Deuteronomy 1:42

And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I [am] not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto me, Say {H559} unto them, Go not up {H5927}, neither fight {H3898}; for I am not among {H7130} you; lest ye be smitten {H5062} before {H6440} your enemies {H341}.

But ADONAI said to me, 'Tell them, "Don't go up, and don't fight, because I am not there with you; if you do, your enemies will defeat you."'

But the LORD said to me, โ€œTell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.โ€

And Jehovah said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:42 records a crucial warning from the LORD to the Israelites through Moses. This verse comes at a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, just after their initial rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea where they refused to enter the Promised Land due to fear of the inhabitants.

Context

After receiving the dire news that their generation would perish in the wilderness for their unbelief and disobedience (Numbers 14:29), some of the Israelites had a change of heart โ€“ but not a change of will. They declared, "We be ready to go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised," intending to fight the Amorites and Canaanites. However, this was an act of presumption, not genuine repentance and obedience. God, knowing their hearts and the futility of their self-willed effort, commanded Moses to tell them, "Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies." This direct prohibition set the stage for a significant defeat at Hormah (Numbers 14:45), serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of defying divine instruction.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence is Paramount: The core message is that victory and success, particularly in spiritual battles or endeavors for God, depend entirely on His active presence and approval. The phrase "I am not among you" signifies God's withdrawal of His empowering and protective hand due to their prior rebellion. Without His presence, their strength was useless.
  • The Danger of Presumption: The Israelites' desire to fight, though seemingly courageous, was an act of presumption. They were attempting to accomplish by their own strength what God had forbidden and had already judged them for. True repentance involves humble obedience to God's current command, not self-willed attempts to undo past mistakes through new acts of disobedience.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: God's warning, "lest ye be smitten before your enemies," highlights the inevitable outcome of acting outside of His will. Disregarding divine commands leads to defeat and hardship. This principle is consistent throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of heeding God's voice (1 Samuel 15:22).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "I am not among you" is ein Yahweh b'kirb'chem (ืึตื™ืŸ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ื‘ึฐึผืงึดืจึฐื‘ึฐึผื›ึถื). This is a strong declaration of God's active withdrawal of His protective and empowering presence. It's not merely a physical absence but a withdrawal of His favor and active participation in their endeavors. The word "smitten" (Hebrew: ื ึถื’ึถืฃ, negeph) often implies a severe blow, a plague, or a rout, signifying a decisive and devastating defeat.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 1:42 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It underscores that zeal for God, however fervent, must be tempered by humble obedience to His specific will. We cannot expect divine blessing or success when we act presumptuously, outside of God's revealed plan or timing. Whether in personal decisions, ministry, or spiritual warfare, our effectiveness hinges on seeking and following God's leading, understanding that His presence is our ultimate strength (John 15:5). This verse calls us to examine our motives: are we acting in reliance on God's presence and command, or are we charging ahead in our own strength, hoping to "fix" things our way?

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 7:8

    O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

  • Joshua 7:13

    Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

  • Numbers 14:41

    And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

  • Numbers 14:43

    For the Amalekites and the Canaanites [are] there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.

  • Hosea 9:12

    Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there shall] not [be] a man [left]: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

  • Leviticus 26:17

    And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

  • 1 Samuel 4:2

    And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
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