³ Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.^(A) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked^(B) people and I might destroy^(C) you on the way.”

⁹ “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor^(A) in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us.^(B) Although this is a stiff-necked^(C) people, forgive our wickedness and our sin,^(D) and take us as your inheritance.”^(E)

²³ But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant^(A) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy^(B) them or banish them from his presence.^(C)

¹⁸ So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.^(A) Only the tribe of Judah was left,