Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire." The Israelites didn't just reject a good location; they actively despised what God desired for them, preferring the familiar comfort of slavery over the unknown challenges of God's promise.
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' rebellion following the discouraging report from the spies sent into Canaan. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this land, they chose to despise it, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt to the promised abundance. This lack of faith led them to refuse God's command to enter and possess the land, setting the stage for God's judgment.
Imagine being on the doorstep of your dream home, only to turn your back and choose to stay in a cramped, old apartment. That's a picture of what happened to Israel.
The verse calls Canaan the 'pleasant land,' or 'land of desire.' It was a place overflowing with abundance, a physical manifestation of God's promises. Yet, faced with the challenge of taking possession, the Israelites despised it.
Why Despise a Gift?
What's the real reason behind rejecting a divine gift? It often boils down to a fundamental mistrust of the Giver.
The core issue highlighted in Psalm 106:24 is 'having no faith in his promise.' This wasn't just a minor oversight; it was the root of their rebellion and subsequent judgment.
The Gravity of Disbelief:
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Understand the original words
ma'as · Hebrew Verb
To treat with contempt or lack of value; to regard as unworthy of interest or respect, often manifesting in the rejection of God's blessings or truth.
emunah · Hebrew Noun
A state of trusting reliance on God and His word; a foundational posture of the heart that acknowledges God’s truthfulness and sovereign ability.
This verse points to a critical moment of choice and faith for ancient Israel. Their rejection of the promised land wasn't just about geography; it was a profound act of disbelief in God's character and promises, revealing that the real 'pleasant land' is found in trusting Him.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, God miraculously delivers the Israelites from Egypt through Moses. This marks the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
Spies Explore Canaan
Moses sends twelve spies to scout the Promised Land. Ten return with a discouraging report, emphasizing the land's strong defenses and giant inhabitants, while two (Caleb and Joshua) bring a positive report.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Israel Rejects the Promised Land
The people, swayed by the negative report, fear the Canaanites and rebel against God's command to enter the land. They call for a return to Egypt, despising the 'pleasant land' God promised.
c. 1445 BC
God Decrees Wilderness Wandering
Because of their unbelief and rebellion, God declares that the generation that left Egypt will wander in the wilderness for 40 years until they all die. Only Caleb and Joshua are promised entry into the land.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
After 40 years of wandering, the new generation, led by Joshua, crosses the Jordan River and begins the conquest of Canaan.
This passage directly describes the Israelites' reaction to the spies' report, showing them 'despising' the promised land and preferring to return to Egypt, mirroring the psalmist's lament.
Hebrews 3:16-19The author of Hebrews explicitly links the Israelites' unbelief and rebellion in the wilderness, including their despising of the promised land, to a warning against hardening their hearts today.
Deuteronomy 8:7-10This passage vividly describes the blessings of the 'pleasant land' that the Israelites were promised, highlighting what they had to lose through their unbelief.
Joshua 1:9In stark contrast to the generation that despised the land, Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous, relying on God's promise to give them the land.
bensonPsalms 106:24: "Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:"
Psalm 106:24-27 . They despised the pleasant land — Canaan, which was so, not only in truth, but even by the relation of those spies, who discouraged them from entering into it. They preferred Egypt and their former bondage before it, Numbers 14:3-4 , and did not think it deserving of a little hazard and difficulty in taking possession of it. They believed not his word — His promise of giving them the land, and s…
wesleyPsalms 106:24: "Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:"
106:24 Despised - Preferring Egypt, and their former bondage, before it, Numb 14:3,4.
What's easy to miss is that the "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire." The Israelites didn't just reject a good location; they actively despised what God desired for them, preferring the familiar comfort of slavery over the unknown challenges of God's promise.
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' rebellion following the discouraging report from the spies sent into Canaan. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this land, they chose to despise it, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt to the promised abundance. This lack of faith led them to refuse God's command to enter and possess the land, setting the stage for God's judgment.
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' rebellion following the discouraging report from the spies sent into Canaan. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this land, they chose to despise it, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt to the promised abundance. This lack of faith led them to refuse God's command to enter and possess the land, setting the stage for God's judgment.
"Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise." — What's easy to miss is that the "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire." The Israelites didn't just reject a good location; they actively despised what God desired for…
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Last reviewed October 2026