The Biblical strict interpretation answer to that question
would be that the Hebrews refused to follow God's lead. Relatively soon after the nation
escaped from Egypt, spies were sent into the land of Canaan to evaluate the land. Caleb
and Joshua were among the spies and, upon their return, encouraged Moses and the tribes
to take action to enter the land immediately. The other spies, however, reported seeing
well-armed giants and strongly defended cities in Canaan. The people refused to attack
at that time; God decreed that all those who had refused to obey his direction and enter
at that time would die in the desert and that a new generation would be the one to cross
into the new land.
Those who interpret the history less
literally would say that the tribes spent the 40 years fighting with other tribes
throughout the region as they traveled, searched for food for their flocks and built the
discipline and organization needed to be able to conquer the
Canaanites.
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