Deuteronomy 9:23

And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, recounting their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea when Yahweh commanded them to advance into the territory He had provided.

The words — עֲלוּ (‘alu) means “go up,” and וּרְשׁוּ (u’rešu) means “take possession of,” capturing the direct command to enter and claim the land.

The thread — The pattern of unbelief appears in Psalms 106:24, where they despised the land and did not trust His promise, and in Psalms 78:22 and Hebrews 4:2, which highlight their failure to believe God.

Why it lands — The text records a direct command followed by immediate disobedience and unbelief, requiring the reader to confront how repeated divine instructions can be met with refusal.

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

וּבִשְׁלֹ֨חַu./vi/sh.Lo.achand/ when/ sent יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh אֶתְכֶ֗ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you מִקָּדֵ֤שׁmi./ka.Deshfrom/ Kadesh בַּרְנֵ֙עַ֙bar.Ne.a'Barnea לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying עֲלוּ֙'a.Lugo up וּרְשׁ֣וּu./re.Shuand/ take possession of אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֔רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich נָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiI have givenלָכֶ֑םla./Khemto <the>/ youוַתַּמְר֗וּva./tam.Ruand/ you rebelled against אֶת־'et-<obj.>פִּ֤יpi[the] mouth of יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם'e.Lo.hei./KhemGod/ your וְלֹ֤אve./Lo'and/ not הֶֽאֱמַנְתֶּם֙he.'e.man.Temyou believedל֔וֹl/o<to> <the>/ himוְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖םshe.ma'.Temyou listened בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃be./ko.L/oto/ voice/ his

King James Version

Likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadesh–barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.

Cross-references

Psalms 106:24 They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
Hebrews 4:2 For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.
Psalms 78:22 because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
Numbers 13:1 And the LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 14:10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting.
Deuteronomy 1:19 And just as the LORD our God had commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites, through all the vast and terrifying wilderness you have seen. When we reached Kadesh-barnea,
Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?

Places named

Kadesh-barnea