⁴⁰ Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country,^(A) saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!^(B)”

⁴¹ But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!^{(C) 42} Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,^{(D) 43} for the Amalekites^(E) and the Canaanites^(F) will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you^(G) and you will fall by the sword.”

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up^(H) toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.^{(I) 45} Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites^(J) who lived in that hill country^(K) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.^(L)

⁴¹ Then you replied, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

⁴² But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’”^(A)

⁴³ So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. ⁴⁴ The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees^(B) and beat you down from Seir^(C) all the way to Hormah.^{(D) 45} You came back and wept before the Lord,^(E) but he paid no attention^(F) to your weeping and turned a deaf ear^(G) to you.