Deuteronomy 1:41-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:34-46

The heirs of promise. We have in this passage the result of unbelief. The dread of the people was lest their little ones should become a prey to their gigantic foes in Canaan. The Lord now declares that these little ones shall be the possessors of the land, while they themselves shall be denied an entrance, since they refused it when offered to them. The only exceptions are to be Joshua and Caleb, who made the good report and gave the good counsel. Even Moses is included in the doom of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:40-46

Tardy repentance. In the conduct of these Israelites we have a typical exhibition of human nature. In its folly, its fickleness, its unreasonableness, and its obstinacy. Forbidden to enter Canaan, they change their mood, and nothing will serve them but to "go up" and do the thing they had formerly said they would not do. They are vociferous in their professions of repentance, and will not be reasoned out of their self-willed purpose, but persist in following it up to their own after... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:41

We have sinned ; in Numbers it is simply said that "the people mourned greatly" (bemoaned themselves, יִתְאַבְּלוּ ); but this is not incompatible with the statement here that they confessed their sins; the one would naturally accompany the ether. Their confession, however, was in word only; their conduct showed that it was not sincere. In Numbers (xiv. 44) it is said, "They presumed to go up;" here it is said (verse 41), Ye were ready to go up , rather, Ye acted heedlessly with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:41-46

The people, appalled at the prospect of another sojourn in the wilderness, yet still rebellious and disobedient to God's command, though professing penitence, determined, in spite of direct prohibition on the part of God by Moses, to go up and force their way into Canaan; but were punished for their presumption by being utterly defeated and put to flight by the Amorites (comp. Numbers 14:40-45 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:41-46

Forced back! In the preceding paragraph we had an illustration of unbelief in doubting the promise of God, and of the effect of that unbelief in excluding from the promised rest. Here we have an illustration of a like unbelief working in precisely the opposite direction; as Israel feared to go up notwithstanding the promise of God, so now we find them resolving to go up in spite of the prohibition of God, "acting," as an expositor remarks, "in contempt of the threatening, as they had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:42

Moses, by the command of God, warned the people that, if they presumed to go up, they should go without his protection, and so would certainly fall before their enemies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:43

In vain were they thus warned. Moses spoke to them as God commanded, but they would not be persuaded. Went presumptuously ; rather, acted insolently and went up ; margin, Authorized Version, "Ye were presumptuous, and went up" The verb here ( חֵזִיד , from זוּד , to boil) signifies tropically, to act proudly, haughtily, insolently (comp. Nehemiah 11:29 , Authorized Version, "dealt proudly"). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:44

The Amorites , for the Canaanites generally; in Numbers, the Amalekites are specially mentioned as joining with the Amorites in chastising the Israelites. These tribes came down from the higher mountain range to the lower height which the Israelites had gained, and drove them with great slaughter as far as Hormah, in Seir, chasing them as bees do, which pursue with keen ferocity those who disturb them. Hormah (Ban-place), the earlier name of which was Zephath ( 1:17 ), was a royal city of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:45

Ye returned ; i . e . either to Kadesh, where Moses had remained, or from their rebellious and defiant attitude to one of apparent submission and contrition, or the whole phrase, "Ye returned and wept," may mean merely that they wept again, as in Numbers 11:4 , where the same words are used. And wept. They mourned their misfortune, and complained on account of it (comp. for the meaning of the phrase, Numbers 11:4 , Numbers 11:18 , Numbers 11:20 ). Before Jehovah ; i . e .... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 1:41

Ye were ready to go up into the hill - Rather, perhaps, “ye made light of going up;” i. e. “ye were ready to attempt it as a trifling undertaking.” Deuteronomy 1:43 shows the issue of this spirit in action; compare marginal references. read more

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