INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 1 The time and place when the subject matter of this book was delivered to the Israelites are observed by way of preface, Deuteronomy 1:1, and it begins with reminding them of an order to them to depart from Mount Horeb, and pass on to the land of Canaan, which the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE BE THE WORDS WHICH MOSES SPAKE UNTO ALL ISRAEL,.... Not what are related in the latter part of the preceding book, but what follow in this; and which were spoken by him, not to the whole body of the people gathered together to hear him, which they could not do without a miracle; but to the hea... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE ARE ELEVEN DAYS' JOURNEY FROM HOREB, BY THE WAY OF MOUNT SEIR, TO KADESHBARNEA. Not that the Israelites came thither in eleven days from Horeb, for they stayed by the way at Kibrothhattaavah, a whole month at least, and seven days at Hazeroth; but the sense is, that this was the computed dista... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE FORTIETH YEAR,.... That is, of the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt: IN THE ELEVENTH MONTH; the month Shebet, as the Targum of Jonathan, which answers to part of January and part of February: IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, THAT MOSES SPOKE UNTO THE CHILDREN... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER HE HAD SLAIN SIHON THE KING OF THE AMORITES, WHICH DWELT IN HESHBON,.... Either Moses, speaking of himself in the third person, or rather the Lord, to whom Moses ascribes the victory; of this king, and his palace, and the slaughter of him, see Numbers 21:24, AND OG THE KING OF BASHAN, which d... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THIS SIDE JORDAN, IN THE LAND OF MOAB,.... On that side of Jordan in which the land of Moab was, and which with respect to the land of Canaan was beyond Jordan; this the Vulgate Latin version joins to the preceding verse: BEGAN MOSES TO DECLARE THIS LAW: to explain it, make it clear and manifest... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD OUR GOD SPOKE UNTO US IN HOREB,.... The same with Sinai, as Aben Ezra observes; while the Israelites lay encamped near this mountain, the Lord spoke unto them: SAYING, YE HAVE DWELT LONG ENOUGH IN THIS MOUNT: or near it; for hither they came on the first day of the third month from their d... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN YOU AND TAKE YOUR JOURNEY,.... That is, remove from Horeb, where they were, and proceed on in their journey, in which they had been stopped almost a year: AND GO TO THE MOUNT OF THE AMORITES; where they and the Amalekites dwelt, in the south part of the land of Canaan, and which was the way th... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE SET THE LAND BEFORE YOU,.... Described it to them, and set its bounds, as well as had given them a grant of it: GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND, WHICH THE LORD SWARE UNTO YOUR FATHERS, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, TO GIVE UNTO THEM AND THEIR SEED AFTER THEM: and which being thus made sure u... [ Continue Reading ]
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 rul... [ Continue Reading ]
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; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
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 gover... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 pro... [ Continue Reading ]
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 O... [ Continue Reading ]
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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS IN JUDGMENT,.... Or pass judgment, and give sentence according to the outward appearances, circumstances, and relations of men; as whether they be friends or foes, rich or poor, old or young, men or women, learned or unlearned; truth and justice should always take place,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I COMMANDED YOU AT THAT TIME ALL THE THINGS WHICH YE SHOULD DO. Delivered to them all the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which were then given him at Mount Sinai.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN WE DEPARTED FROM HOREB,.... As the Lord commanded them to do, when they were obedient: WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE WILDERNESS; the wilderness of Paran, called "great", it reaching from Mount Sinai to Kadeshbarnea, eleven days' journey, as Adrichomius l relates; and "terrible... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID UNTO YOU, YOU ARE COME UNTO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE AMORITES,.... Which was inhabited by them, and was one of the seven nations the Israelites were to destroy, and possess their land, and which lay on the southern part of the land of Canaan: WHICH THE LORD OUR GOD DOTH GIVE UNTO US; not the... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE LORD THY GOD HATH SET THE LAND BEFORE THEE,.... The land of Canaan, on the borders of which they then were; Deuteronomy 1:8, GO UP; the mountain, by that way of it which was the way the spies went, and up to which some of the Israelites presumed to go when forbidden, they not complying... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE CAME NEAR UNTO ME EVERYONE OF YOU,.... Not every individual of them, but the heads of their tribes, that represented them; this is not to be understood of the present generation personally, but of their fathers, who all died in the wilderness, save a very few of them; but they being the same... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SAYING PLEASED ME WELL,.... Taking it to be a rational and prudent scheme, not imagining it was the effect of fear and distrust: AND I TOOK TWELVE MEN OF YOU OUT OF A TRIBE; whose names are given in Numbers 13:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TURNED AND WENT UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN,.... As they were ordered and directed by Moses, Numbers 13:17 AND CAME UNTO THE VALLEY OF ESHCOL; so called from the cluster of grapes they cut down there, as they returned: AND SEARCHED IT OUT; the whole land, and so were capable of giving a particul... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOOK OF THE FRUIT OF THE LAND IN THEIR HANDS,.... Besides the cluster of grapes, which was carried between two men on a staff; even pomegranates and figs, Numbers 13:23, AND BROUGHT IT DOWN UNTO US; who lay encamped at the bottom of the mountain: AND BROUGHT US WORD AGAIN; what sort of a... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTWITHSTANDING, YE WOULD NOT GO UP,.... And possess it, as the Lord had bid them, and Moses encouraged them to do, as well as Joshua and Caleb, who were two of the spies sent into it: BUT REBELLED AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD YOUR GOD; disregarded the word of the Lord, and disobeyed his com... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE MURMURED IN YOUR TENTS,.... Not in a private manner; for though the murmurs began there, they having wept all night after the report of the spies; yet it became general and public, and they gathered together in a body, and openly expressed their murmurs against Moses and Aaron, Numbers 14:1,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHITHER SHALL WE GO UP?.... What way can we go up into the land? where is there any access for us? the mountain we are come to, and directed to go up, is possessed by the Amorites, a strong and mighty people, who keep and guard the passes, that there is no entrance: OUR BRETHREN HAVE DISCOURAGED OU... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I SAID UNTO YOU, DREAD NOT, NEITHER BE AFRAID OF THEM. With such like words he had exhorted and encouraged them before the spies were sent, and he still uses the same, or stronger terms, notwithstanding the report that had been made of the gigantic stature and walled cities of the Canaanites. T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHICH GOETH BEFORE YOU,.... In a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night: HE SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU; wherefore, though their enemies were greater and taller than they, yet their God was higher than the highest; and cities walled up to heaven would signify nothing to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE WILDERNESS,.... Where he had fed them with manna, brought water out of rocks for them, protected them from every hurtful creature, had fought their battles for them, and given them victory over Amalek, Sihon, and Og: WHERE THOU HAST SEEN HOW THE LORD THY GOD BARE THEE AS A MAN DOTH BEAR... [ Continue Reading ]
YET IN THIS THING YE DID NOT BELIEVE THE LORD YOUR GOD. That they might go up and possess the land at once, and that he would fight for them, and subdue their enemies under them; or notwithstanding the favours bestowed upon them, and because of them, they did not believe in the Lord their God, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WENT IN THE WAY BEFORE YOU, TO SEARCH YOU OUT A PLACE TO PITCH YOUR TENTS IN,.... For when the cloud was taken up they journeyed, and when that rested, there they pitched their tents; and hereby they were directed to places the most convenient for water for them and their flocks, or for safety f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD HEARD THE VOICE OF YOUR WORDS,.... Of their murmurings against Moses and Aaron, and of their threatenings to them, Joshua and Caleb, and of their impious charge of hatred of them to God for bringing them out of Egypt, and of their rash wishes that they had died there or in the wildernes... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THERE SHALL NOT ONE OF THESE MEN OF THIS EVIL GENERATION SEE THE GOOD LAND,.... The land of Canaan; not only not one of the spies that brought the ill report of that land, but of that body of people that gave credit to it, and murmured upon it: WHICH I SWARE TO GIVE UNTO YOUR FATHERS; Abraha... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE CALEB, THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH, HE SHALL SEE IT,.... Enter into it, and enjoy it: AND JOSHUA also; who was the other spy with him, that brought a good report of the land; see Deuteronomy 1:38, AND TO HIM WILL I GIVE THE LAND THAT HE HATH TRODDEN UPON, AND TO HIS CHILDREN: not the whole land of C... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH ME FOR YOUR SAKES,.... Not at the same time, though, as some think, at the same place, near thirty eight years afterwards, they provoking him to speak unadvisedly with his lips; see Numbers 20:10, SAYING, THOU SHALT NOT GO IN THITHER: into the land of Canaan; and though... [ Continue Reading ]
[BUT] JOSHUA, THE SON OF NUN, WHICH STANDETH BEFORE THEE,.... His servant and minister, which this phrase is expressive of: HE SHALL GO IN THITHER: into the good land, instead of Moses, and as his successor, and who was to go before the children of Israel, and introduce them into it, as a type of C... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, YOUR LITTLE ONES, WHICH YE SAID SHOULD BE A PREY,.... To the Amorites, into whose hands they expected to be delivered, Deuteronomy 1:27 see Numbers 14:3 AND YOUR CHILDREN, WHICH IN THAT DAY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL; not being at years of understanding, and which is a common... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR YOU, TURN YE,.... From the mountain of the Amorites, the border of the land of Canaan: AND TAKE YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS, BY THE WAY OF THE RED SEA: see Numbers 14:25. Jarchi says this wilderness was by the side of the Red sea, to the south of Mount Seir, and divided between the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN YE ANSWERED, AND SAID UNTO ME,.... Not being willing to go into the wilderness again, though they wished they had died in it; nor to go the way of the Red sea, which was their way back again to Egypt, though they had been for appointing a captain, and returning thither; but now they repented of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME,.... When the people had armed themselves, and were in motion, or ready to set forward to ascend the hill: SAY UNTO THEM, GO NOT UP, NEITHER FIGHT; neither go up the hill, and if they did, contrary to this order, and should meet with enemies, not fight them, but retreat:... [ Continue Reading ]
SO I SPAKE UNTO YOU,.... The words, the orders he had received from the Lord to deliver to them: AND YE WOULD NOT HEAR; so as to obey them, and act according to them: BUT REBELLED AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD: as before, by not going up when he would have had them gone, and now by attemptin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE AMORITES WHICH DWELT IN THE MOUNTAIN,.... Elsewhere called Canaanites, being one, and a principal one of the seven nations of Canaan, and who were joined and assisted in the attack by the Amalekites, Numbers 14:45 CAME OUT AGAINST YOU, AND CHASED YOU, AS BEES DO; which being disturbed in th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE RETURNED AND WEPT BEFORE THE LORD,.... Those that remained when the Amorites left pursuing them, returned to the camp at Kadesh, where Moses and the Levites were, and the rest of the people; and here they wept at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and hence said to be "before the... [ Continue Reading ]
SO YE ABODE IN KADESH MANY DAYS,.... Yea, some years, as some think: ACCORDING TO THE DAYS THAT YE ABODE THERE; that is, according to Jarchi, as they did in the rest of the journeys or stations; so that as they were thirty eight years in all at several places, they were nineteen years in Kadesh; th... [ Continue Reading ]