Why did the people refuse to go into the land after they reached Kadesh Barnea?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

Fear. After spying out the land, they failed to put their trust in God to deliver the land to them as He promised, and considered only their own strength (or lack thereof). Thus, they faithlessly reasoned that they were not able to take the land from its current inhabitants. See Numbers chapters 13 and 14.

Answer 2

In the Book of Numbers, Moses sent spies to search the land of Canaan, but the narrative is actually two versions of the same story, by two different authors, blended together in the same book. As a result, there are two different reports about the land of Canaan and two different responses to those reports.

The Yahwist Source was only interested in providing an account of the conquest of the future kingdom of Judah, and (Numbers 13:22-25) the spies travelled only as far north as Hebron in Judah. The spies returned and issued their report to Moses alone, stating that the land was 'flowing with milk and honey', but that the inhabitants were giants and and their cities fortified. Caleb alone tried to encourage the Israelites to proceed with the conquest; the spies countered Caleb's claim, stating that the land was unconquerable. (13:30-31,33). The people refused to enter Canaan and plotted to elect a new captain to lead them back to Egypt (14:1b, 4).

The Priestly Source, writing during the Babylonian Exile, wanted to further Judah's interest in reclaiming the former kingdom of Israel and always included Israel in his stories. In his story, the spies toured the entire Promised Land, 'from the Wilderness of Zin to the entrance to Hamath' (Numbers 13:21). The spies returned and displayed the land's fruit and issued their report to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. Their report stated that Canaan was not only unconquerable, but a 'land that devours its inhabitants' (13:32-33). The Israelites refused to enter Canaan (14:1a, 2-3). Joshua is closely identified with the traditions of the northern kingdom and, in the Priestly account, plays a much bigger part in the response. Caleb and Joshua both tried to encourage the Israelites to proceed with the conquest, but the Israelites responded by calling for them to be stoned.

Both stories say the Israelites were afraid, but the source of their fear was somewhat different in each case, as was their initial response.

Answer 3

Out of fear of the powerful and numerous Canaanites (Numbers ch.13), they wanted to wait until the Israelite population would increase. This was to be a delay, not a refusal, but it was a misstep nonetheless. See also:

Refuting the multiple-sources hypothesis

Complaints in the wilderness