Deuteronomy 1:40

40 But you all must now turn around. Head back toward the wilderness along the route of the Reed Sea.^[a]

Deuteronomy 1:40 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:40

But as for you, turn ye
From the mountain of the Amorites, the border of the land of Canaan:

and take your journey into the wilderness, by the way of the Red sea:
see ( Numbers 14:25 ) . Jarchi says this wilderness was by the side of the Red sea, to the south of Mount Seir, and divided between the Red sea and the mount; so that now they drew to the side of the sea, and compassed Mount Seir, all the south of it, from west to east.

Deuteronomy 1:40 In-Context

38 "But Nun's son Joshua, your assistant, will enter it. Strengthen him because he's the one who will help Israel inherit the land.")

39 Now as for your toddlers, those you said would be taken in war, and your young children who don't yet know right and wrong—they will enter the land. I will give it to them. They will possess it!

40 But you all must now turn around. Head back toward the wilderness along the route of the Reed Sea.

41 You replied to me: "We've sinned against the LORD! We will go up! We will fight, just as the LORD our God commanded." Each one of you grabbed your weapons. You thought it would be easy to go up into the hills.

42 But the LORD told me: Tell them: Don't go up! Don't fight because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Red Sea