40. Early the next morning the people started to go up to the high hill country. They said, “We have sinned. We are sorry that we did not trust the Lord. We will go to the place that the Lord promised.”
41. But Moses said, “Why are you not obeying the Lord’S command? You will not be successful!
42. Don’t go into that land. The Lord is not with you, so your enemies will easily defeat you.
43. The Amalekites and Canaanites will fight against you there. You have turned away from the Lord, so he will not be with you when you fight them. And you will all be killed in battle.”
44. But the people did not believe Moses. They went toward the high hill country. But Moses and the Box of the Lord’S Agreement did not go with the people.
45. The Amalekites and the Canaanites living in the hill country came down and attacked the Israelites and easily defeated them and chased them all the way to Hormah.