Study Desk

The Command to Leave Horeb

These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan^(a)—that is, in the Arabah^(b)—opposite Suph, between Paran^(c) and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab.

(It takes eleven days to go from Horeb^(d) to Kadesh Barnea^(e) by the Mount Seir^(f) road.)^(g)

In the fortieth year,^(h) on the first day of the eleventh month,⁽ⁱ⁾ Moses proclaimed^(j) to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them.

This was after he had defeated Sihon^(k) king of the Amorites,^(l) who reigned in Heshbon,^(m) and at Edrei had defeated Og⁽ⁿ⁾ king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.^(o)

East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab,^(p) Moses began to expound this law, saying:

The Lord our God said to us^(q) at Horeb,^(r) "You have stayed long enough^(s) at this mountain.

Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites;^(t) go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah,^(u) in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev^(v) and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites^(w) and to Lebanon,^(x) as far as the great river, the Euphrates.^(y)

See, I have given you this land^(z).^(aa) Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore^(ab) he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them."

At that time I said to you, "You are too heavy a burden^(ac) for me to carry alone.^(ad)

The Lord your God has increased^(ae) your numbers^(af) so that today you are as numerous^(ag) as the stars in the sky.^(ah)

May the Lord , the God of your ancestors, increase^(ai) you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!^(aj)

But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?^(ak)

Choose some wise, understanding and respected men^(al) from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."

You answered me, "What you propose to do is good."

So I took^(am) the leading men of your tribes,^(an) wise and respected men,^(ao) and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders^(ap) of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.^(aq)