Deuteronomy 1:40-42

New Catholic Bible

⁴⁰ But as for you, turn back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

⁴¹ Then you replied and said to me, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight as the Lord, our God, has commanded us.” So every one of you put on your weapons, thinking it would be easy to go up into the hill country.

⁴² The Lord said to me, “Say to them, ‘Do not go up, nor fight. Otherwise you will be slain by your enemies.’ ”