But the people did not believe Moses. They went toward the high hill country. But Moses and the Box of the Lord’s Agreement [187] did not go with the people.
{So Hobab agreed,} and they began traveling from the mountain of the Lord. The priests took the Box of the Lord’s Agreement [155] and walked in front of the people. They carried the Holy Box for three days, looking for a place to camp.
The Amalekite people and Canaanite people will fight against you there. You have turned away from the Lord. So he will not be with you when you fight them. And you will all be killed in battle.”
“But if a person sins and knows that he is doing wrong, then that person is against the Lord. That person must be separated from his people. It is the same for a person born into the family of Israel or for a foreigner living among you.
Moses sent those 12,000 men to war. He sent Phineas, the son of Eleazar the priest, with them. Phineas took the holy things and the horns and trumpets with him.
“I spoke to you, but you did not listen. You refused to obey the Lord’s command. You thought you could use your own power. So you went up into the hill country.