Deuteronomio 1

Moisés ordena salir de Horeb

1 Estas son las palabras que Moisés dirigió a todo Israel en el desierto al este del Jordán, es decir, en el Arabá, frente a Suf, entre la ciudad de Parán y las ciudades de Tofel, Labán, Jazerot y Dizahab.

2 Por la ruta del monte Seír hay once días de camino entre Horeb y Cades Barnea.

3 El día primero del mes undécimo del año cuarenta, Moisés les declaró a los israelitas todo lo que el SEÑOR les había ordenado por medio de él.

4 Poco antes, Moisés había derrotado a Sijón, rey de los amorreos, que reinaba en Hesbón, y a Og, rey de Basán, que reinaba en Astarot y en Edrey.

5 Moisés comenzó a explicar esta ley cuando todavía estaban los israelitas en el país de Moab, al este del Jordán. Les dijo:

6 «Cuando estábamos en Horeb, el SEÑOR nuestro Dios nos ordenó: “Ustedes han permanecido ya demasiado tiempo en este monte.

7 Pónganse en marcha y diríjanse a la región montañosa de los amorreos y a todas las zonas vecinas: el Arabá, las montañas, las llanuras occidentales, el Néguev y la costa, hasta la tierra de los cananeos, el Líbano y el gran río, el Éufrates.

8 Yo les he entregado esta tierra; ¡adelante, tomen posesión de ella!” El SEÑOR juró que se la daría a los antepasados de ustedes, es decir, a Abraham, Isaac y Jacob, y a sus descendientes.

Nombramiento de jefes

9 »En aquel tiempo les dije: “Yo solo no puedo con todos ustedes.

10 El SEÑOR su Dios los ha hecho tan numerosos que hoy son ustedes tantos como las estrellas del cielo.

11 ¡Que el SEÑOR, el Dios de sus antepasados, los multiplique mil veces más, y los bendiga tal como lo prometió!

12 ¿Cómo puedo seguir ocupándome de todos los problemas, las cargas y los pleitos de ustedes?

13 Designen de cada una de sus tribus a hombres sabios, inteligentes y experimentados, para que sean sus jefes”.

14 »Ustedes me respondieron: “Tu plan de acción nos parece excelente”.

15 Así que tomé a los líderes de sus tribus, hombres sabios y experimentados, y les di autoridad sobre ustedes. Los puse como jefes de grupos de mil, de cien, de cincuenta y de diez, y como funcionarios de las tribus.

16 Además, en aquel tiempo les di a sus jueces la siguiente orden: “Atiendan todos los litigios entre sus hermanos, y juzguen con imparcialidad, tanto a los israelitas como a los extranjeros.

17 No sean parciales en el juicio; consideren de igual manera la causa de los débiles y la de los poderosos. No se dejen intimidar por nadie, porque el juicio es de Dios. Los casos que no sean capaces de resolver, tráiganmelos, que yo los atenderé”.

18 »Fue en aquel tiempo cuando yo les ordené todo lo que ustedes debían hacer.

Misión de los espías

19 »Obedecimos al SEÑOR nuestro Dios y salimos de Horeb rumbo a la región montañosa de los amorreos. Cruzamos todo aquel inmenso y terrible desierto que ustedes han visto, y así llegamos a Cades Barnea.

20 Entonces les dije: “Han llegado a la región montañosa de los amorreos, la cual el SEÑOR nuestro Dios nos da.

21 Miren, el SEÑOR su Dios les ha entregado la tierra. Vayan y tomen posesión de ella como les dijo el SEÑOR, el Dios de sus antepasados. No tengan miedo ni se desanimen”.

22 »Pero todos ustedes vinieron a decirme: “Enviemos antes algunos de los nuestros para que exploren la tierra y nos traigan un informe de la ruta que debemos seguir y de las ciudades en las que podremos entrar”.

23 »Su propuesta me pareció buena, así que escogí a doce de ustedes, uno por cada tribu.

24 Los doce salieron en dirección a la región montañosa, y llegaron al valle de Escol y lo exploraron.

25 Tomaron consigo algunos de los frutos de la tierra, los trajeron y nos informaron lo buena que es la tierra que nos da el SEÑOR nuestro Dios.

Rebelión contra el SEÑOR

26 »Sin embargo, ustedes se negaron a subir y se rebelaron contra la orden del SEÑOR su Dios.

27 Se pusieron a murmurar en sus carpas y dijeron: “El SEÑOR nos aborrece; nos hizo salir de Egipto para entregarnos a los amorreos y destruirnos.

28 ¿A dónde iremos? Nuestros hermanos nos han llenado de miedo, pues nos informan que la gente de allá es más fuerte y más alta que nosotros, y que las ciudades son grandes y tienen muros que llegan hasta el cielo. ¡Para colmo, nos dicen que allí vieron anaquitas!”

29 »Entonces les respondí: “No se asusten ni les tengan miedo.

30 El SEÑOR su Dios marcha al frente y peleará por ustedes, como vieron que lo hizo en Egipto

31 y en el desierto. Por todo el camino que han recorrido, hasta llegar a este lugar, ustedes han visto cómo el SEÑOR su Dios los ha guiado, como lo hace un padre con su hijo”.

32 »A pesar de eso, ninguno de ustedes confió en el SEÑOR su Dios,

33 que se adelantaba a ustedes para buscarles dónde acampar. De noche lo hacía con fuego, para que vieran el camino a seguir, y de día los acompañaba con una nube.

34 »Cuando el SEÑOR oyó lo que ustedes dijeron, se enojó e hizo este juramento:

35 “Ni un solo hombre de esta generación perversa verá la buena tierra que juré darles a sus antepasados.

36 Solo la verá Caleb hijo de Jefone. A él y a sus descendientes les daré la tierra que han tocado sus pies, porque fue fiel al SEÑOR”.

37 »Por causa de ustedes el SEÑOR se enojó también conmigo, y me dijo: “Tampoco tú entrarás en esa tierra.

38 Quien sí entrará es tu asistente, Josué hijo de Nun. Infúndele ánimo, pues él hará que Israel posea la tierra.

39 En cuanto a sus hijos pequeños, que todavía no saben distinguir entre el bien y el mal, y de quienes ustedes pensaron que servirían de botín, ellos sí entrarán en la tierra y la poseerán, porque yo se la he dado.

40 Y ahora, ¡regresen al desierto! Sigan la ruta del Mar Rojo”.

41 »Ustedes me respondieron: “Hemos pecado contra el SEÑOR. Pero iremos y pelearemos, como el SEÑOR nuestro Dios nos lo ha ordenado”. Así que cada uno de ustedes se equipó para la guerra, pensando que era fácil subir a la región montañosa.

42 »Pero el SEÑOR me dijo: “Diles que no suban ni peleen, porque yo no estaré con ellos. Si insisten, los derrotarán sus enemigos”.

43 »Yo les di la información, pero ustedes no obedecieron. Se rebelaron contra la orden del SEÑOR y temerariamente subieron a la región montañosa.

44 Los amorreos que vivían en aquellas montañas les salieron al encuentro y los persiguieron como abejas, y los vencieron por completo desde Seír hasta Jormá.

45 Entonces ustedes regresaron y lloraron ante el SEÑOR, pero él no prestó atención a su lamento ni les hizo caso.

46 Por eso ustedes tuvieron que permanecer en Cades tanto tiempo.

Deuteronomio 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This book repeats much of the history and of the laws contained in the three foregoing books: Moses delivered it to Israel a little before his death, both by word of mouth, that it might affect, and by writing, that it might abide. The men of that generation to which the law was first given were all dead, and a new generation was sprung up, to whom God would have it repeated by Moses himself, now they were going to possess the land of Canaan. The wonderful love of God to his church is set forth in this book; how he ever preserved his church for his own mercies sake, and would still have his name called upon among them. Such are the general outlines of this book, the whole of which shows Moses' love for Israel, and marks him an eminent type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us apply the exhortations and persuasions to our own consciences, to excite our minds to a believing, grateful obedience to the commands of God.

The words Moses spake to Israel in the plains of Moab, The promise of Canaan. (1-8) Judges provided for the people. (9-18) Of the sending the spies-God's anger for their unbelief and disobedience. (19-46)

Verses 1-8 Moses spake to the people all the Lord had given him in commandment. Horeb was but eleven days distant from Kadesh-barnea. This was to remind them that their own bad conduct had occasioned their tedious wanderings; that they might the more readily understand the advantages of obedience. They must now go forward. Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, he knows when they have been tried long enough. When God commands us to go forward in our Christian course, he sets the heavenly Canaan before us for our encouragement.

Verses 9-18 Moses reminds the people of the happy constitution of their government, which might make them all safe and easy, if it was not their own fault. He owns the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, and prays for the further accomplishment of it. We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God; why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope? Good laws were given to the Israelites, and good men were to see to the execution of them, which showed God's goodness to them, and the care of Moses.

Verses 19-46 Moses reminds the Israelites of their march from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, through that great and terrible wilderness. He shows how near they were to a happy settlement in Canaan. It will aggravate the eternal ruin of hypocrites, that they were not far from the kingdom of God. As if it were not enough that they were sure of their God before them, they would send men before them. Never any looked into the Holy Land, but they must own it to be a good land. And was there any cause to distrust this God? An unbelieving heart was at the bottom of all this. All disobedience to God's laws, and distrust of his power and goodness, flow from disbelief of his word, as all true obedience springs from faith. It is profitable for us to divide our past lives into distinct periods; to give thanks to God for the mercies we have received in each, to confess and seek the forgiveness of all the sins we can remember; and thus to renew our acceptance of God's salvation, and our surrender of ourselves to his service. Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, and in the path of duty, enables the believer to follow the Lord fully, to disregard all that opposes, to triumph over all opposition, and to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY

This book is sometimes called "Elleh hadebarim", from the words with which it begins; and sometimes by the Jews "Mishneh Torah", the repetition of the law; and so in the Syriac version, with which agrees the Arabic title of it; and when the Greeks, and we after them, call it "Deuteronomy", it is not to be understood of a second, a new, or another law, but of the law formerly delivered, but now repeated, and also more largely explained; to which are likewise added several particular laws, instructions, and directions; all which were necessary, on account of the people of Israel, who were now a new generation, that either were not born, or not at an age to hear and understand the law when given on Mount Sinai; the men that heard it there being all dead, excepting a very few; and these people were also now about to enter into the land of Canaan, which they were to enjoy as long as they kept the law of God, and no longer, and therefore it was proper they should be reminded of it; and besides, Moses was now about to leave them, and having an hearty desire after their welfare, spends the little time he had to be with them, by inculcating into them and impressing on them the laws of God, and in opening and explaining them to them, and enforcing them on them, which were to be the rule of their obedience, and on which their civil happiness depended. And sometimes the Jews call this book "the book of reproofs", because there are in it several sharp reproofs of the people of Israel for their rebellion and disobedience; and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem begin it by calling it the words of reproof which Moses spake That this book was written by Moses there can be no doubt, from De 1:1, 31:4,9,24, only the eight last verses, which give an account of his death, and of his character, were wrote by another hand, equally inspired by God, as either Eleazar the priest, as some, or Samuel the prophet, as others; or, as it is the more commonly received opinion of the Jews, Ezra; though it is highly probable they were wrote by Joshua his successor. This book was written and delivered by Moses, at certain times in the last month of his life, and towards the close of the fortieth year of the children of Israel's coming out of Egypt. And that it is of divine authority need not be questioned, when the several quotations out of it are observed, as made by the apostles of Christ, in Ac 3:22, Ro 12:19 Heb 10:30, Ga 3:10 out of \De 18:15 32:35,36 27:26\ and by our Lord himself, Mt 18:16 from De 19:15. Yea, it is remarkable, that all the passages of Scripture produced by Christ, to repel the temptations of Satan, are all taken out of this book, Mt 4:7,10 compared with De 8:3, 6:10,13, and the voice from heaven, directing the apostles to hearken to him, refers to a prophecy of him in De 18:15.

\\INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 1\\

The time and place when the subject matter of this book was delivered to the Israelites are observed by way of preface, De 1:1-5, and it begins with reminding them of an order to them to depart from Mount Horeb, and pass on to the land of Canaan, which the Lord had given them, De 1:6-8, and with observing the very great increase of their number, which made it necessary for Moses to appoint persons under him to be rulers over them, whom he instructed in the duty of their office, De 1:9-18, and he goes on to observe, that when they were come to the mountain of the Amorites, they were bid to go up and possess the land; but, instead of that, they desired men might be sent to search the land first, which was granted, De 1:19-23, and though these men upon their return brought of the fruits of the land, and a good report of it, particularly two of them; yet being discouraged by the report of the rest, they murmured, distrusted, and were afraid to enter, though encouraged by Moses, De 1:24-33, which caused the Lord to be angry with them, and upon it threatened them that they should die in the wilderness, and only two of them should ever see and enjoy the land, and therefore were bid to turn and take their journey in the wilderness, De 1:34-40, but being convinced of their evil, they proposed to go up the hill, and enter the land, which they attempted against the commandment of the Lord, but being repulsed by the Amorites, they fled with great loss, to their great grief, and abode in Kadesh many days, De 1:41-46.