New International Version Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.” New Living Translation Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.” English Standard Version Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” Berean Standard Bible 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.” Berean Literal Bible And the Amalekite and the Canaanite are dwelling in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out for yourselves into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.” King James Bible (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. New King James Version Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.” New American Standard Bible Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.” NASB 1995 “Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.” NASB 1977 “Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.” Legacy Standard Bible Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.” Amplified Bible Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valley; tomorrow turn and set out for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea.” Berean Annotated Bible Now since the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) and Canaanites (merchants) are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds). Christian Standard Bible Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the lowlands, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the lowlands, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.” American Standard Version Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: to-morrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. Contemporary English Version Now listen, Moses! The Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys of Canaan. And tomorrow, you'll need to turn around and head back into the desert toward the Red Sea. English Revised Version Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: tomorrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. GOD'S WORD® Translation (The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys.) Tomorrow you must turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea." Good News Translation in whose valleys the Amalekites and the Canaanites now live. Turn back tomorrow and go into the wilderness in the direction of the Gulf of Aqaba." International Standard Version Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite live in the valley. Tomorrow, turn and then travel to the wilderness in the direction of the Reed Sea." NET Bible (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites were living in the valleys.) Tomorrow, turn and journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea." New Heart English Bible Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: tomorrow turn, and go into the wilderness by the way to the Sea at the End." Webster's Bible Translation (Now the Amalekites, and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To-morrow turn you, and pass into the wilderness, by the way of the Red sea. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow 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.” World English Bible Since the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley, tomorrow turn and go into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the Amalekite and the Canaanite are dwelling in the valley; tomorrow turn and journey for yourselves into the wilderness—the way of the Red Sea.” Berean Literal Bible And the Amalekite and the Canaanite are dwelling in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out for yourselves into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.” Young's Literal Translation 'And the Amalekite and the Canaanite are dwelling in the valley; to-morrow turn ye and journey for yourselves into the wilderness -- the way of the Red Sea.' Smith's Literal Translation And the Amalekites and the Canaanites will dwell in the valley. Tomorrow turn ye; they shall remove for you into the desert the way of the sea of sedge. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor the Amalecite and the Chanaanite dwell in the valleys. To morrow remove the camp, and return into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Catholic Public Domain Version For the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys. Tomorrow, move the camp and return into the wilderness, by the way of the Red Sea.” New American Bible But now, since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn away tomorrow and set out into the wilderness by way of the Red Sea road. New Revised Standard Version Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the mountains.) Tomorrow turn and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the mountains; tomorrow turn and move you to the wilderness to the way of the Sea of Reeds.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the Vale; tomorrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.' Brenton Septuagint Translation But Amalec and the Chananite dwell in the valley: to-morrow turn and depart for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context God's Forgiveness and Judgment…24But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it. 25Now 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.” 26Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,… Cross References Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, Joshua 17:16 “The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.” Judges 1:19 The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had chariots of iron. Exodus 17:8 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. turn back tomorrow Exodus 14:2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon. Deuteronomy 1:40 But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.” Deuteronomy 2:1 Then we turned back and headed for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, as the LORD had instructed me, and for many days we wandered around Mount Seir. and head for the wilderness Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle. Exodus 15:22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. along the route to the Red Sea.” Numbers 21:4 Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Numbers 33:8 They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah. Exodus 23:20-23 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. / But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. … Joshua 5:6 For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Psalm 95:10-11 For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” / So I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.” Hebrews 3:17-19 And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? / So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter. Treasury of Scripture (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelled in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. the Amalekites Numbers 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. turn you Numbers 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Deuteronomy 1:40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. Psalm 81:11-13 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me… Jump to Previous Amalekite Amalekites Canaanite Canaanites Desert Dwell Dwelling Dwelt Journey Red Round Route Sea Tomorrow To-Morrow Turn Turning Vale Valley Valleys Waste Way Wilderness YourselvesJump to Next Amalekite Amalekites Canaanite Canaanites Desert Dwell Dwelling Dwelt Journey Red Round Route Sea Tomorrow To-Morrow Turn Turning Vale Valley Valleys Waste Way Wilderness YourselvesNumbers 14 1. The people murmur at the news6. 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 Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, Israel faced established and dangerous opponents positioned in the land ahead. The Amalekites had already shown hostility toward Israel, while the Canaanites occupied the land God had promised to give them. Their presence underscored the danger of advancing in self-will after rejecting God’s command. Jos 17:16 “The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied,… turn back tomorrow God ordered the people to withdraw rather than attempt an unauthorized invasion. Their refusal to trust Him at Kadesh brought immediate consequences: the generation that had left Egypt would not enter the land. Exo 14:2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp… and head for the wilderness The wilderness, a place of testing, discipline, and reliance on God, would become the place of Israel’s prolonged discipline. There the nation would remain until the unbelieving generation died and a new generation was prepared to enter Canaan. Exo 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness… along the route to the Red Sea.” Their return toward the Red Sea marked a reversal from the border of the Promised Land. The route recalled God’s earlier deliverance from Egypt, yet Israel now turned back because of rebellion rather than moving forward in faith. Num 21:4 Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route… Persons / Places / Events 1. AmalekitesA nomadic tribe known for their hostility towards Israel. They were descendants of Esau and often opposed the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land. 2. Canaanites Inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham. They were known for their idolatrous practices and were often in conflict with the Israelites. 3. The Wilderness Refers to the desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith in God's promises. 4. The Red Sea A significant body of water that the Israelites crossed miraculously during their exodus from Egypt, symbolizing God's deliverance and power. 5. The Command to Turn Back This event marks a pivotal moment where God instructs the Israelites to retreat due to their lack of faith, leading to their prolonged wandering in the wilderness. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' failure to trust and obey God resulted in a significant setback. Believers today are reminded of the importance of obedience to God's guidance. Consequences of Unbelief The command to turn back highlights the serious consequences of unbelief. Christians are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem daunting. God's Sovereignty and Plan Despite the Israelites' disobedience, God's plan for His people remained intact. This teaches us that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, even when we falter. The Importance of Faith The Israelites' lack of faith serves as a cautionary tale. Believers are called to cultivate a strong faith that trusts in God's provision and timing. Learning from Past Mistakes The account encourages reflection on past failures to avoid repeating them. Christians are urged to learn from the Israelites' mistakes and seek God's wisdom in their journey. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 14:25?2. How does Numbers 14:25 demonstrate God's guidance in times of rebellion? 3. What lessons can we learn from God's command to "turn back tomorrow"? 4. How does Numbers 14:25 connect with God's patience in Exodus 34:6? 5. How can we apply the Israelites' experience to our spiritual journey today? 6. What does the mention of the "Amalekites and Canaanites" teach about spiritual vigilance? 7. Why did God command the Israelites to turn back toward the wilderness in Numbers 14:25? 8. How does Numbers 14:25 reflect God's judgment and mercy simultaneously? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Numbers 14:25? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 14? (25) Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.--There is considerable difficulty in regard to the meaning and connection of these words. They may be attached to the words which precede: "And his seed shall possess it, and the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelling in the valley"--i.e., shall possess the land occupied by them. There are strong objections, however, to this rendering, as well as to the rendering adopted by the Authorised Version, if the latter be understood as an historical statement respecting the geographical position of the Amalekites and Canaanites, of which Moses can scarcely be supposed to have been ignorant, and which may be assigned with greater probability to the "hill" than to the "valley." (Comp. Numbers 14:45 and Note; also Deuteronomy 1:44, where one or both of these races are spoken of under the name of Amorites or mountaineers.) The word which is rendered "dwelt" is often used in reference to a temporary sojourn, as, e.g., in Joshua 8:9 of the ambuscade sent by Joshua, which "abode" between Bethel and Ai, and in 1Samuel 25:13 of a portion of David's men who "abode by the stuff." It is used also in Numbers 14:45 of this chapter in respect to the position of the Amalekites and Canaanites, whether temporary or permanent, in the "hill," which appears to be used in contrast with the "valley." The passage may be rendered thus: "Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites are abiding in the valley," i.e., are lying in ambuscade in the valley, and waiting for an opportunity to attack the Israelites (comp. Numbers 14:43). If this interpretation of the words, which is that of Ibn Ezra, be adopted, they afford a strong reason for the command which follows:--"To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea"--i.e., do not fall into the snare which is laid for you, but turn and go in a contrary direction. . . . Verse 25. - Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley. This parenthesis bears on the face of it several difficulties, both as to the meaning of the statement and as to its position in the text. 1. It has been stated just before (Numbers 13:29) that the "Canaanites" dwelt by the sea, and in the Ghor, and it has been proposed by some to understand under this name the Phoenicians, because "Sidon" was the first-born of Canaan, and because they are known to have occupied the coast. But if "Canaanite" means "Phoenician" in chapter Numbers 13:29, it is difficult to maintain that it is here equivalent to "Amorite." Again, if "Canaanite" be taken in this vaguer sense, yet it is clear that the Amorites dwelt in "the mountain" (cf. e.g., verse 45 with Deuteronomy 1:44), and not in the lowlands. This has been got over by supposing that עֵמֶק may mean an upland vale, or plateau, such as that to which the Israelites presently ascended. It is, however, a straining of the word to assign such a meaning to it. It is rightly translated by the Septuagint ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι. And even if one looking down from above might call an upland plain by this name, yet certainly one looking up from below would not. If the word stands rightly in this place, בָּעֵמֶק must mean "in the Wady Murreh," the broad sandy strait which bounded the "mountain of the Amorite" on the south. If so, we must conclude that not only the roving Amalekites, but also the Canaanites, or Amorites, had established themselves in some parts of the Wady. 2. It is scarcely credible that an observation of this sort, which would seem unusual and abrupt in any speech, should have formed a part of God's message to Moses. It has no apparent connection with the context. It does not (as often alleged) afford a reason for the command which follows; it was not at all because enemies were already in possession before them that the Israelites had to turn their backs upon the promised land, but because God had withdrawn for the time his promised aid. If the "valley" be the Rakhmah plateau, they had always known that hostile tribes held it, and that they would have to conquer them. That the words are an interpolation, as the A.V. represents them, seems as certain as internal evidence can make it; lint by whom made, and with what intent, is a question which will probably never be answered. It may be worth while to hazard a conjecture that the interpolated words are really connected with what goes before, viz., the promise of inheritance to Caleb. Now that promise was fulfilled in the gift of Hebron to Caleb and his seed (Joshua 14:14). But we have express mention in Genesis 37:14 of the "vale of Hebron," and the same word, עֵמֶק, is used in the Hebrew. Is it not possible that this parenthesis was originally the gloss of one who had a special interest in the heritage of Caleb, and wished to note that at the time it was given to him "the vale" was occupied by two hostile peoples? Into the wilderness, i.e., the Sinaitic peninsula, as distinguished from Palestine on the one hand, and from Egypt on the other. By the way of the Red Sea, i.e., towards the Red Sea; here apparently the Elanitic Gulf (cf. Numbers 11:31). Numbers 14:25 records God’s immediate, literal directive for Israel to reverse course because hostile nations occupied the valleys. Their unbelief barred them from entering Canaan, so the LORD ordered a prompt retreat into the wilderness by the familiar Red Sea route. The verse highlights the seriousness of distrust, the necessity of swift obedience, and God’s faithful guidance even when the way forward becomes the way back.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now since the Amalekitesוְהָֽעֲמָלֵקִ֥י (wə·hā·‘ă·mā·lê·qî) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6003: Amalekites -- descendants of Amalek and Canaanites וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י (wə·hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3669: Canaanite -- inhabitant of Canaan are living יוֹשֵׁ֣ב (yō·wō·šêḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry in the valleys, בָּעֵ֑מֶק (bā·‘ê·meq) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6010: A vale turn back פְּנ֨וּ (pə·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look tomorrow מָחָ֗ר (mā·ḥār) Adverb Strong's 4279: Deferred, the morrow, tomorrow, hereafter and head for וּסְע֥וּ (ū·sə·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey the wilderness הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (ham·miḏ·bār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech along the route to דֶּ֥רֶךְ (de·reḵ) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action the Red סֽוּף׃ (sūp̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5488: A reed, the papyrus Sea.” יַם־ (yam-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin Additonal Resources Numbers 14:25 Blue Letter BibleNumbers 14:25 Bible Gateway Numbers 14:25 Bible.com Numbers 14:25 NIV |
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