And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Remember Allah's favour unto you, how He placed among you prophets, and He made you kings, and gave you that (which) He gave not to any (other) of (His) creatures. 20 O my people! enter the holy land which Allah has prescribed for you and turn not on your backs for then you will turn back losers. 21 They said: "O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it: if (once) they leave, then shall we enter." 22 So two men who were among those who feared Allah and whom Allah had favoured said, “Enter upon them by force, through the gate; if you enter the gate, victory will be yours; and depend only upon Allah, if you have faith.” 23 They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here. 24 Said he: my Lord I control not but myself and my brother, so decide Thou between us and this transgressing people. 25 Answered He: "Then, verily, this [land] shall be forbidden to them for forty years, while they wander on earth, bewildered, to and fro; and sorrow thou not over these iniquitous folk." 26