King James Bible
"And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies."
God speaks directly to Moses with instructions to relay to the Israelites. This follows their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea where they refused to enter the Promised Land, and now in presumptuous repentance they plan to attack without divine approval. A direct prohibition against military action, reversing the original command to conquer Canaan. Their window of obedience has closed due to their earlier refusal, demonstrating that God's timing cannot be manipulated by human regret. God explicitly withdraws His presence from their military campaign—the very presence that guaranteed victory in holy war. Without the divine warrior leading them, their strength becomes merely human and insufficient. The certain consequence of fighting without God's presence is defeat and casualties. This warning emphasizes that Israel's military success depended entirely on divine participation, not their own prowess or numbers.