The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘In what capacity do you seek to enter the land?’ This is analogous to a shepherd who went out to herd the king’s flocks and the flocks were taken. The shepherd sought to enter the king’s palace. The king said to him: 'If you enter now, what will the people say?
They will say that you caused the flocks to be taken.'50Therefore, go back and try to retrieve the flock. Here too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Is it to your credit that you took out six hundred thousand, buried them in the wilderness, and you are taking in another generation? Now they will say that the generation of the wilderness has no share in the World to Come. Rather, remain alongside them and come with them,’ as it is stated: “He brings the heads of the people; he performed the righteousness of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 33:21). That is why it is written: “You will not bring this assembly” – but rather, the one that departed with you.