Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
Otherwise, the people in the land you brought us out of will say, 'The LORD wasn't strong enough to bring them into the land he promised them, and because he hated them, he led them out into the wilderness to let them die there.'
Moses is warning that if God destroys Israel, the Egyptians will think God was too weak to keep his promises or that he actually hated his people.
📚 Historical Context
Moses is interceding for Israel after they made the golden calf while he was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. God was angry enough to destroy the entire nation and start over with Moses. Moses is appealing to God's reputation among the nations, particularly Egypt, where they had just been delivered from slavery.
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