What is the context?
The people acknowledge sin and prepare to fight, but the Lord now tells them not to go up because He will not be with them. They refuse to listen and go anyway.
They are defeated and driven back, then weep before the Lord without receiving the reversal they seek. The problem is not resolved merely by doing later what they earlier refused: they are again disregarding what the Lord is telling them now.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley reads the pursuing bees as a picture of the enemies’ forceful attack. The movement of the story distinguishes an admission of sin from obedient response. It does not teach that God never hears repentant people; it records the refusal to reverse this announced judgment.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.