Numbers 14:44

44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp.

Numbers 14:44 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
English Standard Version (ESV)
44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.
New Living Translation (NLT)
44 But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant left the camp.
The Message Bible (MSG)
44 But they went anyway; recklessly and arrogantly they climbed to the high hill country. But the Chest of the Covenant and Moses didn't budge from the camp.
American Standard Version (ASV)
44 But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
44 But they headed into the mountain region anyway, even though the ark of the LORD's promise and Moses stayed in the camp.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
44 But they dared to go up the ridge of the hill country, even though the ark of the Lord's covenant and Moses did not leave the camp.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
44 But they wouldn't listen. They still went up toward the high hill country. They went up even though Moses didn't move from the camp. They went even though the ark of the LORD's covenant didn't move from the camp.

Numbers 14:44 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:44

But they presumed to go up unto the hill top
In a bold, audacious, and presumptuous manner; they attempted to go up to the top of the hill, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Moses against it, and the danger they would be exposed unto; but withdrawing themselves from God and his ministers, and lifted up in themselves, and confident of their own strength, ventured on this rash enterprise: the Vulgate Latin version is, "being darkened they went up": either having their understandings darkened, and being given up to a judicial blindness and hardness of heart; or else they went up in the morning while it was dark, before daylight; which latter sense is favoured by the Targum of Jonathan,

``and they girded (or armed) themselves in the dark, before the morning light;''

and the former by an ancient exposition, called Tanchuma, mentioned by Jarchi,

``they went obscure (as it were in the dark) because without leave:''

nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed
not out of the camp;
the cloud not being taken up, but abiding on the tabernacle, which was the signal for resting, both for the ark, and for the camp, the Kohathites did not move with the ark: the Jews F5 have a notion, that there were two arks which went with Israel in the wilderness, one in which the law was put, and another in which the broken pieces of the tables were left; that in which the law was, was placed in the tabernacle of the congregation, and of this it is written, "the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not" but that in which the broken pieces of the tables were, went in and out with them: but this does not clearly appear; and it is highly probable no ark went with them at this time; nor did Moses, the leader and commander of the people, stir from the camp of the Levites; wherefore it was a bold and hazardous undertaking the other camps engaged in without God going with them, and their general before them, or Joshua his minister; for if one did not go, the same may be concluded of the other.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 T. Hieros. Sotah, fol. 22. 2.

Numbers 14:44 In-Context

42 Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,
43 for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp.
45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Cross References 2

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