39 So Mosheh passed on to the Israelis what Yahweh had said, and the people were extremely sad. 40 Early the next morning, they went up towards the hilltops, saying, “Look at us all here! Yes, we sinned yesterday, but today we’ll go up to the place that Yahweh said.”

41 “What’s that?” Mosheh responded. “Don’t go against Yahweh’s instructions because your plan won’t succeed. 42 Don’t continue onwards because Yahweh isn’t with you and for sure you’ll all be defeated by your enemies 43 because you’ll all be facing the Amalekites and the Kanaanites and you’ll die by the sword. Yes, you’ve turned away from following Yahweh so he won’t be with you all.”

44 Nevertheless, they dared to continue up to the tops of the hills, but neither Mosheh nor the box containing the agreement with Yahweh, left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Kanaanites that lived in that part of the hill country attacked them and killed them as far down as Hormah.