Numbers 14:40

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.

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}.

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."

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.”

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

Context of Numbers 14:40

Numbers 14:40 occurs at a pivotal and tragic moment in the Israelites' wilderness journey. After sending twelve spies into Canaan, the Promised Land, ten returned with a fearful report, emphasizing the strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities. This led the majority of the people to rebel against the Lord and Moses, expressing a desire to return to Egypt, and even threatening to stone faithful leaders like Joshua and Caleb. In response to this profound lack of faith and outright defiance, God declared that the entire generation of adult Israelites who had come out of Egypt, except for Joshua and Caleb, would die in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:29). The people mourned greatly upon hearing this severe judgment. Verse 40 describes their immediate, but deeply misguided, reaction to this divine decree.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Presumption, Not True Repentance: While the people acknowledge, "we have sinned," their subsequent action of rising early to ascend the mountain reveals a profound misunderstanding of true repentance. They are attempting to rectify their past disobedience (refusal to enter the land when commanded) with an act of present disobedience (going up now, against God's explicit instruction not to, as detailed in Numbers 14:42). This is presumption—acting on their own initiative rather than God's.
  • Disobedience and Its Consequences: This verse highlights the severe consequences of rebellion against God. The Israelites' "too late" attempt to obey was still disobedience because it was not in accordance with God's timing or command. They were reacting to the judgment, not genuinely submitting to God's will.
  • The Importance of God's Presence: Their declaration, "we will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised," sounds hopeful, but it ignores the crucial fact that God had declared He would not be with them in this endeavor (Numbers 14:43). Success in God's plan is dependent on His presence and leading, not merely human effort or belated zeal.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gat them up" is an older English idiom meaning simply "went up" or "ascended." The Hebrew verb for "sinned" is chata (חָטָא), which means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to go astray." While they confess they missed the mark, their subsequent actions demonstrate that they still failed to align themselves with God's will, instead attempting to force their own way into the Promised Land.

Practical Application

Numbers 14:40 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. It underscores several vital lessons:

  • Genuine Repentance Requires Obedience: True repentance is more than just acknowledging sin; it involves a turning away from disobedience and a turning towards God's will and commands. It seeks to align with God's timing and method, not just regret consequences.
  • Avoid Presumption: We must not presume upon God's grace or attempt to "fix" past mistakes by acting outside of His current direction. God's ways and timing are perfect, and our efforts are fruitful only when aligned with His leading.
  • God's Presence is Essential: Any endeavor undertaken without the Lord's clear instruction and presence is doomed to fail, regardless of how well-intentioned or zealous it may seem. As Psalm 127:1 states, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 1:41 (7 votes)

    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.

  • Matthew 7:21 (2 votes)

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 7:23 (2 votes)

    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

  • Luke 13:25 (2 votes)

    When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

  • Ecclesiastes 9:3 (2 votes)

    This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

  • Matthew 26:11 (1 votes)

    For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

  • Matthew 26:12 (1 votes)

    For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.