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)