wilderness = desert. Compare Numbers 10:11-36 ; Numbers 11:5 ; Numbers 12:16 ; Numbers 13:26 ; and Ch. Deuteronomy 8:15 . as = according as. Kadesh-barnea. Compare Numbers 32:8 . A place of solemn import in Israel's history. read more
"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. And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which Jehovah our God giveth unto us. 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. And ye... read more
Ver. 19. That great and terrible wilderness— So called on account of its vast extent, and because it had few other inhabitants than the wild beasts. read more
19-21. we went through all that great and terrible wilderness—of Paran, which included the desert and mountainous space lying between the wilderness of Shur westward, or towards Egypt and mount Seir, or the land of Edom eastwards; between the land of Canaan northwards, and the Red Sea southwards; and thus it appears to have comprehended really the wilderness of Sin and Sinai [FISK]. It is called by the Arabs El Tih, "the wandering." It is a dreary waste of rock and of calcareous soil covered... 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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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:1-46
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