Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 1

Verse 1

These. Note the ten (see App-10 ) addresses by Moses: 1) Deuteronomy 1:6-40 2)Deuteronomy 5:1-5 3) Deuteronomy 10:10-32 4) Deuteronomy 13:1-19 5) Deuteronomy 27:1-26 ; Deuteronomy 28:1-63 6) Deuteronomy 29:2-29 ; Deuteronomy 30:1-20 7) Deuteronomy 31:2-6 8)Deuteronomy 32:1-43 9) Deuteronomy 32:44-47 10) Deuteronomy 33:2-29

the words = Haddebarim. See note above.

all Israel. Compare Deuteronomy 5:1 . Mode given by God, Exodus 3:16 ; Exodus 4:29 . Leviticus 24:14 . "All" used by Figure of speech Synecdoche ( App-6 ) to signify a national gathering of any size ( 1Sa 7:3 ; 1 Samuel 12:1 , 1 Samuel 12:19 ; 1Ki 8:2 , 1 Kings 8:14 , 1 Kings 8:22 , 1Ki 8:55 , 1 Kings 8:62 ; 1 Kings 12:12 , 1Ki 12:16 , 1 Kings 12:18 , &c).

this side Jordan = across Jordan, a neutral term, expression to be determined by context. Numbers 22:1 .

the plain. Hebrew. 'Arabah = name of vale from Jordan to gulf of Akabah. Red sea = Suph, name of a place. Omit "sea". See Numbers 33:48 , Numbers 33:49 , Numbers 33:50 ; Numbers 35:1 ; Numbers 36:13 .

Verse 2

eleven days': i.e. going direct.

Seir = Edom.

Kadesh-barnea. See Numbers 32:8 .

Verse 3

fortieth. The number of Probation. See App-10 . First month, Miriam died, Numbers 20:1 ; fifth month, Aaron died, Numbers 33:38 ; at the end, Moses died on 29 Sebat, 1452; for the thirty days' mourning end with last day of the fortieth year (29 Adar, 1452). See App-50 ,:4.

children = sons.

according unto, &c. Always thus. Compare 2 Peter 1:20 , 2 Peter 1:21 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 4

and Og. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 .) = "and [had slain] Og". Compare Numbers 21:34 .Numbers 3:5 . in Edrei. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and in". Compare Joshua 12:4 .

Verse 5

began = undertook with will. Heb ya'al. First occurrence Genesis 18:27 , Genesis 18:31 .

declare. Hebrew. ba'ar , make plain, show sense, set forth, especially in writing. Occurs only here and Deuteronomy 27:8 , and Habakkuk 2:2 .

law = torah = instruction.

Verse 6

The LORD our God = Jehovah 'eloheinu. Two titles of later date do not occur in Deut.: "The LORD of hosts" (Samuel) and "the Holy Ono of Israel" (Isaiah).

spake . Jehovah spake only here to "us". His speaking to others, see Deuteronomy 2:1 . Jehovah "said", See Deuteronomy 2:9 . Jehovah "commanded", See Deuteronomy 4:14 . Horeb. Twentieth day of second month. Numbers 10:11-13 .

Verse 7

Turn you = Face about. Note the Figure of speech Polyonymia ( App-6 ) in this verse. Hebrew. panah, set one's face; start.

vale. Hebrew. Shephelah = Philistia.

south. Hebrew. Negeb, the hill country south of Judea. See note on "South", Genesis 12:9 ; Genesis 13:1 .

river. Hebrew. nahar, a flood, not nahal, a wady. Compare Genesis 15:18 .

the river. Figure of speech Anadiplosis. App-6 .

Verse 8

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ).

Abraham. Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 17:7 , Genesis 17:8 ; Genesis 24:7 ; Genesis 26:3 , &c. This promise mentioned twenty-seven times in Deut., but unintelligible without Genesis.

Verse 9

I spake. See Exodus 18:17 , Exodus 18:18 . Numbers 11:14 .

Verse 10

multiplied. Compare Deuteronomy 10:22 .

Verse 11

as = according as.

promised. See Genesis 12:2 ; Genesis 22:17 , &c.

Verse 12

How. See note on Lamentations 1:1 . cumbrance. Hebrew. torah, only here and Isaiah 1:14 (trouble).

Verse 13

men. Hebrew, plural of 'ish or 'enosh

Verse 14

tribes. Hebrew. shebet, tribe, according to historical or political corporation; always this word in Deut. Where "tribe" is genealogical or geographical elsewhere it is matteh.

Verse 15

I took. Compare Exodus 18:21-26 .

chief. Hebrew. sar. Compare Genesis 32:28 .

men. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 17

respect = recognise.

persons. Hebrew faces. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , put for persons. Compare Leviticus 19:15 .

judgment. Hebrew the judgment: i.e. suited to each case. Compare Exodus 18:26 .

is God's = it [is] God's.

Verse 19

wilderness = desert. Compare Numbers 10:11-36 ; Numbers 11:5 ; Numbers 12:16 ; Numbers 13:26 ; and Ch. Deuteronomy 8:15 .

as = according as.

Kadesh-barnea. Compare Numbers 32:8 . A place of solemn import in Israel's history.

Verse 20

Amorites = descendants of the Nephilim. See App-25 .

Verse 21

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

fear not, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 31:6 , Deuteronomy 31:8 . Joshua 1:9 ; Joshua 8:1 ; Joshua 10:25 ). 1 Chronicles 22:13 ; 1 Chronicles 28:20 . 2 Chronicles 20:15 , 2 Chronicles 20:17 ; 2 Chronicles 32:7 . Jeremiah 23:4 ; Jeremiah 30:10 .

Verse 22

every one, &c. = all of you. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 .

We will send, &c. Proposal came from people, and is here charged home against them. Jehovah assented, and this assent appears in the history. Numbers 13:1-3 .

men. Hebrew, plural of 'ish, or 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 24

Eshcol = a cluster of grapes. Numbers 13:22-25 .

Verse 25

good land. Compare Numbers 13:27 .

Verse 26

commandment. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the word spoken by it. So Deuteronomy 1:43 .Exodus 17:1 .Genesis 24:57 , &c.

Verse 27

murmured. Hebrew. ragan, to rebel. Only here, Psalms 106:25 , and Isaiah 2:9 , Isa 2:24 .

Amorites. The Severus codex reads "the Amorite" (singular) See App-34 .

destroy = exterminate. Hebrew. shamad.

Verse 28

our brethren = our own brethren. Compare Numbers 13:28 .

heart. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "hearts" (plural)

taller = greater. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, read "more in number".

walled, &c. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 .

Anakims. First occurrence; elsewhere, Deuteronomy 2:10 , Deuteronomy 2:11 , Deuteronomy 2:21 ; Deuteronomy 9:2 .Joshua 11:21 , Joshua 11:22 ; Joshua 14:12 , Joshua 14:15 . See App-25 . For "sons of Anak", see note on Numbers 13:22 .

Verse 31

son. See Numbers 11:11 , Numbers 11:12 .

Verse 32

the LORD. Hebrew "in the LORD"(= Jehovah).

Verse 33

a place. See Exodus 15:17 . Numbers 10:33 .Joshua 3:3 , Joshua 3:4 .Ezekiel 20:6 .

your tents. Not only your inheritance, but the halting-place for daily journeying thither. Both were and are Jehovah's choice for His People.

in fire by night. See Exodus 13:21 , Exodus 13:22 .Numbers 10:33 , Numbers 10:34 .

Verse 34

was wroth. See Numbers 14:20-35 and Psalms 95:8-11 .

Verse 36

Caleb. Compare Numbers 14:23 , Numbers 14:24 .Joshua 14:9 . Judges 1:20 .

children = sons.

Verse 37

This and the next verse are put in a Parenthesis ( App-6 ).

angry. See Numbers 20:12 .

Verse 38

Joshua. Numbers 14:30 .

Verse 39

your little ones. Numbers 14:31 .

Verse 40

turn you = start. Numbers 14:25 .

Red sea = eastern arm. The gulf of Akabah. Compare Deuteronomy 1:1 .

Verse 41

answered and said. Idiom. App-6 . In this idiom the word "answered" receives its meaning from the context. Here it = confessed, or repented and said.

we will go up. Compare Numbers 14:40-42 .

ready. Hebrew. hun. Occurs only here: = rash, or presumptuous.

Verse 43

rebelled. Numbers 14:44 , Numbers 14:45 .

commandment. Hebrew mouth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , put for what is uttered by it, as in Deuteronomy 1:26 .

Verse 44

Amorites. Compare Numbers 14:43 . See App-25 .

bees. Hebrew with art. "the bees". Art. of species.

destroyed you = beat you down. Hebrew. kathath.

Verse 46

abode in Kadesh. This is not a summary of the thirty-eight years' wandering, but of what happened before then. How solemn the word "abode" when the command had been "go up".