Numbers 14:40

KJV

And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we [be here], and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they rose up early {H7925} in the morning {H1242}, and gat them up {H5927} into the top {H7218} of the mountain {H2022}, saying {H559}, Lo {H2009}, we be here, and will go up {H5927} unto the place {H4725} which the LORD {H3068} hath promised {H559}: for we have sinned {H2398}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They arose early the next morning, came up to the top of the mountain and said, "Here we are, and we did sin, but now we'll go up to the place ADONAI promised."

Berean Standard Bible

Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. “We have indeed sinned,” they said, “but we will go to the place the LORD has promised.”

American Standard Version

And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up to the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we are here, and will go up unto the place which Jehovah hath promised: for we have sinned.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:40 captures a poignant moment of misguided zeal and belated, self-willed action from the Israelites. Having just received God's severe judgment that their generation would perish in the wilderness for their rebellion and lack of faith, the people, upon hearing this decree, rose early and presumptuously attempted to ascend the mountain into the Promised Land. Their declaration, "Lo, we [be here], and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned," reveals a superficial confession of sin unaccompanied by true repentance, submission to divine timing, or reliance on God's essential presence. This act, though seemingly an attempt at obedience, was in fact a further act of rebellion, leading to disastrous consequences.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows God's pronouncement of judgment upon the rebellious generation of Israelites (Numbers 14:28-35), who had refused to enter the Promised Land based on the fearful report of ten of the twelve spies. The people had mourned greatly upon hearing their fate (Numbers 14:39). Verse 40 describes their immediate, yet profoundly misguided, reaction to this judgment. Instead of humbling themselves and accepting God's decree, they impulsively decide to "correct" their past disobedience by attempting to enter the land on their own terms, directly contradicting Moses' warning in the subsequent verses (Numbers 14:41-43) and leading to their defeat by the Amalekites and Canaanites (Numbers 14:44-45). This sequence highlights the tragic irony of their belated, self-willed "obedience."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were in the wilderness, having recently escaped Egyptian bondage and received the Law at Mount Sinai. Their journey to the Promised Land, Canaan, was intended to be swift, but their repeated murmuring, rebellion, and lack of faith had prolonged their wanderings. The concept of "the Promised Land" was central to their identity and covenant with Yahweh, representing divine blessing and fulfillment. Their attempt to "go up into the top of the mountain" signifies an effort to invade the mountainous southern region of Canaan, a well-known entry point. The cultural understanding of divine judgment for covenant breaking was clear, and their reaction, while appearing to be remorse, was more akin to a desperate, human-driven attempt to circumvent the consequences rather than a humble submission to God's declared will.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 14:40 powerfully illustrates several critical themes. Foremost among them is the **danger of presumption**, where human will attempts to override divine command and timing. The Israelites' "repentance" was superficial, revealing a lack of **true submission** to God's sovereignty and judgment. Their action underscores the theme of **disobedience and its severe consequences**, as their belated zeal, divorced from divine instruction and presence, led to further defeat (as seen in [Numbers 14:44-45](/numbers/14-44 "Numbers 14:44-45 - The Defeat at Hormah")). This episode also highlights the **necessity of God's presence and leading** for any endeavor to succeed, a principle echoed throughout the biblical narrative, such as in [Psalm 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Psalm 127:1 - The Lord Builds the House"). It serves as a stark contrast between genuine, Spirit-led obedience and self-serving, human-initiated religious activity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rose up early (Hebrew, _shakam'_):** This verb often denotes diligence, eagerness, or rising early to begin a task. Here, it highlights the Israelites' immediate and zealous, albeit misguided, response to God's judgment. Their haste suggests a desperate attempt to rectify their situation on their own terms, rather than a patient waiting upon the Lord or a humble acceptance of their punishment. It emphasizes the human initiative behind their actions.
* **Sinned (Hebrew, _chata'_):** This common Hebrew word means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to go astray." While the people acknowledge their sin, the subsequent action of rising to go up the mountain demonstrates that their confession was not accompanied by a genuine turning to God's will. Their understanding of "sin" here seems to be limited to the negative consequences they faced, rather than a deep conviction leading to a change of heart and behavior aligned with divine command. It was an intellectual acknowledgment without true repentance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain,"**: This clause describes the Israelites' swift and determined physical action. "Gat them up" is an older English idiom for "went up" or "ascended." The early rising signifies their eagerness and resolve, while the ascent into the mountainous region leading to Canaan reveals their intention to force their way into the land, despite God's explicit declaration that they would not enter. This immediate action is a direct, albeit misguided, response to the divine judgment.
* **"saying, Lo, we [be here], and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised:"**: This part reveals their verbal declaration and their motivation. "Lo, we [be here]" conveys a sense of readiness and presence, as if to say, "Here we are, ready to obey now!" Their stated intention to "go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised" sounds pious and obedient, echoing God's original command to enter the land. However, it is deeply presumptuous, as it ignores God's *current* command and the fact that His presence would not be with them in this endeavor (as stated in [Numbers 14:43](/numbers/14-43 "Numbers 14:43 - God's Absence")).
* **"for we have sinned."**: This final clause provides the stated reason for their actions. It is a confession of sin, acknowledging their past rebellion and lack of faith. However, this confession, while verbally expressed, is not accompanied by a genuine change of heart or a submission to God's will and timing. Instead, it serves as a justification for their self-initiated, disobedient act, demonstrating a superficial understanding of repentance that attempts to dictate terms to God rather than humbly accepting His judgment and seeking His renewed direction.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:40 is rich in **Irony**. The Israelites' attempt to "obey" by entering the Promised Land is, in fact, a profound act of disobedience, as it directly contradicts God's declared judgment and Moses' warning not to proceed. Their "zeal" is tragically misplaced, leading to further failure. There is also a strong element of **Pathos**, as the reader understands the futility and impending doom of their actions, having just read God's decree. The verse also employs **Contrast** between the people's human initiative and God's divine sovereignty, and between their belated, self-willed "repentance" and the true, humble submission God desires. This scene serves as a powerful **Foreshadowing** of the disastrous defeat that immediately follows, demonstrating the inevitable consequences of acting without divine authorization and presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:40 serves as a profound theological warning against superficial repentance and presumptuous obedience. It underscores that genuine repentance is not merely a verbal acknowledgment of sin or a belated attempt to rectify past mistakes on one's own terms. True repentance involves a humble turning from self-will to God's will, accepting His timing and methods, and relying on His presence. The Israelites' actions reveal a desire to escape the consequences of their sin without truly submitting to the Lord who pronounced the judgment. This passage highlights that obedience, to be true, must stem from faith and align with God's current command, not just a past one. Any endeavor, no matter how seemingly pious, undertaken outside of God's leading and presence is doomed to fail.

* [Deuteronomy 1:41-45](/deuteronomy/1-41 "Deuteronomy 1:41-45 - The Defeat at Hormah")
* [Psalm 19:13](/psalms/19-13 "Psalm 19:13 - Keep Back Thy Servant from Presumptuous Sins")
* [2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:40 offers a timeless and sobering lesson for believers today. It challenges us to examine the nature of our "repentance" and "obedience." Are we truly submitting to God's will, timing, and methods, or are we, like the Israelites, attempting to fix our mistakes on our own terms, out of a fear of consequences rather than a genuine desire to honor God? This passage warns against the spiritual danger of presumption—acting on our own initiative, even with seemingly good intentions, when God has clearly indicated a different path or timing. True faith trusts God's sovereign plan, even when it involves discipline or waiting. Our zeal must be tempered by wisdom and guided by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that our actions are in alignment with God's present leading, not merely a belated reaction to past failures. Without God's presence and explicit blessing, our labor is in vain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be attempting to "go up the mountain" on my own terms, rather than submitting to God's timing and direction?**
* **How can I discern between genuine, Spirit-led obedience and a presumptuous, self-willed attempt to "fix" past mistakes?**
* **What does true repentance look like in my life, beyond merely acknowledging sin, and how does it lead to humble submission to God's will?**
* **Am I truly relying on God's presence and guidance in my endeavors, or am I operating on human zeal and effort alone?**

### FAQ
**Why was their attempt to enter the land considered a sin, especially since it was what God originally commanded?**

Answer: While entering the Promised Land was God's original command, the timing and circumstances had fundamentally changed. God had just pronounced a severe judgment that the rebellious generation would not enter the land due to their lack of faith and outright defiance (see [Numbers 14:28-35](/numbers/14-28 "Numbers 14:28-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation")). Their attempt in Numbers 14:40 was not an act of humble obedience to God's *current* will, but a presumptuous, self-willed reaction to avoid the consequences of their past sin. Moses explicitly warned them not to go, stating that the Lord would not be with them (as detailed in [Numbers 14:41-43](/numbers/14-41 "Numbers 14:41-43 - Moses Warns Against Presumption")). Therefore, their action was a further act of rebellion, demonstrating a continued lack of trust in God's word and sovereignty.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:40, with its tragic depiction of Israel's presumptuous and belated attempt at obedience, powerfully foreshadows the perfect obedience of Christ and the true way into God's promised rest. Unlike the Israelites who tried to force their way into the physical land through self-willed efforts after God had closed the door, Jesus perfectly fulfilled God's will, not through presumption, but through absolute submission and obedience, even unto death on the cross (as seen in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). He is the true leader who brings us into the spiritual "rest" and "Promised Land" of God's presence, not through our works or belated zeal, but through His finished work (compare [Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Promise of Rest")). Our entry into God's kingdom and eternal life is not by our "rising early" to earn it or by our human efforts to "go up the mountain," but by faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). He is the one who perfectly "missed the mark" of sin for us, so that we might receive His righteousness ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")), and through Him, we are led into the true inheritance that can never be lost or forfeited by our own failures.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.