Numbers 14:41

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} said {H559}, Wherefore now do ye transgress {H5674} the commandment {H6310} of the LORD {H3068}? but it shall not prosper {H6743}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Moshe answered, "Why are you opposing what ADONAI said? You won't succeed!

Berean Standard Bible

But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed!

American Standard Version

And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of Jehovah, seeing it shall not prosper?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:41 captures Moses' stern rebuke to the Israelites who, in a presumptuous act of defiance, attempted to invade the Promised Land after God had explicitly forbidden it and pronounced judgment upon their generation for their earlier unbelief. This verse highlights the futility of human effort undertaken outside of divine command and without God's empowering presence, serving as a stark warning that self-willed actions, even those seemingly aimed at rectifying past mistakes, will inevitably fail if they contradict God's revealed will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 14:41 stands at a critical juncture in the wilderness narrative, immediately following the devastating judgment pronounced by the LORD upon the generation that rebelled at Kadesh-barnea. In Numbers 13, twelve spies were sent into Canaan, and upon their return, ten gave a fearful report, leading the people to despair, weep, and even plot to appoint a new leader to [return to Egypt](/numbers/14-4 "Numbers 14:4 - Israel's Desire to Return to Egypt"). This profound act of unbelief and rejection of God's promise prompted God's decree in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation") that all those twenty years and older, save Joshua and Caleb, would die in the wilderness and not enter the land. Upon hearing this severe judgment, some of the people experienced a superficial "repentance" and, against God's explicit command in [Numbers 14:25](/numbers/14-25 "Numbers 14:25 - God Commands Israel to Turn Back"), decided to presumptuously ascend into the hill country to conquer the land. Moses' words in verse 41 are a direct confrontation of this new, equally rebellious act.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Kadesh-barnea, a key oasis on the southern border of Canaan, representing the threshold of the Promised Land. For ancient Israel, the journey through the wilderness was not merely a geographical trek but a covenant pilgrimage, where divine presence and guidance were paramount for survival and success. Military campaigns in the ancient Near East were often preceded by divine consultation, and success was attributed to the favor of the gods. The Israelites' attempt to invade without God's command and, indeed, against His explicit instruction, was not only a military blunder but a profound spiritual transgression. Their actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the covenant relationship, where obedience to Yahweh, their divine Warrior and Guide, was the sole basis for their prosperity and security.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several recurring themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. It highlights the pervasive theme of **disobedience and transgression**, showing a people repeatedly testing God's patience and defying His clear instructions, first by refusing to enter the land, and then by attempting to enter when forbidden. It underscores the **futility of self-willed action** when undertaken apart from or in opposition to God's will; Moses' declaration "it shall not prosper" is a divine pronouncement that efforts lacking God's blessing are doomed to failure. Furthermore, the verse serves as a grim reminder of the **consequences of persistent unbelief and rebellion**, demonstrating how one act of sin can lead to another, sealing a people's fate and bringing about inevitable judgment, as further detailed in [Numbers 14:45](/numbers/14-45 "Numbers 14:45 - Israel's Defeat by the Amalekites and Canaanites").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Transgress (Hebrew, _'abar'_):** The Hebrew verb עָבַר (_'abar'_) literally means "to pass over," "to cross over," or "to go beyond." In this context, it carries the strong connotation of violating a boundary, overstepping limits, or breaking a command. Moses is not merely accusing them of a mistake, but of a deliberate and willful act of crossing a divine line that God had clearly drawn. It implies a defiant disregard for God's authority and a presumption that they could act independently of His will.
* **Prosper (Hebrew, _tsalach'_):** The Hebrew verb צָלַח (_tsalach_) means "to succeed," "to be profitable," "to advance," or "to be effective." When Moses declares "but it shall not prosper" (לֹא תִצְלָח - _lo' titslach_), it is an emphatic statement of absolute futility. This is not a mere prediction but a divine pronouncement that their endeavor is inherently flawed and destined for failure because it lacks God's favor and presence. True success, in the biblical worldview, is inextricably linked to divine blessing and alignment with God's purposes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD?":** Moses confronts the people with a rhetorical question, expressing dismay and highlighting the absurdity and gravity of their actions. The phrase "Wherefore now" emphasizes the immediate and current nature of their transgression, building upon their previous rebellion. The "commandment of the LORD" refers specifically to God's instruction in [Numbers 14:25](/numbers/14-25 "Numbers 14:25 - God Commands Israel to Turn Back") to turn back into the wilderness, not to go up into the land. Their attempt to invade was a direct, conscious violation of this fresh, explicit divine directive. It reveals a pattern of human will attempting to override divine instruction, demonstrating a profound lack of submission and trust.
* **"but it shall not prosper.":** This is Moses' prophetic declaration, conveying God's certain judgment upon their presumptuous act. It is a statement of divine truth: any endeavor undertaken in defiance of God's will, and without His accompanying presence and blessing, is inherently doomed to fail. This pronouncement underscores the principle that human strength, strategy, or determination are utterly insufficient when God's favor is withdrawn. Their attempt, born of pride and a misguided effort to undo their past sin on their own terms, was already marked for failure by divine decree.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:41 powerfully employs several literary devices to convey its weighty message. Moses' opening phrase, "Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD?", functions as a **Rhetorical Question**. This is not a genuine inquiry seeking information, but rather a forceful declaration designed to highlight the egregious nature of their sin and to provoke self-reflection on their irrational and rebellious behavior. It underscores the obviousness of their transgression. Following this, the statement "but it shall not prosper" serves as a **Prophetic Declaration** or **Divine Pronouncement**. It is a definitive statement of consequence, not merely a prediction, but an authoritative pronouncement of what *will* happen because God's will has been defied. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in the Israelites' actions. Having refused to enter the land when God commanded them to, they now attempt to enter when God has explicitly forbidden it and withdrawn His presence. This reversal of their initial disobedience, far from being an act of repentance, is another form of rebellion, demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of genuine obedience and God's sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:41 profoundly illustrates the critical biblical principle that true success and blessing are contingent upon obedience to God's revealed will and the presence of His favor. The Israelites' attempt to force their way into the Promised Land, after God had explicitly commanded them to turn back, highlights the futility of human effort when it operates outside of divine guidance. This passage serves as a powerful warning against presumptuous sin—the arrogant assumption that one can achieve spiritual or material goals through self-effort, even after having rejected God's clear direction. It teaches that genuine repentance involves humble submission to God's judgment and a patient waiting for His renewed direction, rather than a defiant attempt to "fix" things on one's own terms. The divine pronouncement that their endeavor "shall not prosper" underscores God's sovereignty and the absolute necessity of His presence for any true and lasting success.

* [1 Samuel 15:22-23](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22-23 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice")
* [Proverbs 16:25](/proverbs/16-25 "Proverbs 16:25 - A Way That Seems Right to a Man")
* [Psalm 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Psalm 127:1 - Unless the LORD Builds the House")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:41 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today concerning the nature of obedience, the dangers of presumption, and the source of true prosperity. It challenges us to examine the motivations behind our actions: are we genuinely seeking God's will and timing, or are we attempting to manipulate circumstances or rectify past mistakes through our own strength and wisdom? This verse warns against the spiritual pride that believes it can achieve God's purposes without God's presence or against His explicit command. True faith is not about forcing God's hand or presuming upon His grace; it is about humble submission, patient waiting, and courageous obedience when He *does* command. Our "prosperity" in God's kingdom is measured not by our accomplishments, but by our alignment with His will and the fruitfulness that comes from abiding in Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I discern the difference between genuine, faith-filled action and presumptuous, self-willed endeavor in my life?**
* **In what areas might I be attempting to "prosper" through my own efforts, rather than relying on God's presence and blessing?**
* **What does it mean to truly repent and submit to God's will, especially when His path seems difficult or contrary to my desires?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of success and failure in the Christian life?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Israelites try to go up into the land if God had just told them not to?**

Answer: Their attempt was a misguided and presumptuous reaction to God's judgment. After hearing that they would die in the wilderness, they experienced a superficial "repentance" that was not rooted in genuine submission to God's will, but rather in a desire to escape the consequences of their sin through self-effort. They believed that by showing a sudden zeal for the land, they could reverse God's decree or prove their worthiness. However, this was not an act of faith or obedience, but a defiant attempt to force God's hand and achieve victory on their own terms, completely ignoring God's explicit command in [Numbers 14:25](/numbers/14-25 "Numbers 14:25 - God Commands Israel to Turn Back") to turn back into the wilderness.

**What was the "commandment of the LORD" they transgressed?**

Answer: The "commandment of the LORD" they transgressed was God's explicit instruction given in [Numbers 14:25](/numbers/14-25 "Numbers 14:25 - God Commands Israel to Turn Back"). Following the people's rebellion and God's judgment, the LORD told Moses: "Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn you and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea." Their attempt to ascend into the hill country was a direct and deliberate violation of this clear directive to turn back.

**What happened immediately after this warning from Moses?**

Answer: Despite Moses' stern warning, the people stubbornly refused to listen and defiantly went up into the hill country. As Moses had declared, their endeavor did not prosper. They were met by the Amalekites and Canaanites, who struck them down and routed them, pursuing them as far as Hormah, as detailed in [Numbers 14:45](/numbers/14-45 "Numbers 14:45 - Israel's Defeat by the Amalekites and Canaanites"). This swift and decisive defeat served as a tangible manifestation of God's judgment and the futility of action undertaken without His presence and blessing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:41, with its stark declaration that self-willed efforts apart from God "shall not prosper," powerfully foreshadows the utter inability of humanity to achieve salvation or spiritual prosperity through its own works. Just as Israel could not enter the Promised Land by their own strength or presumptuous actions, so too can no one enter into God's eternal rest or achieve righteousness by their own merit or religious striving. The futility of their efforts underscores the profound truth that "without me ye can do nothing," as Jesus declares in [John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ"). Our "promised land" of eternal life and fellowship with God is not accessed through our obedience to a law we cannot perfectly keep, nor by our attempts to "fix" our fallen state, but solely through the perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the one who perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, thereby opening the true and living way to God ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - The New and Living Way")). Our "prosperity" in the spiritual realm is found not in our doing, but in our believing and abiding in Him, for "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ, the End of the Law")). The ultimate fulfillment of the promise of rest and entrance into God's presence is found in the finished work of Christ, which invites us to enter His rest by faith ([Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - Entering God's Rest")).

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.