Bitter and deeply humiliating was the judgment immediately pronounced. "The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." With rebellious Israel they must die before the crossing of the Jordan. Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin might do among the people, He could not remit its punishment.

Bitter og dybt ydmygende var den dom, der straks blev afsagt over dem. "Herren sagde til Moses og Aron: "Fordi I ikke troede på mig og helligede mig for israelitternes øjne, skal I ikke komme til at føre denne forsamling ind i det land, jeg vil give dem!" Sammen med det oprørske Israel måtte de dø før overgangen over Jordan. Hvis Moses og Aron havde ophøjet sig selv eller var blevet ophidset på grund af Guds advarsel og irettesættelse, ville deres synd have været meget større. Men de kunne ikke anklages for overlagt synd. De var blevet overvundet af en pludselig fristelse, og de angrede øjeblikkelig og af hjertet. Herren antog deres anger, selv om han ikke kunne eftergive dem straffen på grund af den skade, deres synd kunne forvolde blandt folket.