King James Bible
"Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way."
God reaffirms His promise to bring Israel to Canaan, described with the traditional phrase denoting abundant fertility and prosperity. This reassurance comes even as He announces His withdrawal, showing that His covenant commitment remains despite Israel's rebellion with the golden calf. God declares He will not personally accompany Israel as originally planned, marking a devastating change after the golden calf incident. His presence would instead be mediated through an angel, creating distance between the holy God and His people. God identifies Israel's core problem as stubborn rebellion, using an agricultural metaphor of an ox that refuses the yoke. This phrase becomes a recurring biblical description for Israel's persistent resistance to divine authority throughout their history. God's withdrawal paradoxically expresses mercy—His holy presence would destroy the sinful people if He remained among them. This tension between divine holiness and human sinfulness drives the need for Moses' subsequent intercession and the eventual restoration of God's presence.