Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward,
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.
The Lord said to Moses,“ I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord,“ Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”
He said of his father and mother,‘ I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”“ You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied.“ You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”Samuel said to them,“ The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”“ He is witness,” they said.