Forced to submission at last, the survivors "returned, and wept before the Lord;" but "the Lord would not hearken" to their voice. Deuteronomy 1:45. By their signal victory the enemies of Israel, who had before awaited with trembling the approach of that mighty host, were inspired with confidence to resist them. All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous things that God had wrought for His people, they now regarded as false, and they felt that there was no cause for fear. That first defeat of Israel, by inspiring the Canaanites with courage and resolution, had greatly increased the difficulties of the conquest. Nothing remained for Israel but to fall back from the face of their victorious foes, into the wilderness, knowing that here must be the grave of a whole generation.

Til sidst blev de tvunget til at opgive kampen, og de overlevende kom tilbage og græd for Herrens åsyn, men Herren ville ikke høre. 5. Mos. 1, 45. Israels fjender, som skælvende havde afventet den store hærs ankomst, fik efter denne afgørende sejr tillid til, at de kunne modstå dem. De betragtede alt, hvad de havde hørt om de mirakler, som Gud havde gjort for sit folk, som falske rygter og fandt ingen grund til at frygte. Israels første nederlag fyldte kanaanæerne med mod og beslutsomhed og vanskeliggjorde i høj grad landets erobring. Israel havde intet andet valg end at trække sig tilbage fra deres sejrrige fjender og drage ud i ørkenen, som de vidste ville blive gravplads for en hel nation.