Introduction to Deuteronomy

The Pentateuch

How to Study the Bible

1:1 words that Moses spoke to all of Israel Apart from some words of introduction in Deut 1:1–5 and the close of the book (ch. 34), Deuteronomy is presented as Moses’ speeches to the Israelites, orally recounting Yahweh’s law to the new generation. At various moments, the narrator also speaks.

on the other side of the Jordan in the desert The wording refers to the land east of the Jordan River (4:47), where Israel awaits the order to enter and begin the struggle to conquer the promised land.

the desert plateau opposite Suph, between Paran and between Tophel The list in this verse moves from north (the Transjordan) to south, mentioning locations in the upper Sinai peninsula and the desert region south of the Dead Sea).

Suph May refer to the Gulf of Elath, part of the Red Sea (yam suph), or a site near the Red Sea. The body of water the Israelites crossed while fleeing from the Egyptians is far behind them in their travels.

1:2 eleven days from Herob Had they trusted in God for victory nearly 40 years earlier (Num 14), the Israelites would have been ready to enter Canaan only 11 days after leaving Sinai (Horeb).

1:3 in the fortieth year This note indicates the time of the wilderness wandering was coming to an end (compare Num 13–14).

Israelite Calendar Table

1:4 in Heshbon The Amorite capital city. See Num 21:21–34.

in Ashtaroth in Edrei See Num 21:33–35 and note (compare Deut 3:1; Josh 13:12).

1:5 in the land of Moab Due east of the Dead Sea. The Moabites are descendants of Lot according to Gen 19:30–38.

1:6 Horeb Another name for Mount Sinai, where Moses received the law from God.

1:7 into the hill of the Amorites A nomadic Semitic people group occupying Syria and Canaan in pre-Israelite times.

in the Negev Southern Canaan, around Beer-sheba.

into the land of the Canaanites See Gen 10:18–19; 12:6.

into the Lebanon A mountainous coastal region north of Israel. See note on Isa 60:13.

river Euphrates One of two main rivers flowing through Mesopotamia but reaching northwest into the region north of Israel.

1:8 that Yahweh swore to your ancestors The promises Yahweh made to the patriarchs appear primarily in Genesis (Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–6, 18; 17:7–8; 26:3–4; 28:13–14; 50:24). They are once again reminded of these promises as they prepare to enter the land. It is not uncommon in the ot for God to refer to Himself in the third person, a literary phenomenon known as illeism (see Deut 11:13–14; compare Gen 18:17–19; Exod 24:1; 1 Sam 12:11).

1:9 I am not able to bear you alone Alludes to either Exod 18:18 or Num 11:14. The overall context from Numbers is more likely given his mention of strife (Deut 1:12) and that he recounts the Israelites’ failure of unbelief from Num 14 in the next section (Deut 1:19–33).

1:10 as the stars of the heaven in number See Genesis 15:5 and Deut 22:17 for the allusion.

1:16 his opponent who is a resident alien The Hebrew word used here, ger, designates a legal category of resident alien—someone who is not a native-born citizen but lives among another people. Old Testament law includes provisions designed to prevent the mistreatment of these people (Exod 23:9; Lev 19:34; 23:22; Num 15:29).

1:17 the judgment is God’s They were to judge according to God’s laws and so acted as God’s representatives.

1:19 we set out from Horeb See Exod 3:1–2. Moses rehearses the next stage of their journey, which began nearly 40 years earlier when they left Sinai (Horeb).

to the hill country of the Amorites In the Transjordan; see Deut 1:4.

1:20 that Yahweh our God is giving to us Once again, God reminds the people of the promises he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. See Gen 15:16–21; Exod 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:2; Num 13:29.

1:21 has set before you the land Moses’ words here directly echo the exhortation to take possession of the land from Deut 1:8.

1:23 one from each tribe See Num 13:1–16.

1:24 the valley of Eshcol See Num 13:21–24.

1:26 you rebelled against the command of Yahweh your God See Num 13:25–14:10.

1:27 the hand of the Amorites An ancient Semitic people who, according to ot usage, occupied Canaan prior to the arrival of the Israelites (Gen 15:19–21).

1:28 the sons of the Anakites Referring to the descendants of giants whose presence in Canaan inspired Israel’s fear (Num 13:32–33). Israel’s fear of the Anakim (or Anakites) was greater than their faith in Yahweh.

1:29 do not fear them See Numbers 13:30, where Caleb speaks these words; it is likely that Moses echoed his sentiments, but to no avail. The wording here resembles speeches that Moses uttered elsewhere (compare Exod 14:14, 25).

1:30 Yahweh your God, who is going before you This language usually indicates protective guidance and is followed by reminders of what God had done for Israel in Egypt (see Exod 12–14).

1:31 Yahweh your God carried you God protected Israel in the wilderness. See Exod 16:31–35; 17:8–16; Deut 8:15 (compare Exod 19:4; Deut 32:11 for other expressions of this care).

this place Refers to Kadesh-barnea, where Israel was camped while the spies entered Canaan.

1:32 your God Though God had delivered them in other seemingly hopeless circumstances, they would not believe (see Exod 14:10–12; 16:3; 17:3, 7).

1:33 in a cloud by day See Num 10:33–36.

1:34 he was angry The rebellion of the previous generation provoked Yahweh to anger. Though he ultimately forgave them and stayed his wrath, the consequence for the people’s rebellion was a forty years of wandering in which the entire generation, except the faithful spy Caleb, died off. Recounting the previous generation’s fate functions as a warning for those preparing to enter the promised land. See Num 14:20–30 (compare Deut 2:15).

1:36 Caleb, the son of Jephunneh Though Caleb, like his fellow spies, saw the strength of the inhabitants of the land, Caleb remained faithful to Yahweh and His promise to deliver the land to the Israelites. He encouraged Israel to enter the land according to Yahweh’s command (Num 13:30; 14:6–8, 30).

the land upon which he has trodden Refers to Hebron (see Josh 14:6–14).

1:37 with me Here Moses claims that the people’s disobedience resulted in his own inability to enter the land. Compare this with Num 20:12 where he strikes the rock at Meribah and with Deut 32:51, where he takes the blame for his own actions.

1:38 Joshua, the son of Nun Joshua, like Caleb, encouraged the Israelites to follow Yahweh’s command and enter the land (Num 14:6–8, 30).

1:40 by way of the Red Sea This route was well known in the ancient Near East; it began at Kadesh-barnea and extended to the tip of the Red Sea at Elath. The Hebrew phrase yam suph (“sea of reeds”) is used of both the Red Sea and the body of water the Israelites crossed (see Exod 13:18).

1:42 not in your midst See Num 14:42.