Numbers 14:43

For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites at the moment they ignore his command and ascend the ridge of the hill country instead of staying in the wilderness.

The words — The Hebrew כִּי (ki) operates as a causal marker meaning "for," while נְפַלְתֶּם (nefaltem) literally translates to "you will fall."

The thread — The verse reinforces the pattern that combat outcomes depend on divine presence, paralleling 2 Chronicles 15:2 and contrasting with the valley dwellings described in Numbers 13:29 and Numbers 14:25.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to accept that turning away from the LORD removes His presence and guarantees defeat by the sword.

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

כִּי֩kifor הָעֲמָלֵקִ֨יha./'a.mal.Kithe/ Amalekite[s]וְהַכְּנַעֲנִ֥יve./ha./ke.na.'a.Niand/ the/ Canaanite[s]שָׁם֙sham[are] there לִפְנֵיכֶ֔םli/f.nei./Khem<to>/ before/ you וּנְפַלְתֶּ֖םu./ne.fal.Temand/ you will fall בֶּחָ֑רֶבbe./Cha.revby the/ sword כִּֽי־ki-for עַל־'al-since כֵּ֤ןken<thus>שַׁבְתֶּם֙shav.Temyou have turned back מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יme./'a.cha.Reifrom/ after יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehhe will be יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh עִמָּכֶֽם׃'i.ma./Khemwith/ you

King James Version

For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Numbers 13:29 The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
Numbers 14:25 Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”
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.
Deuteronomy 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Judges 16:20 Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
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!