Psalms 106:24-27
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire," a phrase that highlights how God intended it to be deeply longed for. Their "despising" it reveals a profound spiritual blindness, where they found the thought of a little hardship too much to bear, preferring the familiarity of slavery over God's rich promise.
The psalm has just recounted the Israelites' golden calf rebellion and subsequent punishment. Now, it shifts to their rejection of the Promised Land after the spies returned with a negative report, preferring their enslavement in Egypt over the challenges of conquering Canaan. This deep disbelief in God's promise and commands led to His oath that they would not enter the land.
Imagine a place so beautiful, so abundant, that it's literally called the 'land of desire.' Yet, the Israelites saw it and chose to turn away. What does this tell us about how we view God's blessings?
The text calls Canaan the "pleasant land" or "land of desire." This wasn't just a nice vacation spot; it was the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, a symbol of God's provision and faithfulness.
However, when the spies returned with their discouraging report, the Israelites’ perspective shifted dramatically. Instead of focusing on the promise and God's power to give them the land, they fixated on the giants and the perceived insurmountable challenges.
A Choice of Views
The Psalmist pinpoints a single, critical sin: unbelief. What happens when we stop trusting God's word, even when we've seen His power before?
The core issue for the Israelites wasn't just a momentary lapse; it was a deep-seated lack of faith in God's word. They knew God was able and willing to give them the land, as they had witnessed His mighty acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea.
The Gravity of Disbelief
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.
ragan · Hebrew Verb
To express discontent, complain, or grumble, particularly against divine providence or God’s chosen leadership; it is frequently characterized by a lack of trust in God’s goodness.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel; the personal name of the Almighty who enters into relationship with His people.
This verse harks back to a pivotal moment where the Israelites, on the very cusp of receiving God's promised gift, chose fear and disbelief over faith, despising the very land that represented their future.
c. 1446 BC
Spies Explore Canaan
Moses sends twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. They return with samples of its fruit but also with a terrifying report of its strong inhabitants.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Reject the Land
The Israelites, hearing the spies' negative report and fearing the Canaanites, rebel against Moses and God, preferring to return to slavery in Egypt rather than enter the promised land.
c. 1446 BC
God Decrees Wilderness Wandering
Because of their unbelief and rebellion, God declares that the generation that came out of Egypt will not enter the promised land, but will wander in the wilderness for forty years.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into Canaan
After forty years of wandering, the new generation of Israelites, led by Joshua, finally crosses the Jordan River and begins the conquest of the promised land.
This passage directly follows the spies' report, detailing God's anger at the Israelites' disbelief and their rejection of His promise of the land.
Numbers 14:2-4Here, the people's desire to return to Egypt and their preference for bondage over facing the challenges of Canaan explicitly shows them 'despising the pleasant land'.
Deuteronomy 1:26This verse records Moses reminding the people that they rebelled against God's command and refused to go up and possess the land, directly illustrating the 'despising' mentioned in the Psalm.
Hebrews 3:18The New Testament author uses the example of the Israelites' disobedience and disbelief in the wilderness as a stark warning against hardening their hearts.
Joshua 1:6This verse is a counterpoint, showing Joshua calling the new generation to be strong and courageous to enter and possess the land God promised, highlighting what the previous generation failed to do.
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.
The "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire," a phrase that highlights how God intended it to be deeply longed for. Their "despising" it reveals a profound spiritual blindness, where they found the thought of a little hardship too much to bear, preferring the familiarity of slavery over God's rich promise.
The psalm has just recounted the Israelites' golden calf rebellion and subsequent punishment. Now, it shifts to their rejection of the Promised Land after the spies returned with a negative report, preferring their enslavement in Egypt over the challenges of conquering Canaan. This deep disbelief in God's promise and commands led to His oath that they would not enter the land.
The psalm has just recounted the Israelites' golden calf rebellion and subsequent punishment. Now, it shifts to their rejection of the Promised Land after the spies returned with a negative report, preferring their enslavement in Egypt over the challenges of conquering Canaan. This deep disbelief in God's promise and commands led to His oath that they would not enter the land.
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nasa yado · Hebrew Verb phrase
An oath or solemn promise, often involving a gesture of lifting the hand toward God, signifying a binding commitment or a divine judgment that cannot be revoked.
zera · Hebrew Noun
The descendants or physical progeny of a person or a nation, often carrying the connotation of future generations or a collective legacy.
"Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall…" — The "pleasant land" wasn't just a nice place; it was the "land of desire," a phrase that highlights how God intended it to be deeply longed for. Their "despising" it reveals a profound spiritual bl…
