Deuteronomy 1:30. Shall fight for you according to all that he did in Egypt This was one of the strongest arguments possible to beget in them a firm reliance on the protection and help of God; since they could not but own that the same power which had redeemed them out of Egypt, was no less able to bring them into Canaan; yet even this proved to be of no avail. read more
1:1-4:43 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTIONIn style similar to that of ancient treaty documents, Deuteronomy opens by recounting all that Yahweh, Israel’s covenant God, has done for his people. It reminds them of his gracious acts on their behalf and calls from them a fitting response of covenant loyalty. The section summarizes events recorded in greater detail in Numbers 10:11-32:42.From Sinai to Kadesh (1:1-46)It was only eleven days’ journey from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, and about the same from... read more
Ver. 29-31. Then I said unto you, &c.— This is omitted in the Book of Numbers. Moses here employed two arguments, the strongest possible to persuade the Israelites: the one taken from the promises of protection which God had made them; the second, from the happy proof which they themselves had so often experienced of his paternal care and defence. See Exodus 19:4. "Bare thee," says Dr. Beaumont, "means not a bearing of the body only, but a bearing of their infirmities in the education of... read more
22-33. ye came . . . and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land—The proposal to despatch spies emanated from the people through unbelief; but Moses, believing them sincere, gave his cordial assent to this measure, and God on being consulted permitted them to follow the suggestion (see on :-). The issue proved disastrous to them, only through their own sin and folly. read more
A. God’s past dealings with Israel 1:6-3:29Moses began this first "sermon" by reviewing God’s faithfulness to Israel. God had been faithful in bringing the nation from Sinai to her present location, and by giving her victory over her Transjordanian enemies. He also reminded the people of the future blessings that she could anticipate. read more
II. MOSES’ FIRST MAJOR ADDRESS: A REVIEW OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS 1:6-4:40". . . an explicit literary structure to the book is expressed in the sermons or speeches of Moses; a substructure is discernible in the covenantal character of the book; and a theological structure is revealed in its theme of the exclusive worship of the Lord as found in the Ten Commandments, particularly in the First Commandment and its positive expression in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)." [Note: Patrick D. Miller,... read more
1. God’s guidance from Sinai to Kadesh 1:6-46Moses began his recital of Israel’s history at Horeb (Sinai) because this is where Yahweh adopted the nation by making the Mosaic Covenant with her. The trip from Egypt to Sinai was only preparation for the giving of the covenant. The Mosaic Covenant is central in Deuteronomy."The importance of history has two focal points: (a) there is the covenant tradition of promise, from Abraham to Moses; (b) there is the experience of God in history working out... read more
These verses deal with Israel’s failure at Kadesh-Barnea, its causes and its consequences.The Hebrew word translated "take possession" (Deuteronomy 1:21), referring to the Promised Land, occurs over 50 times in Deuteronomy. God’s great desire for His people had been that they possess what He had promised them. Unfortunately the older generation would not because of fearful unbelief.The sending of the spies was the people’s idea (Deuteronomy 1:22; cf. Numbers 13:1-3). Moses agreed to it, as did... read more
First Discourse (Deuteronomy 1:14 to Deuteronomy 4:43)The long sojourn in the wilderness is now drawing to a close. The Israelites are encamped in the Plains of Moab within sight of the Promised Land. Moses, feeling that his death is approaching, delivers his final charges to the people. In the first, he reviews briefly the history of Israel from Mt. Sinai to the Jordan, dwelling on the goodness of God, and making it the basis of an earnest appeal to the people to remember all that He has done... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:29-40
Moses endeavored to rouse the drooping courage of the people, and persuade them to go up by reminding them that God, who was with them, would go before them, and fight for them as he had often done before; but without success, so that God was angry with them, and forbade their entrance into Canaan. This is not mentioned in Numbers, probably because Moses' appeal was unsuccessful. The whole of that generation was bound to fall in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua; only their children... read more