
14 et habitatores terræ hujus, qui audierunt quod tu, Domine, in populo isto sis, et facie videaris ad faciem, et nubes tua protegat illos, et in columna nubis præcedas eos per diem, et in columna ignis per noctem:
and the people of Egypt will tell that to the [descendants of Canaan] who live in this land. Yahweh, they have already heard about you. They know that you have (been with/helped) these people and that they have seen you face-to-face. They have heard that your cloud is like a huge pillar that stays over them, and by using that cloud you lead them during the day, and the cloud becomes like a fire at night [to give them light].
15 quod occideris tantam multitudinem quasi unum hominem, et dicant:
If you kill these people all at one time, the people-groups who have heard about your [power] will say,
16 Non poterat introducere populum in terram pro qua juraverat: idcirco occidit eos in solitudine?
‘Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land that he promised to give to them, so he killed them in the desert.’
17 Magnificetur ergo fortitudo Domini sicut jurasti, dicens:
“So Yahweh, now show that you are very powerful. You said,
18 Dominus patiens et multæ misericordiæ, auferens iniquitatem et scelera, nullumque innoxium derelinquens, qui visitas peccata patrum in filios in tertiam et quartam generationem.
‘I do not quickly become angry; instead, I love people very much, and I forgive people for having sinned and having disobeyed my laws. But I will always punish [LIT] people who are guilty of doing what is wrong. When parents sin, I will punish them, but I will also punish their children and their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren and their great-great-grandchildren.’
19 Dimitte, obsecro, peccatum populi hujus secundum magnitudinem misericordiæ tuæ, sicut propitius fuisti egredientibus de Ægypto usque ad locum istum.
So, because you love people like that, forgive these people for the sins that they have committed, just like you have continued to forgive them ever since they left Egypt.”
20 Dixitque Dominus: Dimisi juxta verbum tuum.
Then Yahweh replied, “I have forgiven them, as you requested me to.
21 Vivo ego: et implebitur gloria Domini universa terra.
But, just as certainly as I live and that people all over the world [can see] my (glory/glorious power), [I solemnly declare this: ]
22 Attamen omnes homines qui viderunt majestatem meam, et signa quæ feci in Ægypto et in solitudine, et tentaverunt me jam per decem vices, nec obedierunt voci meæ,
All these people saw my glory and all the miracles that I performed in Egypt and in the desert, but they disobeyed me, and many times they tested [whether they could continue to do evil things without my punishing them].
23 non videbunt terram pro qua juravi patribus eorum, nec quisquam ex illis qui detraxit mihi, intuebitur eam.
Because of that, not one of them will see the land that I promised their ancestors [that I would give to them]. No one who rejected me will see that land.
24 Servum meum Caleb, qui plenus alio spiritu secutus est me, inducam in terram hanc, quam circuivit; et semen ejus possidebit eam.
But Caleb, who serves me [well], is different from the others. He obeys me completely. So I will bring him into that land that he has already seen, and his descendants will inherit/possess some of it.
25 Quoniam Amalecites et Chananæus habitant in vallibus. Cras movete castra, et revertimini in solitudinem per viam maris Rubri.
So, since the descendants of Amalek and Canaan who are living in the valleys [in Canaan are very strong], when you leave here tomorrow, [instead of traveling toward Canaan], go back along the road through the desert towards the Red Sea.”
26 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen et Aaron, dicens:
Then Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me,
27 Usquequo multitudo hæc pessima murmurat contra me? querelas filiorum Israël audivi.
“How long will the wicked people of this nation keep complaining about me [RHQ]? I have heard everything that they have grumbled/complained against me.
28 Dic ergo eis: Vivo ego, ait Dominus: sicut locuti estis audiente me, sic faciam vobis.
So now tell them this: ‘Just as certainly as I, Yahweh, live, I will do exactly what you said would happen.
29 In solitudine hac jacebunt cadavera vestra. Omnes qui numerati estis a viginti annis et supra, et murmurastis contra me,
[I will cause] all of you to die here in this desert! Because you grumbled about me, none of you who are more than 20 years old and who were counted when Moses counted everyone
30 non intrabitis terram, super quam levavi manum meam ut habitare vos facerem, præter Caleb filium Jephone, et Josue filium Nun.
will enter the land that I solemnly promised to give to you. Only Caleb and Joshua will enter that land.
31 Parvulos autem vestros, de quibus dixistis quod prædæ hostibus forent, introducam, ut videant terram, quæ vobis displicuit.
You said that your children would be taken from you [to become slaves], but I will take them into the land, and they will enjoy living in the land that you (rejected/said that you could not conquer).
32 Vestra cadavera jacebunt in solitudine.
But as for you [adults], you will die here in this desert.
33 Filii vestri erunt vagi in deserto annis quadraginta, et portabunt fornicationem vestram, donec consumantur cadavera patrum in deserto,
And like shepherds [wander around in the desert as they take care of their sheep], your children will wander around in this desert for 40 years. Because you adults were not loyal/faithful to me, your children will suffer until you all die in the desert.
34 juxta numerum quadraginta dierum, quibus considerastis terram: annus pro die imputabitur. Et quadraginta annis recipietis iniquitates vestras, et scietis ultionem meam:
You will suffer for your sins for 40 years. That will be one year for each of the 40 days that the twelve men explored Canaan land. And I will be like an enemy to you.’
35 quoniam sicut locutus sum, ita faciam omni multitudini huic pessimæ, quæ consurrexit adversum me: in solitudine hac deficiet, et morietur.
[This will certainly happen because] I, Yahweh, have said it! I will do these things to every one in this group who conspired against me. They (conspired against/decided together to reject) me here in the desert, and they will all die right here in this desert!”
36 Igitur omnes viri, quos miserat Moyses ad contemplandam terram, et qui reversi murmurare fecerant contra eum omnem multitudinem, detrahentes terræ quod esset mala,
Then the ten men [who had explored Canaan and] who had urged the people to rebel against Yahweh by giving reports that discouraged the people
37 mortui sunt atque percussi in conspectu Domini.
were immediately struck with a plague/disease that Yahweh sent, and they died.
38 Josue autem filius Nun, et Caleb filius Jephone, vixerunt ex omnibus qui perrexerant ad considerandam terram.
Of the twelve men who had explored Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.
39 Locutusque est Moyses universa verba hæc ad omnes filios Israël, et luxit populus nimis.
When Moses/I reported to the Israeli people what Yahweh had said, many of them were very sad.
40 Et ecce mane primo surgentes ascenderunt verticem montis, atque dixerunt: Parati sumus ascendere ad locum, de quo Dominus locutus est: quia peccavimus.
So the people got up early the next morning and started to go toward the hilly area in Canaan. They said, “[We know that] we have sinned, but now we [are ready to] enter the land that Yahweh promised to give to us.”
41 Quibus Moyses: Cur, inquit, transgredimini verbum Domini, quod vobis non cedet in prosperum?
But Moses/I said, “Yahweh commanded you [to return to the desert, so] why are you now disobeying him [RHQ]? It will not (succeed/be possible).
42 nolite ascendere: non enim est Dominus vobiscum: ne corruatis coram inimicis vestris.
Do not try to enter the land now! [If you try], your enemies will defeat you, because Yahweh will not (be with/help) you.
43 Amalecites et Chananæus ante vos sunt, quorum gladio corruetis, eo quod nolueritis acquiescere Domino: nec erit Dominus vobiscum.
When you begin to fight the descendants of Amalek and Canaan, they will slaughter you! Yahweh will abandon you, because you have abandoned him.”
44 At illi contenebrati ascenderunt in verticem montis. Arca autem testamenti Domini et Moyses non recesserunt de castris.
But even though Moses/I did not leave the camp, and the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments was not taken from the camp, the people began to go towards the hilly area in Canaan.
45 Descenditque Amalecites et Chananæus, qui habitabat in monte: et percutiens eos atque concidens, persecutus est eos usque Horma.
Then the descendants of Amalek and Canaan who lived in that hilly area came down and attacked them and chased them as far [south] as [the town of] Hormah.
