²¹ and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge^(A) you! You have made us obnoxious^(B) to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword^(C) in their hand to kill us.”^(D)

³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!^(A) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food^(B) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”^(C)

³ But the people were thirsty^(A) for water there, and they grumbled^(B) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die^(C) of thirst?”

Fire From the Lord

11 Now the people complained^(A) about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord,^(B) and when he heard them his anger was aroused.^(C) Then fire from the Lord burned among them^(D) and consumed^(E) some of the outskirts of the camp.

²² not one of those who saw my glory and the signs^(A) I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times^(B)—

⁴ Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,^(A) that we and our livestock should die here?^(B)

⁵ they spoke against God^(A) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt^(B) to die in the wilderness?^(C) There is no bread! There is no water!^(D) And we detest this miserable food!”^(E)

The Golden Calf

⁷ Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger^(A) of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious^(B) against the Lord.^(C)