Through my reading of the chapters in Numbers, I would say that there are many factors that lead to the wilderness generation’s condemnation. In the opening chapters of this narrative, the beginning of the journey that the Israelites embark on to the Promised Land is discussed. While one might believe that these people would be excited to journey to the land that God has so graciously appointed theirs, the Israelites are hesitant and negative about every aspect of the trip. Even when they arrive, they are skeptical that God has actually brought them here for a reason. In response to this, God becomes angry and places a 40 year plague among them which disables them from entering the Promised Land. The fact that they did not trust in and show gratitude is what I believe plays a large role in their condemnation. Even Moses, a fervent follower of God and great leader to the people, suffers and dies. I believe that the reason for Moses’s condemnation is seen in the closing passage of Deuteronomy 34, wherein it is discussed that Moses was and forever will be the prophet with whom God was closest to and had the same relationship with. Moses’s death is symbolic of the end of one chapter and the start of a new- one of hope and fresh starts for the future. Though Moses is no longer able to be the connection between the Israelites and God, through reading these narratives of the Old Testament, we are able to reflect on and appreciate his work and the virtues he possessed. Again, through the closing passage of Deuteronomy 34, we are able to see a true end of a chapter as well as new hope for the future. The text means to say that the events of Moses’s generation, while upsetting and not showing true faith in God, serve as examples and set a benchmark for which the characters of the next narratives of the Bible will exceed.
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Alyssa's Blog 
I agree that the condemnation of Moses’s generation occurs because they become negative about their journey that God has sent them on. The Israelites begin to question their act of leaving captivity in Egypt, because at least there they had a predictable lifestyle. God becomes quite angry at the betrayal of the Israelites, I agree that the death of Moses is symbolic of a new beginning in which the Israelites are in their full capacities to be pure and follow the commandments of God. It is interesting that even though Deuteronomy ends on a dark note with the death of Moses, there is hope that lies beyond the text itself in Israel being able to enter into communion among one another and with God at some point in the future.
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I like the way you describe how the Israelites weren’t as graceful as they should have been for all that God gave them. Given how God freed them from slavery it was only logical that they would be very grateful to him instead of behaving in the way they did, showing the good reasons for God’s punishment. I agree with you in that showing gratitude, as well as faith and loyalty to God, is a key aspect that Israel fails to follow and thus brings upon themselves the curse. I also agree with your idea that the death of Moses is symbolic of how one chapter ends and something new and different begins, especially because of how there will be no other prophet that was as close to God as Moses was. Lastly, I find it very interesting that you describe the death of Moses as a way of conveying how his generation’s behavior doesn’t determine the behavior of the rest of generations to come. I had thought of it in an opposite manner in the sense that I believe Moses generation actually demonstrates how the disbelief and lack of faith in God will continue to exist, as we can see in Joshua’s reading.
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I think that you had an interesting establishment the condemnation of the Wilderness Generation and the problem that they display throughout a number of different ways(lack of devotion) that rightfully caused this condemnation. Their actions of uncertainty portray a lack of trust in God, an action interesting for a group who owe everything to the man. Not only was God their being of worship before and throughout the events of Egypt, he also indicted plagues and different powers of nature in order to save them from slavery. I agree with the point that the death of Moses acts as a form of rebirth or renewal, with the establishment of a new being linking God and his people. Overall, I think that your analysis was well thought out and I agree with many of the points.
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