All Israel had fled in alarm at the cry of the doomed sinners who went down into the pit, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also." "But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, ye have killed the people of the Lord." And they were about to proceed to violence against their faithful, self-sacrificing leaders. A manifestation of the divine glory was seen in the cloud above the tabernacle, and a voice from the cloud spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment."

Hele Israel flygtede rædselsslagne, da de hørte skrigene fra de syndere, der styrtede i afgrunden, for folket sagde ved den lejlighed: "Blot ikke jorden skal opsluge os!" Men dagen efter knurrede hele Israels menighed mod Moses og Aron og sagde: "Det er Eder, der har dræbt Herrens folk!" Folket skulle lige til at øve vold imod deres trofaste, selvopofrende ledere. Da kom Herrens herlighed til syne i skyen over åbenbaringsteltet, og en røst fra skyen sagde til Moses og Aron: "Fjern Eder fra denne menighed, så vil jeg i et nu tilintetgøre dem!"