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that the Lord our God commanded us。〃 Deuteronomy 1：41。 So terribly blinded
had they become by transgression。 The Lord had never commanded them to 〃go
up and fight。〃 It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by
warfare； but by strict obedience to His commands。
Though their hearts were unchanged； the people had been brought to confess
the sinfulness and folly of their rebellion at the report of the spies。 They
now saw the value of the blessing which they had so rashly cast away。 They
confessed that it was their own unbelief which had shut them out from
Canaan。 〃We
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have sinned；〃 they said； acknowledging that the fault was in themselves； and
not in God； whom they had so wickedly charged with failing to fulfill His
promises to them。 Though their confession did not spring from true
repentance； it served to vindicate the justice of God in His dealings with
them。
The Lord still works in a similar manner to glorify His name by bringing men
to acknowledge His justice。 When those who profess to love Him complain of
His providence； despise His promises； and； yielding to temptation； unite
with evil angels to defeat the purposes of God； the Lord often so overrules
circumstances as to bring these persons where； though they may have no real
repentance； they will be convinced of their sin and will be constrained to
acknowledge the wickedness of their course and the justice and goodness of
God in His dealings with them。 It is thus that God sets counteragencies at
work to make manifest the works of darkness。 And though the spirit which
prompted to the evil course is not radically changed； confessions are made
that vindicate the honor of God and justify His faithful reprovers； who have
been opposed and misrepresented。 Thus it will be when the wrath of God shall
be finally poured out。 When 〃the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His
saints； to execute judgment upon all；〃 He will also 〃convince all that are
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds。〃 Jude 14； 15。 Every sinner
will be brought to see and acknowledge the justice of his condemnation。
Regardless of the divine sentence； the Israelites prepared to undertake the
conquest of Canaan。 Equipped with armor and weapons of war； they were； in
their own estimation； fully prepared for conflict； but they were sadly
deficient in the sight of God and His sorrowful servants。 When； nearly forty
years later； the Lord directed Israel to go up and take Jericho； He promised
to go with them。 The ark containing His law was borne before their armies。
His appointed leaders were to direct their movements； under the divine
supervision。 With such guidance； no harm could come to them。 But now；
contrary to the command of God and the solemn prohibition of their leaders；
without the ark； and without Moses； they went out to meet the armies of the
enemy。
The trumpet sounded an alarm； and Moses hastened after them with the
warning； 〃Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord？ but it
shall not prosper。 Go not up；
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for the Lord is not among you； that ye be not smitten before your enemies。
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you； and ye shall
fall by the sword。〃
The Canaanites had heard of the mysterious power that seemed to be guarding
this people and of the wonders wrought in their behalf； and they now
summoned a strong force to repel the invaders。 The attacking army had no
leader。 No prayer was offered that God would give them the victory。 They set
forth with the desperate purpose to reverse their fate or to die in battle。
Though untrained in war； they were a vast multitude of armed men； and they
hoped by a sudden and fierce assault to bear down all opposition。 They
presumptuously challenged the foe that had not dared to attack them。
The Canaanites had stationed themselves upon a rocky tableland reached only
by difficult passes and a steep and dangerous ascent。 The immense numbers of
the Hebrews could only render their defeat more terrible。 They slowly
threaded the mountain paths； exposed to the deadly missiles of their enemies
above。 Massive rocks came thundering down； marking their path with the blood
of the slain。 Those who reached the summit； exhausted with their ascent；
were fiercely repulsed； and driven back with great loss。 The field of
carnage was strewn with the bodies of the dead。 The army of Israel was
utterly defeated。 Destruction and death was the result of that rebellious
experiment。
Forced to submission at last； the survivors 〃returned； and wept before the
Lord；〃 but 〃the Lord would not hearken〃 to their voice。 Deuteronomy 1：45。 By
their signal victory the enemies of Israel； who had before awaited with
trembling the approach of that mighty host； were inspired with confidence to
resist them。 All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous things
that God had wrought for His people； they now regarded as false； and they
felt that there was no cause for fear。 That first defeat of Israel； by
inspiring the Canaanites with courage and resolution； had greatly increased
the difficulties of the conquest。 Nothing remained for Israel but to fall
back from the face of their victorious foes； into the wilderness； knowing
that here must be the grave of a whole generation。
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Chapter 35
The Rebellion of Korah
The judgments visited upon the Israelites served for a time to restrain
their murmuring and insubordination； but the spirit of rebellion was still
in the heart and eventually brought forth the bitterest fruits。 The former
rebellions had been mere popular tumults； arising from the sudden impulse of
the excited multitude； but now a deep…laid conspiracy was formed； the result
of a determined purpose to overthrow the authority of the leaders appointed
by God Himself。
Korah； the leading spirit in this movement； was a Levite； of the family of
Kohath； and a cousin of Moses； he was a man of ability and influence。 Though
appointed to the service of the tabernacle； he had become dissatisfied with
his position and aspired to the dignity of the priesthood。 The bestowal upon
Aaron and his house of the priestly office； which had formerly devolved upon
the first…born son of every family； had given rise to jealousy and
dissatisfaction； and for some time Korah had been secretly opposing the
authority of Moses and Aaron； though he had not ventured upon any open act
of rebellion。 He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the
civil and the religious authority。 He did not fail to find sympathizers。
Close to the tents of Korah and the Kohathites； on the south side of the
tabernacle； was the encampment of the tribe of Reuben； the tents of Dathan
and Abiram； two princes of this tribe； being near that of Korah。 These
princes readily joined in his ambitious schemes。 Being descendants from the
eldest son of Jacob； they claimed that the civil authority belonged to them；
and they determined to divide with Korah the honors of the prie