The people use this question in order to complain and accuse Yahweh of treating them unfairly. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Yahweh should not have brought us to this land only to die by the sword." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
Here "the sword" represents either being killed by the sword or being killed in battle. Alternate translation: "to die when people attack us with swords" or "to die in battle" or (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
The people use this question to encourage people to agree with them that it would be better to return to Egypt. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "It would be better for us to return to Egypt than to try to conquer Canaan." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])