38. But Joshua, the son of Nun, your minister, shall himself enter on your behalf. Exhort and strengthen this man, and he himself shall divide the land by lot to Israel.
39. Your little ones, about whom you said that they would be led away as captives, and your sons, who to this day are ignorant of the difference between good and evil, they shall enter. And I will give the land to them, and they will possess it.
40. But as for you, turn back and go out to the wilderness, by way of the Red Sea.'
41. And you responded to me: 'We have sinned against the Lord. We will ascend and fight, just as the Lord our God has instructed.' And having been equipped with weapons, when you were setting out for the mountain,
42. the Lord said to me: 'Say to them: Do not ascend and do not fight. For I am not with you. Otherwise, you may fall in the sight of your enemies.'
43. I spoke, and you did not listen. But, opposing the order of the Lord, and swelling with pride, you ascended onto the mountain.
44. And so, having gone forth, the Amorite, who was living in the mountains, came against you and pursued you, just as a swarm of bees would do. And he struck you down from Seir all the way to Hormah.
45. And when you returned and were weeping in the sight of the Lord, he would not hear you, nor was he willing to agree to your voice.
46. Therefore, you camped at Kadesh-barnea for a long time."