From Chabad.org: The details of the punishment are now revealed. The
Israelites will wander in the desert for forty years. During that time,
all males over the age of twenty -- with the exception of Joshua and
Caleb -- would perish. The next generation would enter the Promised
Land. The ten scouts who brought back the frightful report died
immediately. When the Jews were informed of G‑d's decision, they
lamented and grieved. A group of people awoke the next day and decide to
"go it alone," and enter the Land of Israel -- this despite Moses'
warning that their plan would not succeed for it was not sanctioned by
G‑d. This group is cut down and massacred by the Amalekites and
Canaanites.
What bothered G-d the most about the spies'
report and subsequent Israelites' fear was the lack of trust they had
in Him after all he's done. G-d felt that they alienated Him, abandoned
Him, which is why it was only appropriate that they then became unworthy
of the Land of Israel. In fact, the Midrash equates this mistrust to
the sin of the Golden Calf, and G-d waited until this happened before
finally punishing those between 20 and 60, not allowing them into His
land. If there's any good news in this Aliya, is that after these events
the nation "mourned greatly", presumably realizing their mistaken in
not trusting in G-d and/or appreciating what they had (Passuk 39).
Better late than never, I guess.
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