Deuteronomy 1
The Command to Leave Horeb (1:1–8)
1–5 Most of the book of Deuteronomy consists of the words Moses spoke to all Israel during the final months of his life, while the Israelites were encamped in the desert east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah2 (verse 1). God had recently enabled3 the Israelites to defeat Sihon and Og (see Numbers 21:21–35), and they were now making preparations for the conquest of Canaan. Hearing God’s words spoken through Moses would be the most important part of that preparation (see Deuteronomy: Introduction).
Moses began this final address to Israel in the fortieth year (verse 3)-that is, the fortieth year since the Israelites’ departure from EGYPT. They should have been settled in Canaan within a few months of leaving Mount Sinai, but because of their disobedience (verse 26) they were condemned to stay in the desert for a total of forty years until the older rebellious generation had died off.
6–8 Moses began his historical review at Horeb—that is, Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1). The Israelites had stayed near Mount Sinai for about a year. The events of that year are fully described beginning in Exodus Chapter 19 and continuing through Leviticus to Numbers Chapter 10. It was also during that year that the law (verse 5) was given by God, the law which Moses is now about to restate and amplify in the rest of Deuteronomy.
God had told Israel to take possession of the land He had promised to give to Abraham’s descendants4 (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 3:8). The land was a gift; however, the Israelites needed to take possession of it (verse 8). This is true of all God’s gifts to us: we need to actively reach out in faith and “take” them—whether the gifts be material or spiritual.
The Appointment of Leaders (1:9–18)
9–18 In these verses, Moses recalls how he had been overburdened because of the great number of Israelites he had to lead—as many as the stars in the sky (verse 10); this large number was a fulfillment of one of the promises God had made to ABRAHAM (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). On the advice of his father-in-law Jethro, Moses had appointed leading men who could serve as commanders and judges, and who would be able to take some of the burden of leadership from Moses’ shoulders (see Exodus 18:13–27 and comment).
Moses had instructed these leaders to show no partiality in judging (verse 17); in this he was repeating laws given earlier at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 23:1–9 and comment). A judge was not to rely on his own wisdom; his job was to interpret God’s law. The judge was not to be afraid of any man. The judge was an agent of God’s JUIGMENT; judgment belonged to God. Therefore, let the judge fear God alone.
Spies Sent Out (1:19–25)
19–25 In these verses, Moses reminds the new generation of Israelites how at Kadesh Barnea5 twelve spies had been sent out to explore the land. Combining the accounts in Numbers 13:1–2 and here in verses 2223, it appears that the people first suggested sending the spies and that then Moses consulted with the Lord and the Lord agreed to it. For a detailed account of the sending of the spies and of their report when they returned, see Numbers 13:1–33 and comment.
Rebellion Against the Lord (1:26–46)
26–28 In these verses, Moses recalls Israel’s darkest moment. The Israelites were on the border of the promised land, but because the spies had reported that the Canaanites were very large and had high-walled cities, they became afraid (verse 28). The spies even reported seeing Anakites (giants) living in Canaan (see Numbers 13:32–33).
The people’s fear was rooted in unbelief. Because of their unbelief, they grumbled (verse 27), something the Israelites had been doing throughout their desert experience (see Exodus 15:22–24; Numbers 11:1–3 and comments).
Moses keeps saying to the new generation: “You grumbled; you rebelled”; but, of course, he is referring to their fathers. The new generation of Israelites needed to be reminded of the sins of their fathers so that they would not repeat them.
Here a question arises: What was the root sin that kept that first generation of Israelites from entering the promised land? Was it their refusal to obey God? Was it their rebellion? Their grumbling? No, it was their unbelief. Unbelief is at the root of all SIN. Every sin can be remedied except the sin of unbelief; unbelief blocks a person from seeking the remedy—which is forgiveness from God. Without FAITH, we cannot receive forgiveness; without faith, we cannot enter the “promised land.”
29–33 Moses had done his best to exhort the rebellious Israelites to put aside their fears and take possession of the land. He reminded them of all that God had done for them so far: He had delivered them from Egypt; He had carried them (verse 31) as a father carries his son (Exodus 19:4). The Lord had constantly been with them in the fire by night and the cloud by day (verse 33); why should the Lord abandon them now? (see Exodus 13:20–22; 40:3638; Numbers 9:15–23 and comments).
But Moses’ appeal had been to no avail; the people rebelled (see Numbers 14:1–5 and comment). Even Joshua and Caleb exhorted the people to trust God, saying that victory could be theirs (Numbers 14:6–9). But the people only thought about stoning them! (Numbers 14:10).
34–36 Then the Lord became angry with His people and vowed that no one over twenty years of age (except Joshua and Caleb) would ever set foot in the promised land (see Numbers 14:20–35 and comment). But the Lord promised Caleb that he would be given the land he had explored as a spy (verse 36), a promise that was fulfilled later on when the Israelites took possession of Canaan (Joshua 14:6–15).
37–40 Because of you . . . (verse 37). Here the “you” refers to the new generation of Israelites. Moses has skipped forward thirty-eight years in his narrative to tell his listeners of the time he himself disobeyed the Lord by striking a rock rather than speaking to it, and as a result was told he would not enter the promised land (see Numbers 20:1–13 and comment). So Moses asked God to appoint a successor who could lead the people into Canaan (Numbers 27:12–23), and God chose Joshua (verse 38).
Then, in verse 39, Moses resumes his narrative of the rebellion and repeats the Lord’s judgment that that first generation of Israelites over twenty would not enter Canaan; instead, they would have to turn around and head back to the desert (verse 40).
41–46 To be turned back from the promised land and condemned to die in the desert was too much for the Israelites to endure. They expressed remorse—“We have sinned” (verse 41)—but it was not real REPENTANCE, because immediately afterward they disobeyed the Lord again: He had told them to turn around, but now they were determined to go up and fight. When the Lord told them to go, they had refused; now when He told them not to go, they went!
Their plan was doomed to fail, because the Lord did not go with them (verse 42). Then Moses describes how those Israelites were driven back by the Amorites and utterly defeated (see Numbers 14:39–45 and comment).
The Israelites wept, but God turned a deaf ear to them (verse 45). If we won’t listen to God, He won’t listen to us. If we are out of God’s will, our prayers will not be heard; if we disobey God, He will not go with us. That first generation of Israelites learned that lesson too late; Moses wanted this new generation never to forget it.
The last line is saddest of all: And so you stayed in Kadesh many days (verse 46)—that is, thirty-eight long years.
