Deuteronomy 1:9-46

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 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. 13:1-14:45; but divers circumstances are found here which are not related there. I. He reminds them of their march from Horeb to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:9

And I spake unto you at that time ,.... About that time; for it was after the rock in Horeb was smitten, and before they encamped at Mount Sinai, that Jethro gave the advice which Moses took, and proceeded on it, as here related; see Exodus 18:1 . saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone ; to rule and govern them, judge and determine matters between them. Jethro suggested this to Moses, and he took the hint, and was conscious to himself that it was too much for him, and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:10

The Lord your God hath multiplied you ,.... Which was the reason why he could not bear them, or the government of them was too heavy for him, because they were so numerous, and the cases brought before him to decide were so many: and, behold, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude ; whereby it appeared that the promise to Abraham was fulfilled, Genesis 15:5 , they were now 600,000 men fit for war, besides women and children, and those under age, which must make the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:11

The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are ,.... This prayer he made, or this blessing he pronounced on them, to show that he did not envy their increase, nor was any ways uneasy at it, but rejoiced in it, though he gave it as a reason of his not being able to govern them alone: and bless you, as he hath promised you : with all kind of blessings, as he had often promised their fathers. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:12

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? His meaning is, that he could not hear and try all their causes, and determine all their law suits, and decide the strifes and controversies which arose between them; it was too heavy for him, and brought too much trouble and incumbrance upon him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:13

Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes ,.... Not only whose persons were well known, but their characters and qualifications, for their probity and integrity, for their wisdom and prudence in the management of affairs, for their skill and knowledge in things divine and human, civil and religious, and for their capacity in judging and determining matters in difference; see Exodus 18:21 . and I will make them rulers over you ; the people were allowed to choose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:14

And ye answered me and said ,.... As the speech of Moses to the people is not expressed before, so neither this answer of theirs to him: the thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do ; to look out for and present persons to him as before described; this they saw was for their own good and profit, as well as for the ease of Moses, and therefore readily agreed to it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known ,.... The principal persons among them, that were remarkable and well known for their wisdom and understanding, whom the people presented to him: and made them heads over you ; rulers of them, as follows: captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens ; see Exodus 18:21 . and officers among your tribes ; which Jarchi interprets of such that bind malefactors and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 1:16

And I charged your judges at that time ,.... When they were appointed and constituted, even the heads and rulers before spoken of; this charge is also new, and not recorded before: saying, hear the causes between your brethren ; hear both sides, and all that each of them have to say; not suffer one to say all he has to say, and oblige the other to cut his words short, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it; but give them leave and time to tell their case, and give the best evidence... read more

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