This is another time when the Israelites did not obey Yahweh’s command (see 1.19-26; Numbers 13–14). All the words used in this verse are the usual ones in describing these matters.

Go up: this may mean to go up into the mountainous region; but it may simply be a way of saying “Get going” (see note at 1.19).

Take possession of the land: see 1.8.

Which I have given you: again, the two actions, one on the part of the Israelites and the other on the part of God, go together.

Rebelled against the commandment: to “rebel” means to disobey. “You refused to obey the commandment” (see verse 7).

Did not believe him or obey his voice: their lack of faith in Yahweh led to their act of rebellion, of disobedience. Good News Translation has “you rebelled against him; you did not trust him or obey him.” However, in some languages the repetition of “rebelled” and “did not … obey” will be unnatural style. In such a case we may say, for example, “You did not trust him and refused to obey him.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .