King James Bible
"Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill."
The Israelites acknowledge their sin of rebellion after initially refusing to enter Canaan out of fear (v. 26-27). This confession comes after God's judgment that their generation would die in the wilderness, revealing a superficial repentance motivated by consequences rather than genuine faith. They presume to reverse God's judgment by belatedly obeying His original command to conquer the land. This reflects a misunderstanding that mere external compliance can undo divine discipline, ignoring that God had already withdrawn His promise of victory for their generation. Their military preparation emphasizes human effort and self-confidence rather than seeking God's renewed blessing. The phrase 'ready to go up' ironically echoes their earlier refusal, but now they act presumptuously without divine authorization, setting up their devastating defeat.