Deuteronomy 1

1 haec sunt verba quae locutus est Moses ad omnem Israhel trans Iordanem in solitudine campestri contra mare Rubrum inter Pharan et Thophel et Laban et Aseroth ubi auri est plurimum

2 undecim diebus de Horeb per viam montis Seir usque Cadesbarne

3 quadragesimo anno undecimo mense prima die mensis locutus est Moses ad filios Israhel omnia quae praeceperat illi Dominus ut diceret eis

4 postquam percussit Seon regem Amorreorum qui habitavit in Esebon et Og regem Basan qui mansit in Aseroth et in Edrai

5 trans Iordanem in terra Moab coepitque Moses explanare legem et dicere

6 Dominus Deus noster locutus est ad nos in Horeb dicens sufficit vobis quod in hoc monte mansistis

7 revertimini et venite ad montem Amorreorum et ad cetera quae ei proxima sunt campestria atque montana et humiliora loca contra meridiem et iuxta litus maris terram Chananeorum et Libani usque ad flumen magnum Eufraten

8 en inquit tradidi vobis ingredimini et possidete eam super qua iuravit Dominus patribus vestris Abraham et Isaac et Iacob ut daret illam eis et semini eorum post eos

9 dixique vobis illo in tempore

10 non possum solus sustinere vos quia Dominus Deus vester multiplicavit vos et estis hodie sicut stellae caeli plurimae

11 Dominus Deus patrum vestrorum addat ad hunc numerum multa milia et benedicat vobis sicut locutus est

12 non valeo solus vestra negotia sustinere et pondus ac iurgia

13 date e vobis viros sapientes et gnaros et quorum conversatio sit probata in tribubus vestris ut ponam eos vobis principes

14 tunc respondistis mihi bona res est quam vis facere

15 tulique de tribubus vestris viros sapientes et nobiles et constitui eos principes tribunos et centuriones et quinquagenarios ac decanos qui docerent vos singula

16 praecepique eis dicens audite illos et quod iustum est iudicate sive civis sit ille sive peregrinus

17 nulla erit distantia personarum ita parvum audietis ut magnum nec accipietis cuiusquam personam quia Dei iudicium est quod si difficile vobis aliquid visum fuerit referte ad me et ego audiam

18 praecepique omnia quae facere deberetis

19 profecti autem de Horeb transivimus per heremum terribilem et maximam quam vidistis per viam montis Amorrei sicut praeceperat Dominus Deus noster nobis cumque venissemus in Cadesbarne

20 dixi vobis venistis ad montem Amorrei quem Dominus Deus noster daturus est nobis

21 vide terram quam Dominus Deus tuus dat tibi ascende et posside eam sicut locutus est Dominus Deus patribus tuis noli metuere nec quicquam paveas

22 et accessistis ad me omnes atque dixistis mittamus viros qui considerent terram et renuntient per quod iter debeamus ascendere et ad quas pergere civitates

23 cumque mihi sermo placuisset misi e vobis duodecim viros singulos de tribubus suis

24 qui cum perrexissent et ascendissent in montana venerunt usque ad vallem Botri et considerata terra

25 sumentes de fructibus eius ut ostenderent ubertatem adtulerunt ad nos atque dixerunt bona est terra quam Dominus Deus noster daturus est nobis

26 et noluistis ascendere sed increduli ad sermonem Domini Dei nostri

27 murmurati estis in tabernaculis vestris atque dixistis odit nos Dominus et idcirco eduxit nos de terra Aegypti ut traderet in manu Amorrei atque deleret

28 quo ascendemus nuntii terruerunt cor nostrum dicentes maxima multitudo est et nobis in statura procerior urbes magnae et ad caelum usque munitae filios Enacim vidimus ibi

29 et dixi vobis nolite metuere nec timeatis eos

30 Dominus Deus qui ductor est vester pro vobis ipse pugnabit sicut fecit in Aegypto videntibus cunctis

31 et in solitudine ipse vidisti portavit te Dominus Deus tuus ut solet homo gestare parvulum filium suum in omni via per quam ambulasti donec veniretis ad locum istum

32 et nec sic quidem credidistis Domino Deo vestro

33 qui praecessit vos in via et metatus est locum in quo tentoria figere deberetis nocte ostendens vobis iter per ignem et die per columnam nubis

34 cumque audisset Dominus vocem sermonum vestrorum iratus iuravit et ait

35 non videbit quispiam de hominibus generationis huius pessimae terram bonam quam sub iuramento pollicitus sum patribus vestris

36 praeter Chaleb filium Iepphonne ipse enim videbit eam et ipsi dabo terram quam calcavit et filiis eius quia secutus est Dominum

37 nec miranda indignatio in populum cum mihi quoque iratus Dominus propter vos dixerit nec tu ingredieris illuc

38 sed Iosue filius Nun minister tuus ipse intrabit pro te hunc exhortare et robora et ipse terram sorte dividat Israheli

39 parvuli vestri de quibus dixistis quod captivi ducerentur et filii qui hodie boni ac mali ignorant distantiam ipsi ingredientur et ipsis dabo terram et possidebunt eam

40 vos autem revertimini et abite in solitudinem per viam maris Rubri

41 et respondistis mihi peccavimus Domino ascendemus atque pugnabimus sicut praecepit Dominus Deus noster cumque instructi armis pergeretis in montem

42 ait mihi Dominus dic ad eos nolite ascendere neque pugnetis non enim sum vobiscum ne cadatis coram inimicis vestris

43 locutus sum et non audistis sed adversantes imperio Domini et tumentes superbia ascendistis in montem

44 itaque egressus Amorreus qui habitabat in montibus et obviam veniens persecutus est vos sicut solent apes persequi et cecidit de Seir usque Horma

45 cumque reversi ploraretis coram Domino non audivit vos nec voci vestrae voluit adquiescere

46 sedistis ergo in Cadesbarne multo tempore

Deuteronomy 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.