Deuteronomy 1:44 kjv
And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1:44 nkjv
And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1:44 niv
The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1:44 esv
Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1:44 nlt
But the Amorites who lived there came out against you like a swarm of bees. They chased and battered you all the way from Seir to Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 14:45 | Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and struck them and crushed them even to Hormah. | Direct parallel, describing the same event. |
| Num 14:40 | And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.” | Israel's presumptuous ascent to attack. |
| Num 14:43 | For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword, because you have turned back from following the LORD. | God's explicit warning against the attack. |
| Deut 1:26 | Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. | Israel's initial rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea. |
| Deut 1:32 | Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God. | Core issue: lack of faith in God. |
| Deut 1:34 | “And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angered, and he swore... | God's righteous anger and judgment. |
| Josh 7:1-5 | But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things... So the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men... | Disobedience leads to defeat in battle. |
| Lev 26:17 | I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. | Divine curse for disobedience. |
| Psa 78:32 | In spite of all this, they still sinned; they did not believe in his wonderful works. | Continued rebellion and unbelief. |
| Isa 1:20 | But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. | Consequence of refusing God's word. |
| 1 Cor 10:5 | Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. | Warning against God's displeasure for sin. |
| Heb 3:19 | So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. | Unbelief as the barrier to God's promises. |
| Heb 4:11 | Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. | Warning against repeating their disobedience. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Connection to Israel's presumption. |
| Psa 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. | Futility of efforts without God's blessing. |
| Psa 118:12 | They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! | Imagery of overwhelming enemy like bees. |
| Num 21:3 | So the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and gave the Canaanites into their hand, and they devoted them to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah. | Ironic contrast: Israel later defeated enemies at Hormah in obedience. |
| Deut 28:25 | The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies... | Defeat as a consequence for disobedience. |
| Deut 4:9 | Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen... | Importance of remembering past lessons. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | The broader theological consequence of sin. |
Deuteronomy 1 verses
Deuteronomy 1 44 Meaning
Deuteronomy 1:44 recounts a pivotal event in Israel's wilderness journey where, following their rebellion against the Lord, the Amorites descended from the hills, fiercely pursued them like swarming bees, and inflicted a crushing defeat extending from the hill country of Seir all the way to Hormah. This defeat was a direct consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith in the face of God's command to enter the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 1 44 Context
Deuteronomy 1:44 is part of Moses' farewell address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, before they cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Moses is recounting their forty-year wilderness journey, highlighting key events as lessons for the new generation. This specific verse recalls the first disastrous attempt by the Israelites to enter Canaan after the report of the twelve spies from Kadesh-Barnea (Num 13-14). After hearing the majority spy report filled with fear and unbelief, the people rebelled against God's command to go forward, murmuring and attempting to appoint a new leader to return to Egypt. God, angered by their unbelief and disobedience, decreed that that generation would die in the wilderness. In a sudden, ill-conceived act of presumed repentance, yet still contrary to God's now explicit instruction not to go up, a contingent of Israelites defiantly tried to force their way into the land. The defeat at Hormah, described in this verse, was God's immediate judgment upon this presumptuous and disobedient act, demonstrating the futility of human endeavor when detached from divine instruction and faith.
Deuteronomy 1 44 Word analysis
- Then (וַיֵּצֵא - waiye’tse): This conjunctive phrase connects the outcome (defeat) directly to the preceding actions of Israel – their stubborn and disobedient decision to attack the Amorites against God's direct command (Deut 1:41-43). It highlights cause and effect.
- the Amorites (הָאֱמֹרִי - ha’Ěmōrî): A powerful Canaanite people dwelling in the hill country. They represent the formidable challenges that required divine assistance to overcome, challenges Israel chose to face in their own strength without God's blessing.
- who lived in that hill country: Emphasizes the geographical advantage the Amorites held, as well as the difficulty of the terrain. Israel was venturing into hostile territory without divine leading.
- came out against you: Signifies the Amorites' aggressive and proactive response, not a passive encounter. They engaged Israel forcefully.
- and chased you (וַיִּרְדְּפ֣וּ אֶתְכֶ֗ם - wayyirdəpū ’eṯḵem): From the root
radap, meaning to pursue, chase, follow. This was a rout, a complete flight, indicating a lack of Israelite resistance and a desperate retreat. - as bees do (כַּדְּבֹרִ֖ים - kaddəḇōrîm): This is a powerful simile. "Bees" (from
devorah) symbolizes being overwhelmed by numerous, relentless, and stinging (painful) attackers. It evokes an image of chaotic pursuit and inescapable assault, where every direction is met with aggressive enemies. - and crushed you (וַיַּכּ֤וּ אֶתְכֶם֙ - wayyakkū ’eṯkem): From the root
nakah, meaning to strike, smite, defeat utterly, kill. This verb signifies a decisive and devastating military defeat, beyond mere chasing; it implies casualties and significant loss, a thorough and painful humiliation. - in Seir (בְּשֵׂעִ֖יר - bəśê‘îr): The mountainous region associated with Edom. This location indicates how far the Israelite retreat extended, deep into a harsh and unfavorable territory, highlighting the severity and geographical extent of their defeat.
- as far as Hormah (עַד־חָרְמָֽה - ‘aḏ-Ḥormāh):
Ḥormāh(חרמה) means "devotion to destruction" or "utter destruction." This location name carries profound irony. Israel, who failed toḥāram(devote to destruction) the inhabitants of the land as God commanded them to, were themselves utterly defeated to a place namedḤormāh. Later, under God's blessing, they would conquer this specific location, dedicating it to destruction in success (Num 21:3), emphasizing the stark contrast between their disobedient failure here and future obedient triumph.
Deuteronomy 1 44 Bonus section
- Presumptuous Sin: This event is a prime example of "presumptuous sin" (Psa 19:13), where individuals act defiantly against known divine commands. Israel presumed upon God's favor after He had explicitly stated His displeasure and instructed them not to ascend.
- God's Presence as Protection: The defeat underscores a crucial biblical principle: God's presence, specifically His divine cloud that previously led them, was their ultimate protection and strength. When they ventured without it, even a weaker foe could prevail. Their "going up" in verse 41 while "the ark of the covenant of the LORD and Moses did not depart from the camp" (Deut 1:42, cf. Num 14:44) explicitly indicates their folly.
- Learning from Failure: Moses recounted this humiliating defeat not to condemn but to instruct the new generation on the importance of hearing and obeying the voice of the Lord, fostering faith over fear, and trust over presumption. It teaches that even good intentions, if not rooted in obedience to God's specific instruction, can lead to disaster.
Deuteronomy 1 44 Commentary
Deuteronomy 1:44 serves as a potent warning against disobedience and presumption in the faith. Israel's defeat was not a testament to the Amorites' strength but a demonstration of God's withdrawal of protection due to Israel's rebellion. They refused to trust God when He commanded them to advance, and then, in their own misguided zeal and perceived repentance, attempted to fight when He commanded them to retreat. This highlights that true faith is not merely about action, but about acting in alignment with God's timing and direct command. Their failure underscores that human might and resolve are useless without divine blessing and guidance. The imagery of being "chased as bees" conveys the sheer, overwhelming, and painful nature of a defeat administered or permitted by a just God against His disobedient people.