Chapter Introduction:
Deuteronomy chapters one through three are a retrospective summary of the book of Numbers.
Deuteronomy 1:1-4
Deuteronomy 1:1 is the beginning of Moses’ first speech to the people. It concludes at Deuteronomy 4:43. He begins by establishing geography, connecting this writing to Exodus and Numbers.
The names seem to be more an itinerary and not related to their current camp near the Jordan. It was an eleven-day journey from Mt. Sinai (Horeb) to Kadesh Barnea. They were not faithful in trusting the Lord and entering the Promised Land at that time. God’s judgement was wandering in the wilderness until that generation passed away. They returned to Kadesh after that generation passed away. From there, they went around Edom and went to war against Sihon and Og.
As Moses was speaking to them, they were poised to enter the Promised Land. It was almost forty years since they had left Egypt. It was the first day of the 11th month in the fortieth year. Moses began to recount the law to Israel.
The JPS commentary has a different understanding of the timing of the speeches.
The most natural way to understand it is as the continuation of verse 1a. It implies that the teachings that follow were delivered at various places where the Israelites stayed during the past forty years.
Tigay, J. H. (1996). Deuteronomy (pp. 2–3). Jewish Publication Society.
Deuteronomy 1:5-8
The land of Moab is on the east side of the Dead Sea. These folks were the descendants of Lot (Gen 19:30-38). In these series of speeches, Moses constantly looks back and reminds the people of Mt. Sinai (Horeb) and their unfaithfulness at Kadesh. These are two prominent markers that brought them to where they were at that time.
The Lord gave them the law at Mt. Sinai and then moved them from the mountain with instruction to go to the mountains of the Amorites.
- The hill country of the Amorites refers to the entire southern region of the Promised Land.
- The northern region is referred to as the land of the Canaanites.
Other geographic regions include:
- Arabah refers to the Jordan rift valley from the Gulf of Aqaba north.
- The hill country is on the west side of the Jordan.
- The Shephela, called the “western foothills” in the NIV, descend from the mountains to the coast in the southern section.
- The Negev is the wilderness triangle formed by the Dead Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Aqaba.
- Lebanon is the northern mountain range.
The people were sent to claim the land within these generally described borders. God presented the land to them, as though it were set there before them, prepared for their taking. It was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for the generations that would follow them. In this statement, another connection if formed: to their fathers and the covenant promise of God.
This was the generation chosen to take possession.
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
The appointing of tribal leaders is also seen in Exodus 18:13-26 and Numbers 11:14-17. In Exodus the assigning of the leaders took place on the advice of Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law. This happened about the time they arrived at Horeb.
Numbers appears to happen at a different time and in a different way. It may be these elders were assigned for a different reason, though it says it was to hear their burdens and complaints. Either way, they chose wise and knowledgeable men. There appears to be hierarchy of leaders established within the tribes.
These men were to judge the disputes among the people. They were to hear their cases and without prejudice, judge as the Lord would judge. They were not to fear any man. They were not to be influenced or intimidated by any man. Their judgment was God’s judgment. This was a tremendous responsibility. The cases that were too hard were to be escalated up to the next level.
Deuteronomy 1:19-22
The Amorites were also known as the Amurru in Akkadian and the Martu in Sumerian. The term “Amorite” describes a general population in the land of Canaan. Ethnically, it is related to the area of Syra as a homeland. The mountains of the Amorites refers to the entire southern region of the Promised Land. Yet, Heshbon was the capital of the Amorites in Moabite area. The Moabites were the descendants of Lot, but there is an association with the Midianites in Numbers and the Amorites in several places.
Moses gives the account of arriving in Kadesh and telling Israel of God’s command to possess the land. There was to be no fear or discouragement. The nation is characterized as wanting to first send in spies. The spies were to help decide whether to go or not, but to help determine how to go and which way.
Deuteronomy 1:23-28
The land was described by the spies as a good land which the Lord gave them. But they wouldn’t go up and rebelled. They claimed the Lord hated them and brought them to that place for nefarious reasons. They were discouraged in spite of the warnings.
- The people were greater and taller.
- The cities were great and fortified
- They saw the Sons of Anakim.
The fear of the Anikim was greater than the fear of the Lord. The Anakim were the descendants of Anak and were considered giants, or more thoroughly gigantic (Numbers 13:33: Deut 2:10-11; 2 Sam 21:18-22). There is a Egyptian letter on Papyrus from the 13th century BC that describes fierce warriors in Canaan that were seven to nine feet tall. Two female skeletons about seven feet tall, from the 12th century BC were discovered at Tell es-Sa’ideyeh.
Deuteronomy 1:29-33
They were instructed again not to be terrified or afraid. God would fight for them, as He had already done repeatedly. He is portrayed as carrying them to where they were, like a father carrying his son, the Lord delivered them.
They did not believe the Lord.
Deuteronomy 1:34-40
The Lord heard them. Their fear was real, they had disregarded what the Lord said and instead believed what they heard and saw. Their fear conquered their belief and faith. The Lord would not allow any of that generation to enter in, except Caleb and Joshua. Moses also informed them that he could not enter either.
The next generation would receive the promise. God would give it and they would possess it.
The “Way of the Red Sea” was well known in that day. It was a highway from Kadesh to the tip of the Red Seat at Elath.
Deuteronomy 1:41-46
At the realization of their loss of opportunity, the people confess their sin. They begin to gear up to cross into the land and go to war. Moses relays the Lord’s warning that they were not to go because He wouldn’t be with them. Again, they would not listen. The Amorites came out and chased them off.
They wept before the Lord, apparently in hopes the Lord would allow them to enter the Promised Land.
©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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