Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 1

Verse 1

1:1 These [be] the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on {a} this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain {b} over against the Red [sea], between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

(a) In the country of Moab.

(b) So that the wilderness was between the sea and the plain of Moab.

Verse 2

1:2

([There are] eleven days’ [journey] from {c} Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

(c) In Horeb, or Sinai, forty years before the law was given: but because all that were then of age and judgment were now dead, Moses repeats the same to the youth who either then were not born, or had not judgment.

Verse 4

1:4 After he had slain {d} Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

(d) By these examples of God’s favour, their minds are prepared to receive the law.

Verse 5

1:5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, {e} began Moses to declare this law, saying,

(e) The second time.

Verse 6

1:6 The LORD our God spake unto us in {f} Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:

(f) In the second year and second month, Numbers 10:11.

Verse 9

1:9 And I spake {g} unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

(g) By the counsel of Jethro my father-in-law, Exodus 18:19.

Verse 10

1:10 The LORD your God hath {h} multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

(h) Not so much by the course of nature, as miraculously.

Verse 12

1:12 How can I myself alone {i} bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

(i) Signifying how great a burden it is, to govern the people.

Verse 13

1:13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and {k} known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

(k) Whose godliness and uprightness is known.

Verse 15

1:15 So I took the chief of your tribes, {l} wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

(l) Declaring what sort of men ought to have a public charge, read Exodus 18:21.

Verse 17

1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] {m} God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.

(m) You are his Lieutenants.

Verse 20

1:20 And {n} I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.

(n) So that the fault was in themselves, that they did not sooner possess the inheritance promised.

Verse 22

1:22 {o} And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

(o) Read Numbers 13:3.

Verse 25

1:25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought [it] down unto us, and brought us word again, and {p} said, [It is] a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

(p) That is, Caleb, and Joshua; Moses prefers the better part to the greater, that is, two to ten.

Verse 27

1:27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD {q} hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

(q) Such was the Jews unthankfulness, that they counted God’s special love, hatred.

Verse 28

1:28 Whither shall we go up? our {r} brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities [are] great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

(r) The other ten, not Caleb and Joshua.

Verse 30

1:30 The LORD your God {s} which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

(s) Declaring that to renounce our own force, and constantly to follow our calling, and depend on the Lord, is true boldness, and agreeable to God.

Verse 38

1:38 [But] Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth {t} before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

(t) Who minister to you.

Verse 39

1:39 Moreover your {u} little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

(u) Who were under twenty years of age, Numbers 14:31.

Verse 41

1:41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, {x} we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.

(x) This declares man’s nature, who will do that which God forbids, and will not do that which he commands.

Verse 42

1:42 And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I [am] {y} not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

(y) Signifying that man has no strength, but when God is at hand to help him.

Verse 45

1:45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not {z} hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

(z) Because you rather showed your hypocrisy, than true repentance; rather lamenting the loss of your brethren, than repenting for your sins.