The people remained rattled by the largely negative report on Canaan's Land and appeared to be scared to die in battle for the land, so they talked about returning to Egypt and choosing a new leader to that end. The 2 spies, Caleb and Joshua, who were positive about Canaan, tried to convince the people that the land was good and that they should trust God, but they were unsuccessful and ended up being threatened with stoning by the people.
Then God intervened with great fury and decided to annihilate much of the Israelites, but Moses interceded on their behalf and God rescinded the threat, substituting it with the punishment that none of them would enter Canaan except Joshua and Caleb. For all the older generation would die wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God also killed the 10 spies that incited the rebellion with a plague. The Israelites were gutted about their own punishment.
God told the Israelites to then use an alternative route on their journey so as to avoid confrontation with the Amalekites and Canaanites at this stage, but the Israelites thought they knew better and were defeated in battle.
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