Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Deuteronomy » Chapter 1

Deuteronomy 1:1-46 King James Version (KJV)

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

2 (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

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

5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

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

7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

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

10 The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

11 (The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)

12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.

15 So I took the chief of your tribes, 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.

16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

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 God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

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

21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

22 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.

23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.

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 said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:

27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD 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.

28 Whither shall we go up? our 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.

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

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

31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers.

36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

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

39 Moreover your 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.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, 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.

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

43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill.

44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.

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

46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 These be the words H1697 which Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto all Israel H3478 on this side H5676 Jordan H3383 in the wilderness, H4057 in the plain H6160 over against H4136 the Red H5489 sea, between Paran, H6290 and Tophel, H8603 and Laban, H3837 and Hazeroth, H2698 and Dizahab. H1774

2 (There are eleven H259 H6240 days' H3117 journey from Horeb H2722 by the way H1870 of mount H2022 Seir H8165 unto Kadeshbarnea.) H6947

3 And it came to pass in the fortieth H705 year, H8141 in the eleventh H6249 H6240 month, H2320 on the first H259 day of the month, H2320 that Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 according unto all that the LORD H3068 had given him in commandment H6680 unto them;

4 After H310 he had slain H5221 Sihon H5511 the king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 which dwelt H3427 in Heshbon, H2809 and Og H5747 the king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 which dwelt H3427 at Astaroth H6252 in Edrei: H154

5 On this side H5676 Jordan, H3383 in the land H776 of Moab, H4124 began H2974 Moses H4872 to declare H874 this law, H8451 saying, H559

6 The LORD H3068 our God H430 spake H1696 unto us in Horeb, H2722 saying, H559 Ye have dwelt H3427 long enough H7227 in this mount: H2022

7 Turn H6437 you, and take your journey, H5265 and go H935 to the mount H2022 of the Amorites, H567 and unto all the places nigh H7934 thereunto, in the plain, H6160 in the hills, H2022 and in the vale, H8219 and in the south, H5045 and by the sea H3220 side, H2348 to the land H776 of the Canaanites, H3669 and unto Lebanon, H3844 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates. H6578

8 Behold, H7200 I have set H5414 the land H776 before H6440 you: go H935 in and possess H3423 the land H776 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto your fathers, H1 Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3327 and Jacob, H3290 to give H5414 unto them and to their seed H2233 after H310 them.

9 And I spake H559 unto you at that time, H6256 saying, H559 I am not able H3201 to bear H5375 you myself alone: H905

10 The LORD H3068 your God H430 hath multiplied H7235 you, and, behold, ye are this day H3117 as the stars H3556 of heaven H8064 for multitude. H7230

11 (The LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 make you a thousand H505 times H6471 so many more as H3254 ye are, and bless H1288 you, as he hath promised H1696 you!)

12 How H349 can I myself alone bear H5375 your cumbrance, H2960 and your burden, H4853 and your strife? H7379

13 Take H3051 you wise H2450 men, H582 and understanding, H995 and known H3045 among your tribes, H7626 and I will make H7760 them rulers H7218 over you.

14 And ye answered H6030 me, and said, H559 The thing H1697 which thou hast spoken H1696 is good H2896 for us to do. H6213

15 So I took H3947 the chief H7218 of your tribes, H7626 wise H2450 men, H582 and known, H3045 and made H5414 them heads H7218 over you, captains H8269 over thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over hundreds, H3967 and captains H8269 over fifties, H2572 and captains H8269 over tens, H6235 and officers H7860 among your tribes. H7626

16 And I charged H6680 your judges H8199 at that time, H6256 saying, H559 Hear H8085 the causes between your brethren, H251 and judge H8199 righteously H6664 between every man H376 and his brother, H251 and the stranger H1616 that is with him.

17 Ye shall not respect H5234 persons H6440 in judgment; H4941 but ye shall hear H8085 the small H6996 as well as the great; H1419 ye shall not be afraid H1481 of the face H6440 of man; H376 for the judgment H4941 is God's: H430 and the cause H1697 that is too hard H7185 for you, bring H7126 it unto me, and I will hear H8085 it.

18 And I commanded H6680 you at that time H6256 all the things H1697 which ye should do. H6213

19 And when we departed H5265 from Horeb, H2722 we went through H3212 all that great H1419 and terrible H3372 wilderness, H4057 which ye saw H7200 by the way H1870 of the mountain H2022 of the Amorites, H567 as the LORD H3068 our God H430 commanded H6680 us; and we came H935 to Kadeshbarnea. H6947

20 And I said H559 unto you, Ye are come H935 unto the mountain H2022 of the Amorites, H567 which the LORD H3068 our God H430 doth give H5414 unto us.

21 Behold, H7200 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath set H5414 the land H776 before H6440 thee: go up H5927 and possess H3423 it, as the LORD H3068 God H430 of thy fathers H1 hath said H1696 unto thee; fear H3372 not, neither be discouraged. H2865

22 And ye came near H7126 unto me every one of you, and said, H559 We will send H7971 men H582 before H6440 us, and they shall search us out H2658 the land, H776 and bring H7725 us word H1697 again H7725 by what way H1870 we must go up, H5927 and into what cities H5892 we shall come. H935

23 And the saying H1697 pleased me well: H3190 H5869 and I took H3947 twelve H8147 H6240 men H582 of you, one H259 of a tribe: H376 H7626

24 And they turned H6437 and went up H5927 into the mountain, H2022 and came H935 unto the valley H5158 of Eshcol, H812 and searched it out. H7270

25 And they took H3947 of the fruit H6529 of the land H776 in their hands, H3027 and brought it down H3381 unto us, and brought H7725 us word H1697 again, H7725 and said, H559 It is a good H2896 land H776 which the LORD H3068 our God H430 doth give H5414 us.

26 Notwithstanding ye would H14 not go up, H5927 but rebelled H4784 against the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 your God: H430

27 And ye murmured H7279 in your tents, H168 and said, H559 Because the LORD H3068 hated H8135 us, he hath brought us forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to deliver H5414 us into the hand H3027 of the Amorites, H567 to destroy H8045 us.

28 Whither shall we go up? H5927 our brethren H251 have discouraged H4549 our heart, H3824 saying, H559 The people H5971 is greater H1419 and taller H7311 than we; the cities H5892 are great H1419 and walled up H1219 to heaven; H8064 and moreover we have seen H7200 the sons H1121 of the Anakims H6062 there.

29 Then I said H559 unto you, Dread H6206 not, neither be afraid H3372 of them.

30 The LORD H3068 your God H430 which goeth H1980 before H6440 you, he shall fight H3898 for you, according to all that he did H6213 for you in Egypt H4714 before your eyes; H5869

31 And in the wilderness, H4057 where thou hast seen H7200 how that the LORD H3068 thy God H430 bare H5375 thee, as a man H376 doth bear H5375 his son, H1121 in all the way H1870 that ye went, H1980 until ye came H935 into this place. H4725

32 Yet in this thing H1697 ye did not believe H539 the LORD H3068 your God, H430

33 Who went H1980 in the way H1870 before H6440 you, to search you out H8446 a place H4725 to pitch your tents H2583 in, in fire H784 by night, H3915 to shew H7200 you by what way H1870 ye should go, H3212 and in a cloud H6051 by day. H3119

34 And the LORD H3068 heard H8085 the voice H6963 of your words, H1697 and was wroth, H7107 and sware, H7650 saying, H559

35 Surely there shall not one H376 of these men H582 of this evil H7451 generation H1755 see H7200 that good H2896 land, H776 which I sware H7650 to give H5414 unto your fathers, H1

36 Save H2108 Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh; H3312 he shall see H7200 it, and to him will I give H5414 the land H776 that H834 he hath trodden upon, H1869 and to his children, H1121 because he hath wholly H4390 followed H310 the LORD. H3068

37 Also the LORD H3068 was angry H599 with me for your sakes, H1558 saying, H559 Thou also shalt not go H935 in thither. H8033

38 But Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 which standeth H5975 before H6440 thee, he shall go in H935 thither: encourage H2388 him: for he shall cause Israel H3478 to inherit H5157 it.

39 Moreover your little ones, H2945 which ye said H559 should be a prey, H957 and your children, H1121 which in that day H3117 had no knowledge H3045 between good H2896 and evil, H7451 they shall go in H935 thither, and unto them will I give H5414 it, and they shall possess H3423 it.

40 But as for you, turn H6437 you, and take your journey H5265 into the wilderness H4057 by the way H1870 of the Red H5488 sea. H3220

41 Then ye answered H6030 and said H559 unto me, We have sinned H2398 against the LORD, H3068 we will go up H5927 and fight, H3898 according to all that the LORD H3068 our God H430 commanded H6680 us. And when ye had girded H2296 on every man H376 his weapons H3627 of war, H4421 ye were ready H1951 to go up H5927 into the hill. H2022

42 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Say H559 unto them, Go not up, H5927 neither fight; H3898 for I am not among H7130 you; lest ye be smitten H5062 before H6440 your enemies. H341

43 So I spake H1696 unto you; and ye would not hear, H8085 but rebelled H4784 against the commandment H6310 of the LORD, H3068 and went H5927 presumptuously H2102 up H5927 into the hill. H2022

44 And the Amorites, H567 which dwelt H3427 in that mountain, H2022 came out H3318 against H7125 you, and chased H7291 you, as bees H1682 do, H6213 and destroyed H3807 you in Seir, H8165 even unto Hormah. H2767

45 And ye returned H7725 and wept H1058 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 but the LORD H3068 would not hearken H8085 to your voice, H6963 nor give ear H238 unto you.

46 So ye abode H3427 in Kadesh H6946 many H7227 days, H3117 according unto the days H3117 that ye abode H3427 there.


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 American Standard (ASV)

1 These are the words which Moses spake unto all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah over against Suph, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.

2 It is eleven days' `journey' from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.

3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that Jehovah had given him in commandment unto them;

4 after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei.

5 Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

6 Jehovah our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain:

7 turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and unto all `the places' nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

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

10 Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

11 Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!

12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known, according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.

14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good `for us' to do.

15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.

16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear `the causes' between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him.

17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.

18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

19 And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which Jehovah our God giveth unto us.

21 Behold, Jehovah thy God hath set the land before thee: go up, take possession, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.

22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.

23 And the thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe:

24 and they turned and went up into the hill-country, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out.

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 said, It is a good land which Jehovah our God giveth unto us.

26 Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God:

27 and ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because Jehovah 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.

28 Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

30 Jehovah your God who goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that Jehovah thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place.

32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe Jehovah your God,

33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.

34 And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

36 save Caleb the son of Jephunneh: he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed Jehovah.

37 Also Jehovah was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither:

38 Joshua the son of Nun, who standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage thou him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.

41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah, we will go up and fight, according to all that Jehovah our God commanded us. And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and were forward to go up into the hill-country.

42 And Jehovah said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

43 So I spake unto you, and ye hearkened not; but ye rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country.

44 And the Amorites, that dwelt in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah.

45 And ye returned and wept before Jehovah; but Jehovah hearkened not to your voice, nor gave ear unto you.

46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode `there'.


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 These `are' the words which Moses hath spoken unto all Israel, beyond the Jordan, in the wilderness, in the plain over-against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-Zahab;

2 eleven days' from Horeb, the way of mount Seir, unto Kadesh-Barnea.

3 And it cometh to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month hath Moses spoken unto the sons of Israel according to all that Jehovah hath commanded him concerning them;

4 after his smiting Sihon king of the Amorite who is dwelling in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan who is dwelling in Ashtaroth in Edrei,

5 beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, hath Moses begun to explain this law, saying:

6 `Jehovah our God hath spoken unto us in Horeb, saying, Enough to you -- of dwelling in this mount;

7 turn ye and journey for you, and enter the mount of the Amorite, and unto all its neighbouring places, in the plain, in the hill-country, and in the low country, and in the south, and in the haven of the sea, the land of the Canaanite, and of Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Phrat;

8 see, I have set before you the land; go in and possess the land which Jehovah hath sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them, and to their seed after them.

9 `And I speak unto you at that time, saying, I am not able by myself to bear you;

10 Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and lo, ye `are' to-day as the stars of the heavens for multitude;

11 Jehovah, God of your fathers, is adding to you, as ye `are', a thousand times, and doth bless you as He hath spoken to you.

12 `How do I bear by myself your pressure, and your burden, and your strife?

13 Give for yourselves men, wise and intelligent, and known to your tribes, and I set them for your heads;

14 and ye answer me and say, Good `is' the thing which thou hast spoken -- to do.

15 `And I take the heads of your tribes, men, wise and known, and I appoint them heads over you, princes of thousands, and princes of hundreds, and princes of fifties, and princes of tens, and authorities, for your tribes.

16 And I command your judges at that time, saying, Hearkening between your brethren -- then ye have judged righteousness between a man, and his brother, and his sojourner;

17 ye do not discern faces in judgment; as the little so the great ye do hear; ye are not afraid of the face of any, for the judgment is God's, and the thing which is too hard for you, ye bring near unto me, and I have heard it;

18 and I command you, at that time, all the things which ye do.

19 `And we journey from Horeb, and go `through' all that great and fearful wilderness which ye have seen -- the way of the hill-country of the Amorite, as Jehovah our God hath commanded us, and we come in unto Kadesh-Barnea.

20 `And I say unto you, Ye have come in unto the hill-country of the Amorite, which Jehovah our God is giving to us;

21 see, Jehovah thy God hath set before thee the land; go up, possess, as Jehovah, God of thy fathers, hath spoken to thee; fear not, nor be affrighted.

22 `And ye come near unto me, all of you, and say, Let us send men before us, and they search for us the land, and they bring us back word `concerning' the way in which we go up into it, and the cities unto which we come in;

23 and the thing is good in mine eyes, and I take of you twelve men, one man for a tribe.

24 `And they turn and go up to the hill-country, and come in unto the valley of Eshcol, and spy it,

25 and they take with their hand of the fruit of the land, and bring down unto us, and bring us back word, and say, Good is the land which Jehovah our God is giving to us.

26 `And ye have not been willing to go up, and ye provoke the mouth of Jehovah your God,

27 and murmur in your tents, and say, In Jehovah's hating us He hath brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorite -- to destroy us;

28 whither are we going up? our brethren have melted our heart, saying, A people greater and taller than we, cities great and fenced to heaven, and also sons of Anakim -- we have seen there.

29 `And I say unto you, Be not terrified, nor be afraid of them;

30 Jehovah your God, who is going before you -- He doth fight for you, according to all that He hath done with you in Egypt before your eyes,

31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen that Jehovah thy God hath borne thee as a man beareth his son, in all the way which ye have gone, till your coming in unto this place.

32 `And in this thing ye are not stedfast in Jehovah your God,

33 who is going before you in the way to search out to you a place for your encamping, in fire by night, to shew you in the way in which ye go, and in a cloud by day.

34 `And Jehovah heareth the voice of your words, and is wroth, and sweareth, saying,

35 Not one of these men of this evil generation doth see the good land which I have sworn to give to your fathers,

36 save Caleb son of Jephunneh -- he doth see it, and to him I give the land on which he hath trodden, and to his sons, because that he hath been fully after Jehovah.

37 `Also with me hath Jehovah been angry for your sake, saying, Also, thou dost not go in thither;

38 Joshua son of Nun, who is standing before thee, he goeth in thither; him strengthen thou; for he doth cause Israel to inherit.

39 `And your infants, of whom ye have said, For a prey they are, and your sons who have not known to-day good and evil, they go in thither, and to them I give it, and they possess it;

40 and ye, turn for yourselves, and journey toward the wilderness, the way of the Red Sea.

41 `And ye answer and say unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah; we -- we go up, and we have fought, according to all that which Jehovah our God hath commanded us; and ye gird on each his weapons of war, and ye are ready to go up into the hill-country;

42 and Jehovah saith unto me, Say to them, Ye do not go up, nor fight, for I am not in your midst, and ye are not smitten before your enemies.

43 `And I speak unto you, and ye have not hearkened, and provoke the mouth of Jehovah, and act proudly, and go up into the hill-country;

44 and the Amorite who is dwelling in that hill-country cometh out to meet you, and they pursue you as the bees do, and smite you in Seir -- unto Hormah.

45 `And ye turn back and weep before Jehovah, and Jehovah hath not hearkened to your voice, nor hath he given ear unto you;

46 and ye dwell in Kadesh many days, according to the days which ye had dwelt.


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side the Jordan, in the wilderness, in the plain, opposite to Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

2 There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that Jehovah had given him in command to them;

4 after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth [and] at Edrei.

5 On this side the Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to unfold this law, saying,

6 Jehovah our God spoke unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have stayed long enough in this mountain.

7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and unto all the neighbouring places in the plain, in the mountain, and in the lowland, and in the south, and by the seaside, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

9 And I spoke unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone.

10 Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

11 Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you as he hath said unto you!

12 How can I myself alone sustain your wear, and your burden, and your strife?

13 Provide you wise and understanding and known men, according to your tribes, that I may make them your chiefs.

14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing that thou hast spoken is good [for us] to do.

15 So I took the chiefs of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them chiefs over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and him also that sojourneth with him.

17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment: ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's; and the matter that is too hard for you shall ye bring to me, that I may hear it.

18 And I commanded you at that time all the things that ye should do.

19 And we departed from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw, on the way to the mountain of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which Jehovah our God giveth us.

21 Behold, Jehovah thy God hath set the land before thee: go up, take possession, as Jehovah the God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.

22 And ye came near to me all of you, and said, We will send men before us, who shall examine the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and of the cities to which we shall come.

23 And the matter was good in mine eyes; and I took twelve men of you, one man for a tribe.

24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.

25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hand, and brought it down unto us, and brought us answer, and said, The land is good that Jehovah our God hath given us.

26 But ye would not go up, and rebelled against the word of Jehovah your God;

27 and ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because Jehovah 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.

28 Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, [They are] a people greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

29 And I said unto you, Be not afraid, neither fear them;

30 Jehovah your God who goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

31 and in the wilderness where thou hast seen that Jehovah thy God bore thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came to this place.

32 But In this thing ye did not believe Jehovah your God,

33 who went in the way before you, to search you out a place for your encamping, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.

34 And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and swore, saying,

35 None among these men, this evil generation, shall in any wise see that good land, which I swore to give unto your fathers!

36 Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed Jehovah.

37 Also Jehovah was angry with me on your account, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

38 Joshua the son of Nun, who standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: strengthen him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 And your little ones, of whom ye said, They shall be a prey, and your children, who this day know neither good nor evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40 But ye, turn, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

41 -- And ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah, we will go up and fight, according to all that Jehovah our God hath commanded us. And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and ye would go presumptuously up the hill.

42 And Jehovah said to me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

43 And I spoke unto you, but ye would not hear, and ye rebelled against the word of Jehovah, and acted presumptuously, and went up the hill.

44 And the Amorite that dwelt on that hill came out against you, and chased you, like as bees do, and cut you in pieces in Seir, as far as Hormah.

45 And ye returned and wept before Jehovah, but Jehovah would not listen to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

46 And ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode [there].


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 World English Bible (WEB)

1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah over against Suph, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

2 It is eleven days' [journey] from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

3 It happened in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that Yahweh had given him in commandment to them;

4 after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei.

5 Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

6 Yahweh our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, You have lived long enough in this mountain:

7 turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and to all [the places] near thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their seed after them.

9 I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

10 Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and, behold, you are this day as the stars of the sky for multitude.

11 Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!

12 How can I myself alone bear your encumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

13 Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.

14 You answered me, and said, The thing which you have spoken is good [for us] to do.

15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.

16 I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is living with him.

17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.

18 I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

19 We traveled from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Yahweh our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

20 I said to you, You are come to the hill-country of the Amorites, which Yahweh our God gives to us.

21 Behold, Yahweh your God has set the land before you: go up, take possession, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you; don't be afraid, neither be dismayed.

22 You came near to me everyone of you, and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and the cities to which we shall come.

23 The thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe:

24 and they turned and went up into the hill-country, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out.

25 They took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which Yahweh our God gives to us.

26 Yet you wouldn't go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God:

27 and you murmured in your tents, and said, Because Yahweh hated us, he has brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

28 Where are we going up? our brothers have made our heart to melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to the sky; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

29 Then I said to you, Don't dread, neither be afraid of them.

30 Yahweh your God who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how that Yahweh your God bore you, as a man does bear his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place.

32 Yet in this thing you didn't believe Yahweh your God,

33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day.

34 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying,

35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I swore to give to your fathers,

36 save Caleb the son of Jephunneh: he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he has trodden on, and to his children, because he has wholly followed Yahweh.

37 Also Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, saying, You also shall not go in there:

38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there: encourage you him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 Moreover your little ones, whom you said should be a prey, and your children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.

41 Then you answered and said to me, We have sinned against Yahweh, we will go up and fight, according to all that Yahweh our God commanded us. You girded on every man his weapons of war, and were forward to go up into the hill-country.

42 Yahweh said to me, Tell them, Don't go up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest you be struck before your enemies.

43 So I spoke to you, and you didn't listen; but you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country.

44 The Amorites, who lived in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even to Hormah.

45 You returned and wept before Yahweh; but Yahweh didn't listen to your voice, nor gave ear to you.

46 So you abode in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you abode [there].


Deuteronomy 1:1-46 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 These are the words which Moses said to all Israel on the far side of Jordan, in the waste land in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran on the one side, and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab on the other.

2 It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

3 Now in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses gave to the children of Israel all the orders which the Lord had given him for them;

4 After he had overcome Sihon, king of the Amorites, ruling in Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, ruling in Ashtaroth, at Edrei:

5 On the far side of Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses gave the people this law, saying,

6 The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, You have been long enough in this mountain:

7 Make a move now, and go on your way into the hill-country of the Amorites and the places near it, in the Arabah and the hill-country and in the lowlands and in the South and by the seaside, all the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

8 See, all the land is before you: go in and take for yourselves the land which the Lord gave by an oath to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their seed after them.

9 At that time I said to you, I am not able to undertake the care of you by myself;

10 The Lord your God has given you increase, and now you are like the stars of heaven in number.

11 May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times greater in number than you are, and give you his blessing as he has said!

12 How is it possible for me by myself to be responsible for you, and undertake the weight of all your troubles and your arguments?

13 Take for yourselves men who are wise, far-seeing, and respected among you, from your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

14 And you made answer and said to me, It is good for us to do as you say.

15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men and respected, and made them rulers over you, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds and captains of fifties and captains of tens, and overseers of your tribes.

16 And at that time I gave orders to your judges, saying, Let all questions between your brothers come before you for hearing, and give decisions uprightly between a man and his brother or one from another nation who is with him.

17 In judging, do not let a man's position have any weight with you; give hearing equally to small and great; have no fear of any man, for it is God who is judge: and any cause in which you are not able to give a decision, you are to put before me and I will give it a hearing.

18 And at that time I gave you all the orders which you were to do.

19 Then we went on from Horeb, through all that great and cruel waste which you saw, on our way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as the Lord gave us orders; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

20 And I said to you, You have come to the hill-country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us.

21 See now, the Lord your God has put the land into your hands: go up and take it, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has said to you; have no fear and do not be troubled.

22 And you came near to me, every one of you, and said, Let us send men before us to go through the land with care and give us an account of the way we are to go and the towns to which we will come.

23 And what you said seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from among you, one from every tribe;

24 And they went up into the hill-country and came to the valley of Eshcol, and saw what was there.

25 And taking in their hands some of the fruit of the land, they came down again to us, and gave us their account, saying, It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.

26 But going against the order of the Lord your God, you would not go up:

27 And you made an angry outcry in your tents, and said, In his hate for us the Lord has taken us out of the land of Egypt, to give us up into the hands of the Amorites for our destruction.

28 Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts feeble with fear by saying, The people are greater and taller than we are, and the towns are great and walled up to heaven; and more than this, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

29 Then I said to you, Have no fear of them.

30 The Lord your God who goes before you will be fighting for you, and will do such wonders as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

31 And in the waste land, where you have seen how the Lord was supporting you, as a man does his son, in all your journeying till you came to this place.

32 But for all this, you had no faith in the Lord your God,

33 Who goes before you on your way, looking for a place where you may put up your tents, in fire by night, lighting up the way you are to go, and in a cloud by day.

34 And the Lord, hearing your words, was angry, and said with an oath,

35 Truly, not one of this evil generation will see that good land which I said I would give to your fathers,

36 But only Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, he will see it; and to him and to his children I will give the land over which his feet have gone, because he has been true to the Lord with all his heart.

37 And, in addition, the Lord was angry with me because of you, saying, You yourself will not go into it:

38 Joshua, the son of Nun, your servant, he will go into the land: say to him that he is to be strong, for he will be Israel's guide into their heritage.

39 And your little ones, who, you said, would come into strange hands, your children, who now have no knowledge of good or evil, they will go into that land, and to them I will give it and it will be theirs.

40 But as for you, go back, journeying into the waste land by the way of the Red Sea.

41 Then you said to me, We have done evil against the Lord, we will go up to the attack, as the Lord our God has given us orders. And arming yourselves every one, you made ready to go up without care into the hill-country.

42 And the Lord said to me, Say to them, Do not go up to the attack; for I am not among you, and you will be overcome by those who are against you.

43 This I said to you, but you gave no attention and went against the orders of the Lord, and in your pride went up into the hill-country.

44 And the Amorites who were in the hill-country came out against you and put you to flight, rushing after you like bees, and overcame you in Seir, driving you even as far as Hormah.

45 And you came back, weeping before the Lord; but the Lord gave no attention to your cries and did not give ear to you.

46 So you were kept waiting in Kadesh for a long time.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Deuteronomy 1

Commentary on Deuteronomy 1 Matthew Henry Commentary


An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of

The Fifth Book of Moses, Called Deuteronomy

Chapter 1

The first part of Moses's farewell sermon to Israel begins with this chapter, and is continued to the latter end of the fourth chapter. In the first five verses of this chapter we have the date of the sermon, the place where it was preached (v. 1, 2, 5), and the time when (v. 3, 4). The narrative in this chapter reminds them,

  • I. Of the promise God made them of the land of Canaan (v. 6-8).
  • II. Of the provision made of judges for them (v. 9-18).
  • III. Of their unbelief and murmuring upon the report of the spies (v. 19-33).
  • IV. Of the sentence passed upon them for it, and the ratification of that sentence (v. 34, etc.).

Deu 1:1-8

We have here,

  • I. The date of this sermon which Moses preached to the people of Israel. A great auditory, no question, he had, as many as could crowd within hearing, and particularly all the elders and officers, the representatives of the people; and, probably, it was on the sabbath day that he delivered this to them.
    • 1. The place were they were now encamped was in the plain, in the land of Moab (v. 1, 5), where they were just ready to enter Canaan, and engage in a war with the Canaanites. Yet he discourses not to them concerning military affairs, the arts and stratagems of war, but concerning their duty to God; for, if they kept themselves in his fear and favour, he would secure to them the conquest of the land: their religion would be their best policy.
    • 2. The time was near the end of the fortieth year since they came out of Egypt. So long God had borne their manners, and they had borne their own iniquity (Num. 14:34), and now that a new and more pleasant scene was to be introduced, as a token for good, Moses repeats the law to them. Thus, after God's controversy with them on account of the golden calf, the first and surest sign of God's being reconciled to them was the renewing of the tables. There is no better evidence and earnest of God's favour than his putting his law in our hearts, Ps. 147:19, 20.
  • II. The discourse itself. In general, Moses spoke unto them all that the Lord had given him in commandment (v. 3), which intimates, not only that what he now delivered was for substance the same with what had formerly been commanded, but that it was what God now commanded him to repeat. He gave them this rehearsal and exhortation purely by divine direction; God appointed him to leave this legacy to the church. He begins his narrative with their removal from Mount Sinai (v. 6), and relates here,
    • 1. The orders which God gave them to decamp, and proceed in their march (v. 6, 7): You have dwelt long enough in this mount. This was the mount that burned with fire (Heb. 12:18), and gendered to bondage, Gal. 4:24. Thither God brought them to humble them, and by the terrors of the law to prepare them for the land of promise. There he kept them about a year, and then told them they had dwelt long enough there, they must go forward. Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, into spiritual trouble and affliction of mind, he knows when they have dwelt long enough in it, and will certainly find a time, the fittest time, to advance them from the terrors of the spirit of adoption. See Rom. 8:15.
    • 2. The prospect which he gave them of a happy and early settlement in Canaan: Go to the land of the Canaanites (v. 7); enter and take possession, it is all your own. Behold I have set the land before you, v. 8. When God commands us to go forward in our Christian course he sets the heavenly Canaan before us for our encouragement.

Deu 1:9-18

Moses here reminds them of the happy constitution of their government, which was such as might make them all safe and easy if it was not their own fault. When good laws were given them good men were entrusted with the execution of them, which, as it was an instance of God's goodness to them, so it was of the care of Moses concerning them; and, it should seem, he mentions it here to recommend himself to them as a man that sincerely sought their welfare, and so to make way for what he was about to say to them, wherein he aimed at nothing but their good. In this part of his narrative he insinuates to them,

  • I. That he greatly rejoiced in the increase of their numbers. He owns the accomplishment of God's promise to Abraham (v. 10): You are as the stars of heaven for multitude; and prays for the further accomplishment of it (v. 11): God make you a thousand times more. This prayer comes in in a parenthesis, and a good prayer prudently put in cannot be impertinent in any discourse of divine things, nor will a pious ejaculation break the coherence, but rather strengthen and adorn it. But how greatly are his desires enlarged when he prays that they might be made a thousand times more than they were! We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God, why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope, which ought to be as large as the promise? larger they need not be. It is from the promise that Moses here takes the measures of his prayer: The Lord bless you as he hath promised you. And why might he not hope that they might become a thousand times more than they were now when they were now ten thousand times more than they were when they went down into Egypt, about 250 years ago? Observe, When they were under the government of Pharaoh the increase of their numbers was envied, and complained of as a grievance (Ex. 1:9); but now, under the government of Moses, it was rejoiced in, and prayed for as a blessing. The consideration of this might give them occasion to reflect with shame upon their own folly when they had talked of making a captain and returning to Egypt.
  • II. That he was not ambitious of monopolizing the honour of the government, and ruling them himself alone, as an absolute monarch, v. 9. Though he was a man as well worthy of that honour, and as well qualified for the business, as ever any man was, yet he was desirous that others might be taken in as assistants to him in the business and consequently sharers with him in the honour: I cannot myself alone bear the burden, v. 12. Magistracy is a burden. Moses himself, though eminently gifted for it, found it lay heavily on his shoulders; nay, the best magistrates complain most of the burden, and are most desirous of help, and most afraid of undertaking more than they can perform.
  • III. That he was not desirous to prefer his own creatures, or such as should underhand have a dependence upon him; for he leaves it to the people to choose their own judges, to whom he would grant commissions, not durant bene placito-to be turned out when he pleased; but quam diu se bene gesserint-to continue so long as they approved themselves faithful. Take you wise men, that are known to be so among your tribes, and I will make them rulers, v. 13. Thus the apostles directed the multitude to choose overseers of the poor, and then they ordained them, Acts 6:3, 6. He directs them to take wise men and understanding, whose personal merit would recommend them. The rise and origin of this nation were so late that none of them could pretend to antiquity of race, and nobility of birth, above their brethren; and, having all lately come out of slavery in Egypt, it is probable that one family was not much richer than another; so that their choice must be directed purely by the qualifications of wisdom, experience, and integrity. "Choose those,' says Moses, "whose praise is in your tribes, and with all my heart I will make them rulers.' We must not grudge that God's work be done by other hands than ours, provided it be done by good hands.
  • IV. That he was in this matter very willing to please the people; and, though he did not in any thing aim at their applause, yet in a thing of this nature he would not act without their approbation. And they agreed to the proposal: The thing which thou hast spoken is good, v. 14. This he mentions to aggravate the sin of their mutinies and discontents after this, that the government they quarrelled with was what they themselves had consented to; Moses would have pleased them if they would have been pleased.
  • V. That he aimed to edify them as well as to gratify them; for,
    • 1. He appointed men of good characters (v. 15), wise men and men known, men that would be faithful to their trust and to the public interest.
    • 2. He gave them a good charge, v. 16, 17. Those that are advanced to honour must know that they are charged with business, and must give account another day of their charge.
      • (1.) He charges them to be diligent and patient: Hear the causes. Hear both sides, hear them fully, hear them carefully; for nature has provided us with two ears, and he that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him. The ear of the learner is necessary to the tongue of the learned, Isa. 50:4.
      • (2.) To be just and impartial: Judge righteously. Judgment must be given according to the merits of the cause, without regard to the quality of the parties. The natives must not be suffered to abuse the strangers any more that the strangers to insult the natives or to encroach upon them; the great must not be suffered to oppress the small, nor to crush them, any more than the small, to rob the great, or to affront them. No faces must be known in judgment, but unbribed unbiased equity must always pass sentence.
      • (3.) To be resolute and courageous: "You shall not be afraid of the face of man; be not overawed to do an ill thing, either by the clamours of the crowd or by the menaces of those that have power in their hands.' And he gave them a good reason to enforce this charge: "For the judgment is God's. You are God's vicegerents, you act for him, and therefore must act like him; you are his representatives, but if you judge unrighteously, you misrepresent him. The judgment is his, and therefore he will protect you in doing right, and will certainly call you to account if you do wrong.'
    • 3. He allowed them to bring all difficult cases to him, and he would always be ready to hear and determine, and to make both the judges and the people easy. Happy art thou. O Israel! in such praise as Moses was.

Deu 1:19-46

Moses here makes a large rehearsal of the fatal turn which was given to their affairs by their own sins, and God's wrath, when, from the very borders of Canaan, the honour of conquering it, and the pleasure of possessing it, the whole generation was hurried back into the wilderness, and their carcases fell there. It was a memorable story; we read it Num. 13 and 14, but divers circumstances are found here which are not related there.

  • I. He reminds them of their march from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea (v. 19), through that great and terrible wilderness. This he takes notice of,
    • 1. To make them sensible of the great goodness of God to them, in guiding them through so great a wilderness, and protecting them from the mischiefs they were surrounded with in such a terrible wilderness. The remembrance of our dangers should make us thankful for our deliverances.
    • 2. To aggravate the folly of those who, in their discontent, would have gone back to Egypt through the wilderness, though they had forfeited, and had no reason to expect, the divine guidance, in such a retrograde motion.
  • II. He shows them how fair they stood for Canaan at that time, v. 20, 21. He told them with triumph, the land is set before you, go up and possess it. He lets them see how near they were to a happy settlement when they put a bar in their own door, that their sin might appear the more exceedingly sinful. It will aggravate the eternal ruin of hypocrites that they were not far from the kingdom of God and yet came short, Mk. 12:34.
  • III. He lays the blame of sending the spies upon them, which did not appear in Numbers, there it is said (ch. 13:1, 2) that the Lord directed the sending of them, but here we find that the people first desired it, and God, in permitting it, gave them up to their counsels: You said, We will send men before us, v. 22. Moses had given them God's word (v. 20, 21), but they could not find in their hearts to rely upon that: human policy goes further with them than divine wisdom, and they will needs light a candle to the sun. As if it were not enough that they were sure of a God before them, they must send men before them.
  • IV. He repeats the report which the spies brought of the goodness of the land which they were sent to survey, v. 24, 25. The blessings which God has promised are truly valuable and desirable, even the unbelievers themselves being judges: never any looked into the holy land, but they must own it a good land. Yet they represented the difficulties of conquering it as insuperable (v. 28); as if it were in vain to think of attacking them either by battle, "for the people are taller than we,' or by siege, "for the cities are walled up to heaven,' an hyperbole which they made use of to serve their ill purpose, which was to dishearten the people, and perhaps they intended to reflect on the God of heaven himself, as if they were able to defy him, like the Babel-builders, the top of whose tower must reach to heaven, Gen. 11:4. Those places only are walled up to heaven that are compassed with God's favour as with a shield.
  • V. He tells them what pains he took with them to encourage them, when their brethren had said so much to discourage them (v. 29): Then I said unto you, Dread not. Moses suggested enough to have stilled the tumult, and to have kept them with their faces towards Canaan. He assured them that God was present with them, and president among them, and would certainly fight for them, v. 30. And for proof of his power over their enemies he refers them to what they had seen done in Egypt, where their enemies had all possible advantages against them and yet were humbled and forced to yield, v. 30. And for proof of God's goodwill to them, and the real kindness which he intended them, he refers them to what they had seen in the wilderness (v. 31, 33), through which they had been guided by the eye of divine wisdom in a pillar of cloud and fire (which guided both their motions and their rests), and had been carried in the arms of divine grace with as much care and tenderness as were ever shown to any child borne in the arms of a nursing father. And was there any room left to distrust this God? Or were they not the most ungrateful people in the world, who, after such sensible proofs of the divine goodness, hardened their hearts in the day of temptation? Moses had complained once that God had charged him to carry this people as a nursing father doth the sucking child (Num. 11:12); but here he owns that it was God that so carried them, and perhaps this is alluded to (Acts 13:18), where he is said to bear them, or to suffer their manners.
  • VI. He charges them with the sin which they were guilty of upon this occasion. Though those to whom he was now speaking were a new generation, yet he lays it upon them: You rebelled, and you murmured; for many of these were then in being, though under twenty years old, and perhaps were engaged in the riot; and the rest inherited their fathers' vices, and smarted for them. Observe what he lays to their charge.
    • 1. Disobedience and rebellion against God's law: You would not go up, but rebelled, v. 26. The rejecting of God's favours is really a rebelling against his authority.
    • 2. Invidious reflections upon God's goodness. They basely suggested: Because the Lord hated us, he brought us out of Egypt, v. 27. What could have been more absurd, more disingenuous, and more reproachful to God?
    • 3. An unbelieving heart at the bottom of all this: You did not believe the Lord your God, v. 32. All your disobedience to God's laws, and distrust of his power and goodness, flow from a disbelief of his word. A sad pass it has come to with us when the God of eternal truth cannot be believed.
  • VII. He repeats the sentence passed upon them for this sin, which now they had seen the execution of.
    • 1. They were all condemned to die in the wilderness, and none of them must be suffered to enter Canaan except Caleb and Joshua, v. 34-38. So long they must continue in their wanderings in the wilderness that most of them would drop off of course, and the youngest of them should be cut off. Thus they could not enter in because of unbelief. It was not the breach of any of the commands of the law that shut them out of Canaan, no, not the golden calf, but their disbelief of that promise which was typical of gospel grace, to signify that no sin will ruin us but unbelief, which is a sin against the remedy.
    • 2. Moses himself afterwards fell under God's displeasure for a hasty word which they provoked him to speak: The Lord was angry with me for your sakes, v. 37. Because all the old stock must go off, Moses himself must not stay behind. Their unbelief let death into the camp, and, having entered, even Moses falls within his commission.
    • 3. Yet here is mercy mixed with wrath.
      • (1.) That, though Moses might not bring them into Canaan, Joshua should (v. 38): Encourage him; for he would be discouraged from taking up a government which he saw Moses himself fall under the weight of; but let him be assured that he shall accomplish that for which he is raised up: He shall cause Israel to inherit it. Thus what the law could not do, in that it was weak, Jesus, our Joshua, does by bringing in the better hope.
      • (2.) That, though this generation should not enter into Canaan, the next should, v. 39. As they had been chosen for their fathers' sakes, so their children might justly have been rejected for their sakes. But mercy rejoiceth against judgement.
  • VIII. He reminds them of their foolish and fruitless attempt to get this sentence reversed when it was too late.
    • 1. They tried it by their reformation in this particular; whereas they had refused to go up against the Canaanites, now they would go up, aye, that they would, in all haste, and they girded on their weapons of war for that purpose, v. 41. Thus, when the door is shut, and the day of grace is over, there will be found those that stand without and knock. But this, which looked like a reformation, proved but a further rebellion. God, by Moses, prohibited the attempt (v. 42): yet they went presumptuously up to the hill (v. 43), acting now in contempt of the threatening, as before in contempt of the promise, as if they were governed by a spirit of contradiction; and it sped accordingly (v. 44): they were chased and destroyed; and, by this defeat which they suffered when they provoked God to leave them, they were taught what success they might have had if they had kept themselves in his love.
    • 2. They tried by their prayers and tears to get the sentence reversed: They returned and wept before the Lord, v. 45. While they were fretting and quarrelling, it is said (Num. 14:1): They wept that night; those were tears of rebellion against God, these were tears of repentance and humiliation before God. Note, Tears of discontent must be wept over again; the sorrow of the world worketh death, and is to be repented of; it is not so with godly sorrow, that will end in joy. But their weeping was all to no purpose. The Lord would not harken to your voice, because you would not harken to his; the decree had gone forth, and, like Esau, they found no place of repentance, though they sought it carefully with tears.