Deuteronomy 32:51

51 because [of the fact] that you broke faith with me in the midst of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, [in] the desert of Zin, because {you did not treat me as holy} in the midst of the {Israelites}.

Deuteronomy 32:51 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:51

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of
Israel
By their unbelief, doubting whether God would give water or no to such a rebellious people, and by giving way to passion and wrathful expressions: and this was done

at the waters of Meribahkadesh;
so called, to distinguish it from another Meribah, where also there was a contention on account of water, ( Numbers 20:13 ) ( 27:14 ) :

in the wilderness of Zin;
where Kadesh was, and further describes and distinguishes this place; of the one we read in ( Exodus 17:7 ) ; and of the other, which is here referred to, in ( Numbers 20:1 Numbers 20:13 ) ;

because ye sanctified me not in, the midst of the children of Israel;
through their unbelief and disagreeable behaviour, they sanctified him not themselves, and gave no honour to him, nor were the cause of his being sanctified by the Israelites; and this was the reason why Moses and Aaron might not enter into the land of Canaan, ( Numbers 20:12 ) ( 27:12-14 ) .

Deuteronomy 32:51 In-Context

49 "Go up to this mountain of the Abarim [range], Mount Nebo, which [is] {opposite Jericho}, and see the land of Canaan that I [am] giving to the {Israelites} as [a] possession.

50 You shall die on that mountain that you [are] about to go up there, and [you will] be gathered to your people, [just] as your brother Aaron died on {Mount Hor} and he was gathered to his people,

51 because [of the fact] that you broke faith with me in the midst of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, [in] the desert of Zin, because {you did not treat me as holy} in the midst of the {Israelites}.

52 Yes, from afar you may view the land, but there you shall not enter there, [that is], into the land that I [am] giving to the {Israelites}."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "that not you treated me as holy"
• [b] Literally "sons/children of Israel"