Numbers 14:41

Go not up, for the Lord is not among you,.... And therefore could not expect success, for victory is of the Lord; the Targum of Jonathan adds,"the ark, and the tabernacle, and the cloud of glory move not,''which were a plain indication that the Lord would not go with them, and therefore could not hope to prevail over their enemies and enter the land, but on the contrary might expect to be defeated by them, as follows:

that ye be not smitten before your enemies; of which they would be in great danger should they attempt to go up the hill, and the Lord not with them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which conduct shall not, &c. They had been ordered to return: now they will advance, and, though admonished that the Lord will not assist them, they depend upon their own efforts, being ever full of themselves, and distrustful of God, the two sources of all spiritual misfortunes. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The commandment of the Lord; either that command, Go not up, &c., which, though in this place mentioned after, yet may seem to have gone before their transgression, by comparing this place with Deu 1:42,43; or that command above, Num 14:25, Turn ye, and get ye into the wilderness, &c., which was a course directly contrary to that which they took.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

41. It shall not prosper — R.V., “seeing it shall not prosper.” Before sin can ultimately prosper, the holy God must abdicate the throne of the universe. The wrong of rebellion and unbelief is not turned into right by attempting the exact opposite. It is still the same spirit. The obedience which is not of penitent faith is of self-confidence, and only another kind of unbelief and self-righteousness. “Israel’s determination to go up on the morrow, and so to retrieve the past, argued as great spiritual ignorance and unfitness as their former faintheartedness and rebellion at the report of the spies.” — Edersheim.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Moses said, i.e., had said, before they left the comp. (cf. verse 44, and Deu_1:42)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Why are you now violating Yahweh's command?

Moses asks this question to rebuke the people of Israel. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. AT: "You should not be violating Yahweh's command again." (See: Rhetorical Question)

Yahweh is not with you

Helping them is spoken of as being with them. AT: "Yahweh will not help you" (See: Metaphor)

to prevent you from being defeated by your enemies

This can be stated in active form. AT: "to prevent your enemies from defeating you" or "to give you victory over your enemies" (See: Active or Passive)

you will die by the sword

Here "the sword" refers to battle. AT: "you will die in battle" or "they will kill you when you fight against them" (See: Metonymy)

you turned back from following Yahweh

Obeying Yahweh is spoken of as following him, and stopping doing that is spoken of as turning away from him. AT: "you stopped obeying Yahweh" or "you have decided not to obey Yahweh" (See: Metaphor)

he will not be with you

Helping them is spoken of as being with them. AT: "he will not help you" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

Yahweh

command

adversary

Amalek

Canaan

sword

turn

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

והיא לא תצלח AND IT SHALL NOT PROSPER — What you are about to do will not be successful.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

WHY NOW DO YE TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT OF THE ETERNAL? This does not refer to the [Divine] decree which He mentioned [previously] that your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, but it means: “Why do ye transgress the commandment of the Eternal: for He has commanded me that you should not go up at all, that ye be not smitten down before your enemies.” And similarly Moses said in the Book of Deuteronomy, And ye deemed it a light thing to go up into the hill-country. And the Eternal said unto me: ‘Say unto them: Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.’

V’HI’ (AND IT) SHALL NOT SUCCEED. “This [attempt] that you are making [literally: “and she”] can refer, Rashi interprets it as referring to “this attempt that you are making.” Ramban suggests two other explanations. will not succeed.” This is Rashi’s language. Or it may mean that “the violation of G-d’s commandment does not carry with it success,” as Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra wrote. By way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala, this is like] ‘hi’ mithhalecheth’ (she moved to and fro) between the living creatures]. thus refers back to the pi Hashem (“the commandment of the Eternal”) which, when violated cannot bring success, for the Eternal is not among you (Verse 42 — Abusaula).

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.