Deuteronomy 1:42

But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks to Moses at the precise moment the Israelites arm themselves and attempt to march into the hill country against His prior instruction.

The words — The Hebrew תַּעֲלוּ (ta.'a.Lu) and תִלָּחֲמוּ (ti.La.cha.Mu) literally mean “you must go up” and “you must fight,” combined with the negative particle לֹא (lo') to form an absolute prohibition.

The thread — This explicit withdrawal of divine presence parallels the defeat pattern in Leviticus 26:17 and the aborted campaign recorded in Numbers 14:41 and Joshua 7:8.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to distinguish between human ambition and divine permission, establishing that obedience to a direct command precedes any action.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh אֵלַ֗י'e.La/ito/ me אֱמֹ֤ר'e.Morsayלָהֶם֙la./Hemto/ themלֹ֤אlo'not תַֽעֲלוּ֙ta.'a.Luyou must go up וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not תִלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּti.La.cha.Muyou must fight כִּ֥יkifor אֵינֶ֖נִּי'ei.Ne./ninot/ I בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑םbe./kir.be./Khem[will be] in/ midst/ your וְלֹא֙ve./Lo'and/ not תִּנָּֽגְפ֔וּti.na.ge.Fuyou will be defeated לִפְנֵ֖יli/f.Nei<to>/ before אֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃'o.ye.vei./Khemenemies/ your

King James Version

And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

Cross-references

Numbers 14:41 But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed!
Joshua 7:8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
Leviticus 26:17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
Hosea 9:12 Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
Isaiah 30:17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.