Among the things he frankly reported were his own lack of eloquence, which in his view made him unfit to be Israel’s leader; the serious mistake he made that prevented his entering the Promised Land; the deflection of his brother, Aaron, who cooperated with rebellious Israelites in making a statue of a golden calf; the rebellion of his sister, Miriam, and her humiliating punishment; the profaneness of his nephews Nadab and Abihu; and the repeated complaining and murmuring of God’s own people.
Muu hulgas andis ta avameelselt teada omaenda vähesest sõnaosavusest, mille tõttu ta enda meelest ei kõlvanud Iisraeli juhiks; oma suurest veast, mille tagajärjel ta ei pääsenud Tõotatud Maale; oma venna Aaroni eksimusest, kui see tegi koostööd mässuliste iisraellastega ja valmistas kuldvasika; oma õe Mirjami vastuhakust ja tema alandavast karistusest; oma vennapoegade Naadabi ja Abihu pühaduseteotusest ning Jumala enda rahva korduvast hädaldamisest ja nurisemisest.