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Deuteronomy 1:41 - Repentance without divine approval?

Deuteronomy 1:41 - דברים 1:41

Hebrew Text

וַתַּעֲנוּ וַתֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי חָטָאנוּ לַיהוָה אֲנַחְנוּ נַעֲלֶה וְנִלְחַמְנוּ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּנוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַתַּחְגְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת־כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ וַתָּהִינוּ לַעֲלֹת הָהָרָה׃

English Translation

Then you answered and said to me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And you girded on every man his weapons of war, and ventured to go up into the hill.

Transliteration

Vata'anu vatomru elai chatanu la'Adonai anachnu na'aleh venilchamnu kechol asher-tzivanu Adonai Eloheinu vatachgeru ish et-klei milchamto vatahinu la'alot haharah.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַֽתַּעֲנ֣וּ <b>׀</b> וַתֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלַ֗י חָטָ֘אנוּ֮ לַיהֹוָה֒ אֲנַ֤חְנוּ נַעֲלֶה֙ וְנִלְחַ֔מְנוּ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖נוּ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַֽתַּחְגְּר֗וּ אִ֚ישׁ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י מִלְחַמְתּ֔וֹ וַתָּהִ֖ינוּ לַעֲלֹ֥ת הָהָֽרָה׃
וַֽתַּעֲנ֣וּ ׀ וַתֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלַ֗י חָטָ֘אנוּ֮ לַיהֹוָה֒ אֲנַ֤חְנוּ נַעֲלֶה֙ וְנִלְחַ֔מְנוּ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖נוּ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַֽתַּחְגְּר֗וּ אִ֚ישׁ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י מִלְחַמְתּ֔וֹ וַתָּהִ֖ינוּ לַעֲלֹ֥ת הָהָֽרָה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in Devarim (Deuteronomy)

This verse (Devarim 1:41) appears in Moshe's recounting of the Israelites' reaction after being punished for the sin of the spies. Initially, they had refused to enter Eretz Yisrael due to fear, but after Hashem decreed that they would wander for 40 years, they suddenly expressed remorse and attempted to proceed—against Hashem's command.

Repentance or Further Rebellion?

Rashi explains that their declaration, "We have sinned against the Lord", was insincere. Their sudden willingness to fight was not true teshuvah, but rather a reaction to the punishment. The Sifrei (Devarim 25) compares this to a child who refuses to go to school until threatened, then claims willingness—an outward change without inner transformation.

The Futility of Their Actions

The phrase "And you girded every man his weapons of war" highlights their misplaced confidence. Ramban notes that their military preparation was futile because Hashem had already withdrawn His protection. The Talmud (Sotah 44b) teaches that without divine approval, human effort in battle is meaningless—a lesson reinforced when the Amalekites and Canaanites defeated them (Devarim 1:44).

Key Lessons from the Midrash

  • Timing of Teshuvah: The Midrash Tanchuma (Shelach 9) emphasizes that repentance must come before divine decree, not after.
  • Sincerity Matters: Mechilta (Beshalach 1) contrasts their forced confession with Pharaoh's in Shemot 9:27, showing that coerced admissions lack spiritual weight.
  • Divine Command Over Human Initiative: The Or HaChaim notes that their statement "as the Lord our God commanded us" was false—Hashem had stopped commanding them to ascend at that point.

Halachic Implications

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:1) derives from this episode that true repentance requires abandoning the sin, confessing, and resolving not to repeat it—criteria the generation in the wilderness failed to meet. Their armed advance, despite Moshe's warning (Devarim 1:42), demonstrated ongoing defiance rather than submission to Hashem's will.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 1:41 mean?
A: This verse describes how the Israelites admitted their sin of lacking faith in Hashem after the incident of the spies (Meraglim). They initially refused to enter the Land of Israel, but now they regret their mistake and try to correct it by declaring they will go up and fight as Hashem originally commanded. However, as Rashi explains, their repentance came too late—Hashem had already decreed they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
Q: Why is the phrase 'we have sinned against the Lord' important?
A: The admission of sin ('חָטָאנוּ לַיהוָה') is a key concept in Judaism. The Talmud (Yoma 86b) teaches that sincere repentance can rectify wrongs. However, in this case, as Ramban explains, their repentance was incomplete because it came only after realizing punishment was imminent, not from pure recognition of their mistake. This teaches the importance of sincere and timely repentance.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the Israelites preparing for battle after initially refusing?
A: The Midrash (Tanchuma Shelach 9) teaches that this episode shows the danger of missing the proper time for mitzvot. When Hashem originally commanded them to enter the land, they lacked faith. Now, when they try to fight without Hashem's command, they fail (as the next verses describe). This teaches that mitzvot must be performed with faith and at their proper time, not just when we decide.