Deuteronomy 1:42

42 "¹And the LORD said to me, 'Say to them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be ^[a]defeated before your enemies."'

Deuteronomy 1:42 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:42

And the Lord said unto me
When the people had armed themselves, and were in motion, or ready to set forward to ascend the hill:

say unto them, go not up, neither fight;
neither go up the hill, and if they did, contrary to this order, and should meet with enemies, not fight them, but retreat:

for I am not among you:
the ark of the covenant, the symbol of his presence, was then among them, but it did not go with them, it continued in the camp, ( Numbers 14:44 ) nor did the Lord exert his power, or show himself present with them, or to be on their side, but left them to themselves, and to their enemies:

lest ye be smitten before your enemies;
God not being with them to fight for them, protect and defend them, and give them victory.

Deuteronomy 1:42 In-Context

40 'But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.'

41 "Then you said to me, 'We have sinned against the LORD ; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.' And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country.

42 "And the LORD said to me, 'Say to them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated before your enemies."'

43 "So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the LORD , and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country.

44 "The Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and crushed you from Seir to Hormah.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 14:41-43

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "smitten"