Numbers 14:44
New International Version
Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp.

New Living Translation
But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant left the camp.

English Standard Version
But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.

Berean Standard Bible
But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp.

King James Bible
But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

New King James Version
But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp.

New American Standard Bible
But they foolishly dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.

NASB 1995
But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.

NASB 1977
But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of Yahweh nor Moses moved from the camp.

Amplified Bible
But [in their arrogance] they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country; however, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.

Christian Standard Bible
But they dared to go up the ridge of the hill country, even though the ark of the LORD’s covenant and Moses did not leave the camp.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they dared to go up the ridge of the hill country, even though the ark of the LORD’s covenant and Moses did not leave the camp.

American Standard Version
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

Contemporary English Version
But the Israelites ignored Moses and marched toward the hill country, even though the sacred chest and Moses did not go with them.

English Revised Version
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But they headed into the mountain region anyway, even though the ark of the LORD's promise and Moses stayed in the camp.

Good News Translation
Yet they still dared to go up into the hill country, even though neither the LORD's Covenant Box nor Moses left the camp.

International Standard Version
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain, even though the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and Moses didn't leave the camp.

Majority Standard Bible
But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp.

NET Bible
But they dared to go up to the crest of the hill, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp.

New Heart English Bible
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, did not depart out of the camp.

Webster's Bible Translation
But they presumed to go up to the hill-top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

World English Bible
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, the ark of Yahweh’s covenant and Moses didn’t depart out of the camp.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they presume to go up to the top of the mountain, but the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH, and Moses, have not departed out of the midst of the camp.

Young's Literal Translation
And they presume to go up unto the top of the mountain, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and Moses have not departed out of the midst of the camp.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will act proudly to go up to the head of the mountain: and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and Moses departed not out of the midst of the camp.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they being blinded went up to the top of the mountain. But the ark of the testament of the Lord and Moses departed not from the camp.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But they, having been darkened, ascended to the top of the mountain. But the ark of the testament of the Lord, and Moses, did not withdraw from the camp.

New American Bible
Yet they dared to go up high into the hill country, even though neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.

New Revised Standard Version
But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, even though the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, had not left the camp.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yet they started to go up to the top of the mountain; but neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they began to go up to the top of the mountain and they did not withdraw the Ark of the Covenant of LORD JEHOVAH and Moshe from within the camp.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain; nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And having forced their passage, they went up to the top of the mountain; but the ark of the covenant of the Lord and Moses stirred not out of the camp.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Defeat by the Amalekites and Canaanites
43For 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.” 44But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:42-43
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.” / So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.

Joshua 7:12-13
This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. / Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

1 Samuel 4:3-11
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” / So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. / When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook. ...

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Isaiah 30:1-3
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade. / But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.

Isaiah 31:1-3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. / Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers. / But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together.

Jeremiah 7:4-15
Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ / For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another, / if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, ...

Jeremiah 42:19-22
The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today! / For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’ / For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you. ...

Ezekiel 20:18-21
In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. / I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. / Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ ...

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Matthew 7:26-27
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Luke 6:46-49
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? / I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: / He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ...

Luke 13:34-35
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

John 15:5-6
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. / If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.


Treasury of Scripture

But they presumed to go up to the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

they presumed.

Numbers 15:30
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Deuteronomy 1:43
So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill.

the ark

Numbers 10:33
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

1 Samuel 4:3-11
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies…

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Agreement Although Ark Attention Camp Country Covenant Depart Departed Heights High Hill Hill-Top Presume Presumption Ridge Tent-Circle Top
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Agreement Although Ark Attention Camp Country Covenant Depart Departed Heights High Hill Hill-Top Presume Presumption Ridge Tent-Circle Top
Numbers 14
1. The people murmur at the news
6. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them
11. God threatens them
13. Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon
26. The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land
36. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague
40. The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten














But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country
This phrase highlights the Israelites' disobedience and presumption. After God decreed that the current generation would not enter the Promised Land due to their lack of faith (Numbers 14:28-35), some Israelites attempted to take matters into their own hands. The "ridge of the hill country" refers to the elevated terrain of Canaan, which was strategically significant and often mentioned in military contexts (Joshua 11:16). This act of going up without divine approval reflects a lack of trust in God's timing and plan, reminiscent of the original sin of Adam and Eve, who also acted against God's command.

though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the LORD moved from the camp
Moses, as God's appointed leader, represents divine authority and guidance. His refusal to move signifies that the Israelites' actions were not sanctioned by God. The ark of the covenant symbolizes God's presence and favor, often leading the Israelites in battle (Joshua 3:3-6). Its stationary position indicates that God was not with them in this endeavor. This situation parallels other biblical instances where success depended on God's presence, such as the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6) and contrasts with the defeat at Ai when sin was in the camp (Joshua 7). The absence of both Moses and the ark underscores the futility of human efforts without divine blessing, a theme echoed in John 15:5, where Jesus states, "apart from Me you can do nothing."

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The people of God who were delivered from Egypt and are now in the wilderness. They are characterized by their frequent disobedience and lack of faith.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to guide them to the Promised Land. He represents God's authority and guidance.

3. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that symbolizes God's presence among His people. It was meant to lead the Israelites in their journey.

4. The Hill Country
The geographical area the Israelites attempted to ascend, representing their presumptuous attempt to enter the Promised Land without God's blessing.

5. The Amalekites and Canaanites
The enemies who dwelt in the hill country, representing the obstacles and challenges the Israelites faced due to their disobedience.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Presumption
Presumption leads to failure when we act without God's guidance. The Israelites' decision to go up the hill country without the ark or Moses shows a lack of reliance on God.

The Importance of Obedience
Obedience to God's commands is crucial. The Israelites' disobedience resulted in defeat, teaching us that success comes from following God's will.

God's Presence is Essential
The absence of the ark signifies the absence of God's presence. We must seek God's presence in all our endeavors to ensure His blessing and guidance.

Leadership and Authority
Respect for God-appointed leadership is vital. The Israelites ignored Moses' warning, illustrating the consequences of disregarding spiritual authority.

Learning from Past Mistakes
The Israelites' failure serves as a lesson for us to learn from past mistakes and trust in God's timing and direction.(44) They presumed to go up.--i.e., they made a bold attempt to ascend the mountain. Their enemies appear to have encountered and discomfited them before they had actually gained the summit.

Verse 44. - They presumed to go up. This gives the sense very well: they were deaf to all persuasion or command to stay. Septuagint, διαβιασάμενοι ἀνέβησαν. Thus they added to an evil distrust in the power of God an almost more evil trust in their own power. It does not seem correct to say that "unbelief" was the real cause of both errors - unbelief, firstly in God's promises, and secondly in his threats. It was rather one of those many cases in which men seek to atone for a fault on one side by rushing into as great a fault on the other side. They spoke brave words about the "place which the Lord hath promised," as though it were indeed obedience and trust which spurred them on, instead of presumption and selfishness. The ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. The plainest possible token that the Lord was not with them. With Moses remained no doubt all the Levites, and the silver trumpets, and Joshua, and perhaps the bulk of the people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But they dared
וַיַּעְפִּ֕לוּ (way·ya‘·pi·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6075: To swell, be elated

to go up
לַעֲל֖וֹת (la·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the ridge
רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of the hill country,
הָהָ֑ר (hā·hār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

though neither
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

Moses
וּמֹשֶׁ֔ה (ū·mō·šeh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

[nor] the ark
וַאֲר֤וֹן (wa·’ă·rō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the covenant
בְּרִית־ (bə·rîṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285: A covenant

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

moved
מָ֖שׁוּ (mā·šū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4185: To depart, remove

from
מִקֶּ֥רֶב (miq·qe·reḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center

the camp.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army


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OT Law: Numbers 14:44 But they presumed to go up (Nu Num.)
Numbers 14:43
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