Deuteronomy 1:41

Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.

Then ye answered {H6030} and said {H559} unto me, We have sinned {H2398} against the LORD {H3068}, we will go up {H5927} and fight {H3898}, according to all that the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} commanded {H6680} us. And when ye had girded {H2296} on every man {H376} his weapons {H3627} of war {H4421}, ye were ready {H1951} to go up {H5927} into the hill {H2022}.

"Then you answered me, 'We have sinned against ADONAI. Now we will go up and fight, in accordance with everything ADONAI our God ordered us.'And every man among you put on his arms, considering it an easy matter to go up into the hill-country.

“We have sinned against the LORD,” you replied. “We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God has commanded us.” Then each of you put on his weapons of war, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah, we will go up and fight, according to all that Jehovah our God commanded us. And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and were forward to go up into the hill-country.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:41 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, highlighting their misguided attempt to rectify a prior act of disobedience. This verse captures the Israelites' response after God declared they would not enter the Promised Land due to their rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea.

Context

Moses, recalling the history to the new generation on the plains of Moab, describes the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' refusal to obey God's command to enter Canaan. After hearing God's judgment that they would wander for forty years and die in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 1:35), the people expressed regret, saying, "We have sinned against the LORD." However, this confession was immediately followed by a presumptuous decision to go up and fight, directly contradicting God's new instruction not to proceed (Deuteronomy 1:42). This illustrates a superficial repentance, driven by fear of consequences rather than a genuine change of heart and submission to God's will.

Key Themes

  • False Repentance and Presumption: While the confession "We have sinned against the LORD" sounds genuine, their subsequent action reveals a lack of true submission. They attempted to "fix" their mistake by acting in their own strength, even though God had explicitly closed that door. This highlights the danger of presumption—acting on one's own initiative against God's clear directive.
  • Disobedience and Consequences: The verse is a stark reminder that disobedience has severe consequences. Their initial refusal to enter the land led to a harsh judgment, and their attempt to now "obey" by going up was, paradoxically, another act of disobedience against God's current command. This continued rebellion led to further defeat (Deuteronomy 1:44).
  • Human Initiative vs. Divine Command: The Israelites' eagerness to "gird on every man his weapons of war" shows human determination, but it was misplaced. True success and blessing come from aligning human effort with divine command, not from independent action, however well-intentioned it might seem.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "We have sinned against the LORD" (chata'nu Yahweh in Hebrew) is a direct admission of guilt. However, the immediate follow-up, "we will go up and fight," demonstrates that this confession was not paired with a humble acceptance of God's judgment or a seeking of His renewed guidance. It was a self-willed declaration of intent, rather than a plea for mercy or a commitment to true obedience.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 1:41 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. True repentance involves not just acknowledging sin but also humbly submitting to God's will and accepting the consequences, even when they are difficult. We must be wary of "presumptuous sin"—acting out of our own will, even if it appears to be for a good cause, when God has clearly indicated a different path or has closed a door. Our zeal must always be guided by God's wisdom and His expressed commands, not by our own desires or attempts to undo past mistakes in our own strength. For true godly sorrow that leads to repentance, there must be a change of heart that aligns with God's present will.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 14:39

    And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

  • Numbers 14:45

    Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, [even] unto Hormah.

  • Numbers 22:34

    And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

  • Proverbs 19:3

    ¶ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
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