1These be the wordsH1697 which MosesH4872 spakeH1696 unto all IsraelH3478 on this sideH5676 JordanH3383 in the wildernessH4057, in the plainH6160 over againstH4136 the RedH5489 sea, between ParanH6290, and TophelH8603, and LabanH3837, and HazerothH2698, and DizahabH1774. 2 There are elevenH259 H6240 days'H3117 journey from HorebH2722 by the wayH1870 of mountH2022 SeirH8165 unto KadeshbarneaH6947. 3And it came to pass in the fortiethH705 yearH8141, in the eleventhH6249 H6240 monthH2320, on the firstH259 day of the monthH2320, that MosesH4872 spakeH1696 unto the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478, according unto all that the LORDH3068 had given him in commandmentH6680 unto them; 4AfterH310 he had slainH5221 SihonH5511 the kingH4428 of the AmoritesH567, which dweltH3427 in HeshbonH2809, and OgH5747 the kingH4428 of BashanH1316, which dweltH3427 at AstarothH6252 in EdreiH154: 5On this sideH5676 JordanH3383, in the landH776 of MoabH4124, beganH2974 MosesH4872 to declareH874 this lawH8451, sayingH559, 6The LORDH3068 our GodH430 spakeH1696 unto us in HorebH2722, sayingH559, Ye have dweltH3427 long enoughH7227 in this mountH2022: 7TurnH6437 you, and take your journeyH5265, and goH935 to the mountH2022 of the AmoritesH567, and unto all the places nighH7934 thereunto, in the plainH6160, in the hillsH2022, and in the valeH8219, and in the southH5045, and by the seaH3220 sideH2348, to the landH776 of the CanaanitesH3669, and unto LebanonH3844, unto the greatH1419 riverH5104, the riverH5104 EuphratesH6578. 8BeholdH7200, I have setH5414 the landH776 beforeH6440 you: goH935 in and possessH3423 the landH776 which the LORDH3068 swareH7650 unto your fathersH1, AbrahamH85, IsaacH3327, and JacobH3290, to giveH5414 unto them and to their seedH2233 afterH310 them. 9And I spakeH559 unto you at that timeH6256, sayingH559, I am not ableH3201 to bearH5375 you myself aloneH905: 10The LORDH3068 your GodH430 hath multipliedH7235 you, and, behold, ye are this dayH3117 as the starsH3556 of heavenH8064 for multitudeH7230. 11 The LORDH3068 GodH430 of your fathersH1 make you a thousandH505 timesH6471 so many more asH3254 ye are, and blessH1288 you, as he hath promisedH1696 you! 12HowH349 can I myself alone bearH5375 your cumbranceH2960, and your burdenH4853, and your strifeH7379? 13TakeH3051 you wiseH2450 menH582, and understandingH995, and knownH3045 among your tribesH7626, and I will makeH7760 them rulersH7218 over you. 14And ye answeredH6030 me, and saidH559, The thingH1697 which thou hast spokenH1696 is goodH2896 for us to doH6213 . 15So I tookH3947 the chiefH7218 of your tribesH7626, wiseH2450 menH582, and knownH3045, and madeH5414 them headsH7218 over you, captainsH8269 over thousandsH505, and captainsH8269 over hundredsH3967, and captainsH8269 over fiftiesH2572, and captainsH8269 over tensH6235, and officersH7860 among your tribesH7626. 16And I chargedH6680 your judgesH8199 at that timeH6256, sayingH559, HearH8085 the causes between your brethrenH251, and judgeH8199 righteouslyH6664 between every manH376 and his brotherH251, and the strangerH1616 that is with him. 17Ye shall not respectH5234 personsH6440 in judgmentH4941; but ye shall hearH8085 the smallH6996 as well as the greatH1419; ye shall not be afraidH1481 of the faceH6440 of manH376; for the judgmentH4941 is God'sH430: and the causeH1697 that is too hardH7185 for you, bringH7126 it unto me, and I will hearH8085 it. 18And I commandedH6680 you at that timeH6256 all the thingsH1697 which ye should doH6213 . 19And when we departedH5265 from HorebH2722, we went throughH3212 all that greatH1419 and terribleH3372 wildernessH4057, which ye sawH7200 by the wayH1870 of the mountainH2022 of the AmoritesH567, as the LORDH3068 our GodH430 commandedH6680 us; and we cameH935 to KadeshbarneaH6947. 20And I saidH559 unto you, Ye are comeH935 unto the mountainH2022 of the AmoritesH567, which the LORDH3068 our GodH430 doth giveH5414 unto us. 21BeholdH7200, the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath setH5414 the landH776 beforeH6440 thee: go upH5927 and possessH3423 it, as the LORDH3068 GodH430 of thy fathersH1 hath saidH1696 unto thee; fearH3372 not, neither be discouragedH2865 . 22And ye came nearH7126 unto me every one of you, and saidH559, We will sendH7971 menH582 beforeH6440 us, and they shall search us outH2658 the landH776, and bringH7725 us wordH1697 againH7725 by what wayH1870 we must go upH5927, and into what citiesH5892 we shall comeH935 . 23And the sayingH1697 pleased me wellH3190 H5869: and I tookH3947 twelveH8147 H6240 menH582 of you, oneH259 of a tribeH376 H7626: 24And they turnedH6437 and went upH5927 into the mountainH2022, and cameH935 unto the valleyH5158 of EshcolH812, and searched it outH7270 . 25And they tookH3947 of the fruitH6529 of the landH776 in their handsH3027, and brought it downH3381 unto us, and broughtH7725 us wordH1697 againH7725, and saidH559, It is a goodH2896 landH776 which the LORDH3068 our GodH430 doth giveH5414 us. 26Notwithstanding ye wouldH14 not go upH5927, but rebelledH4784 against the commandmentH6310 of the LORDH3068 your GodH430: 27And ye murmuredH7279 in your tentsH168, and saidH559, Because the LORDH3068 hatedH8135 us, he hath brought us forthH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714, to deliverH5414 us into the handH3027 of the AmoritesH567, to destroyH8045 us. 28Whither shall we go upH5927 ? our brethrenH251 have discouragedH4549 our heartH3824, sayingH559, The peopleH5971 is greaterH1419 and tallerH7311 than we; the citiesH5892 are greatH1419 and walled upH1219 to heavenH8064; and moreover we have seenH7200 the sonsH1121 of the AnakimsH6062 there. 29Then I saidH559 unto you, DreadH6206 not, neither be afraidH3372 of them. 30The LORDH3068 your GodH430 which goethH1980 beforeH6440 you, he shall fightH3898 for you, according to all that he didH6213 for you in EgyptH4714 before your eyesH5869; 31And in the wildernessH4057, where thou hast seenH7200 how that the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 bareH5375 thee, as a manH376 doth bearH5375 his sonH1121, in all the wayH1870 that ye wentH1980, until ye cameH935 into this placeH4725. 32Yet in this thingH1697 ye did not believeH539 the LORDH3068 your GodH430, 33Who wentH1980 in the wayH1870 beforeH6440 you, to search you outH8446 a placeH4725 to pitch your tentsH2583 in, in fireH784 by nightH3915, to shewH7200 you by what wayH1870 ye should goH3212, and in a cloudH6051 by dayH3119. 34And the LORDH3068 heardH8085 the voiceH6963 of your wordsH1697, and was wrothH7107, and swareH7650, sayingH559, 35Surely there shall not oneH376 of these menH582 of this evilH7451 generationH1755 seeH7200 that goodH2896 landH776, which I swareH7650 to giveH5414 unto your fathersH1, 36SaveH2108 CalebH3612 the sonH1121 of JephunnehH3312; he shall seeH7200 it, and to him will I giveH5414 the landH776 thatH834 he hath trodden uponH1869, and to his childrenH1121, because he hath whollyH4390 followedH310 the LORDH3068. 37Also the LORDH3068 was angryH599 with me for your sakesH1558, sayingH559, Thou also shalt not goH935 in thitherH8033. 38But JoshuaH3091 the sonH1121 of NunH5126, which standethH5975 beforeH6440 thee, he shall go inH935 thither: encourageH2388 him: for he shall cause IsraelH3478 to inheritH5157 it. 39Moreover your little onesH2945, which ye saidH559 should be a preyH957, and your childrenH1121, which in that dayH3117 had no knowledgeH3045 between goodH2896 and evilH7451, they shall go inH935 thither, and unto them will I giveH5414 it, and they shall possessH3423 it. 40But as for you, turnH6437 you, and take your journeyH5265 into the wildernessH4057 by the wayH1870 of the RedH5488 seaH3220. 41Then ye answeredH6030 and saidH559 unto me, We have sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068, we will go upH5927 and fightH3898, according to all that the LORDH3068 our GodH430 commandedH6680 us. And when ye had girdedH2296 on every manH376 his weaponsH3627 of warH4421, ye were readyH1951 to go upH5927 into the hillH2022. 42And the LORDH3068 saidH559 unto me, SayH559 unto them, Go not upH5927, neither fightH3898 ; for I am not amongH7130 you; lest ye be smittenH5062 beforeH6440 your enemiesH341 . 43So I spakeH1696 unto you; and ye would not hearH8085, but rebelledH4784 against the commandmentH6310 of the LORDH3068, and wentH5927 presumptuouslyH2102 upH5927 into the hillH2022. 44And the AmoritesH567, which dweltH3427 in that mountainH2022, came outH3318 againstH7125 you, and chasedH7291 you, as beesH1682 doH6213, and destroyedH3807 you in SeirH8165, even unto HormahH2767. 45And ye returnedH7725 and weptH1058 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068; but the LORDH3068 would not hearkenH8085 to your voiceH6963, nor give earH238 unto you. 46So ye abodeH3427 in KadeshH6946 manyH7227 daysH3117, according unto the daysH3117 that ye abodeH3427 there.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 MOSES' SPEECH AT THE END OF THE FORTIETH YEAR. (Deu. 1:1-46)
These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel--The mental condition of the people generally in that infantine age of the Church, and the greater number of them being of young or tender years, rendered it expedient to repeat the laws and counsels which God had given. Accordingly, to furnish a recapitulation of the leading branches of their faith and duty was among the last public services which Moses rendered to Israel. The scene of their delivery was on the plains of Moab where the encampment was pitched
on this side Jordan--or, as the Hebrew word may be rendered "on the bank of the Jordan."
in the wilderness, in the plain--the Arabah, a desert plain, or steppe, extended the whole way from the Red Sea north to the Sea of Tiberias. While the high tablelands of Moab were "cultivated fields," the Jordan valley, at the foot of the mountains where Israel was encamped, was a part of the great desert plain, little more inviting than the desert of Arabia. The locale is indicated by the names of the most prominent places around it. Some of these places are unknown to us. The Hebrew word, Suph, "red" (for "sea," which our translators have inserted, is not in the original, and Moses was now farther from the Red Sea than ever), probably meant a place noted for its reeds (
Num 21:14).
Tophel--identified as Tafyle or Tafeilah, lying between Bozrah and Kerak.
Hazeroth--is a different place from that at which the Israelites encamped after leaving "the desert of Sinai."
2 There are eleven days' journey from Horeb--Distances are computed in the East still by the hours or days occupiesd by the journey. A day's journey on foot is about twenty miles--on camels, at the rate of three miles an hour, thirty miles--and by caravans, about twenty-five miles. But the Israelites, with children and flocks, would move at a slow rate. The length of the Ghor from Ezion-geber to Kadesh is a hundred miles. The days here mentioned were not necessarily successive days [ROBINSON], for the journey can be made in a much shorter period. But this mention of the time was made to show that the great number of years spent in travelling from Horeb to the plain of Moab was not owing to the length of the way, but to a very different cause; namely, banishment for their apostasy and frequent rebellions.
mount Seir--the mountainous country of Edom.
3 in the fortieth year . . . Moses spake unto the children of Israel, &c.--This impressive discourse, in which Moses reviewed all that God had done for His people, was delivered about a month before his death, and after peace and tranquillity had been restored by the complete conquest of Sihon and Og.
4 Ashtaroth--the royal residence of Og, so called from Astarte ("the moon"), the tutelary goddess of the Syrians. Og was slain at
Edrei--now Edhra, the ruins of which are fourteen miles in circumference [BURCKHARDT]; its general breadth is about two leagues.
5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law--that is, explain this law. He follows the same method here that he elsewhere observes; namely, that of first enumerating the marvellous doings of God in behalf of His people, and reminding them what an unworthy requital they had made for all His kindness--then he rehearses the law and its various precepts.
6 The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount--Horeb was the general name of a mountainous district; literally, "the parched" or "burnt region," whereas Sinai was the name appropriated to a particular peak [see on
Exod 19:2]. About a year had been spent among the recesses of that wild solitude, in laying the foundation, under the immediate direction of God, of a new and peculiar community, as to its social, political, and, above all, religious character; and when this purpose had been accomplished, they were ordered to break up their encampment in Horeb. The command given them was to march straight to Canaan, and possess it [
Deut 1:7].
7 the mount of the Amorites--the hilly tract lying next to Kadesh-barnea in the south of Canaan.
to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon--that is, Phśnicia, the country of Sidon, and the coast of the Mediterranean--from the Philistines to Lebanon. The name "Canaanite" is often used synonymously with that of "Phśnician."
8 I have set the land before you--literally, "before your faces"--it is accessible; there is no impediment to your occupation. The order of the journey as indicated by the places mentioned would have led to a course of invasion, the opposite of what was eventually followed; namely, from the seacoast eastward--instead of from the Jordan westward (see on
Num 20:1).
9 I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone--a little before their arrival in Horeb. Moses addresses that new generation as the representatives of their fathers, in whose sight and hearing all the transactions he recounts took place. A reference is here made to the suggestion of Jethro (
Exod 18:18). In noticing his practical adoption of a plan by which the administration of justice was committed to a select number of subordinate officers, Moses, by a beautiful allusion to the patriarchal blessing, ascribed the necessity of that memorable change in the government to the vast increase of the population.
10 ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude--This was neither an Oriental hyperbole nor a mere empty boast. Abraham was told (
Gen 15:5-
Gen 15:6) to look to the stars, and though they "appear" innumerable, yet those seen by the naked eye amount, in reality, to no more than three thousand ten in both hemispheres. The Israelites already far exceeded that number, being at the last census above six hundred thousand [
Num 26:51]. It was a seasonable memento, calculated to animate their faith in the accomplishment of other parts of the divine promise.
19 we went through all that great and terrible wilderness--of Paran, which included the desert and mountainous space lying between the wilderness of Shur westward, or towards Egypt and mount Seir, or the land of Edom eastwards; between the land of Canaan northwards, and the Red Sea southwards; and thus it appears to have comprehended really the wilderness of Sin and Sinai [FISK]. It is called by the Arabs El Tih, "the wandering." It is a dreary waste of rock and of calcareous soil covered with black sharp flints; all travellers, from a feeling of its complete isolation from the world, describe it as a great and terrible wilderness.
22 ye came . . . and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land--The proposal to despatch spies emanated from the people through unbelief; but Moses, believing them sincere, gave his cordial assent to this measure, and God on being consulted permitted them to follow the suggestion (see on
Num 13:1). The issue proved disastrous to them, only through their own sin and folly.
28 the cities are great, and walled up to heaven--an Oriental metaphor, meaning very high. The Arab marauders roam about on horseback, and hence the walls of St. Catherine's monastery on Sinai are so lofty that travellers are drawn up by a pulley in a basket.
Anakims--(See on
Num 13:33). The honest and uncompromising language of Moses, in reminding the Israelites of their perverse conduct and outrageous rebellion at the report of the treacherous and fainthearted scouts, affords a strong evidence of the truth of this history as well as of the divine authority of his mission. There was great reason for his dwelling on this dark passage in their history, as it was their unbelief that excluded them from the privilege of entering the promised land (
Heb 3:19); and that unbelief was a marvellous exhibition of human perversity, considering the miracles which God had wrought in their favor, especially in the daily manifestations they had of His presence among them as their leader and protector.
34 the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth--In consequence of this aggravated offense (unbelief followed by open rebellion), the Israelites were doomed, in the righteous judgment of God, to a life of wandering in that dreary wilderness till the whole adult generation had disappeared by death. The only exceptions mentioned are Caleb and Joshua, who was to be Moses' successor.
37 Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes--This statement seems to indicate that it was on this occasion Moses was condemned to share the fate of the people. But we know that it was several years afterwards that Moses betrayed an unhappy spirit of distrust at the waters of strife (
Ps 106:32-
Ps 106:33). This verse must be considered therefore as a parenthesis.
39 your children . . . who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil--All ancient versions read "to-day" instead of "that day"; and the sense is--"your children who now know," or "who know not as yet good or evil." As the children had not been partakers of the sinful outbreak, they were spared to obtain the privilege which their unbelieving parents had forfeited. God's ways are not as man's ways [
Isa 55:8-
Isa 55:9].
40 turn you, and take your journey into the . . . Red Sea--This command they disregarded, and, determined to force an onward passage in spite of the earnest remonstrances of Moses, they attempted to cross the heights then occupied by the combined forces of the Amorites and Amalekites (compare
Num 14:43), but were repulsed with great loss. People often experience distress even while in the way of duty. But how different their condition who suffer in situations where God is with them from the feelings of those who are conscious that they are in a position directly opposed to the divine will! The Israelites were grieved when they found themselves involved in difficulties and perils; but their sorrow arose not from a sense of the guilt so much as the sad effects of their perverse conduct; and "though they wept," they were not true penitents. So the Lord would not hearken to their voice, nor give ear unto them.
46 So ye abode at Kadesh many days--That place had been the site of their encampment during the absence of the spies, which lasted forty days, and it is supposed from this verse that they prolonged their stay there after their defeat for a similar period.