THE FIFTH BOOK OF

MOSES,
called
D E U T E R O N O M Y

Deuteronomy 1

1Moses' speech at the end of the fortieth year, 6in which he rehearseth the story of God's sending Israel from Horeb to go and possess the promised land, 9of giving them officers, 19of passing through the wilderness to Kadesh, 22of sending the spies to search the land, 34and of God's anger for their incredulity and disobedience.


1THESE 1be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel 2on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the 3plain over against the 4Red sea, between 5Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

1 Other, Those are, or, were the words, etc. These two first verses may be supposed to be a conclusion of the words and acts which are accounted in the foregoing books.

2 Moses spoke and wrote this on the east side of Jordan, for, he did not pass over it, but died in the land of the Moabites, Deut. 34:5.

3 Understand the fields, or the even plain land of the Moabites. See verse 5 and Deut. 34:8. Likewise Num. 22:1.

4 Some understand here by the Red sea, Zuph, in which Pharaoh and his host were drowned, situated at Egypt, to which Israel had to return back again. Others the Dead Sea, situated at the south end of the land of the Moabites west wards. Or, the country situated at one of these two seas. Compare Num. 21:14. Zuph signifies rush or weed, seaweed, sea-grass.

5 Of Paran see Gen. 14 on verse 6; Num. 10:12; 12:16. Of Hazeroth Num. 12:16; 33:17, 18. Some perceive that here are described the uttermost borders of the country of the Moabites to the south, to the north and to the east. Tophel, Laban and Dizahab are nowhere else mentioned in Scripture, so that there are different opinions concerning them.

2(There are eleven days' journey from 6Horeb 7by the way of mount 8Seir unto 9Kadesh-barnea.)

6 Of mount Horeb see Exod. 3:1; 33:6, etc. Some perceive Horeb and Sinai to be two mountains situated close together, as also some maps do show. See the same in Deut. 34 on verse 1.

7 That is, going directly from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, by the way of mount Seir or Edom, called also (as it seems) the mount of the Amorites, verse 7. By these words Moses intimates that the Israelites were to spend a long time traveling over a short distance. In journeying from Egypt to Kadesh-barnea, they spent about two years. See on verse 6. From there to the fields of Moab thirty-eight years, Deut. 2:14, because God, being provoked to anger, made them go back again until the rebellious ones perished in the wilderness. See Num. 14:33, 34, etc.

8 That is, which goes to mount Seir or the mount of the Edomites, although the mount reaching from Horeb, may be likewise so called.

9 See Gen. 16 on verse 14.

3And it came to pass in the 10fortieth year, in the 11eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment 12unto them;

10 After the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, not long before Moses’ death, Num. 33:38.

11 Namely, Sebat, Zech. 1:7; answering to part of January and part of February, when the beginning of the year is taken from the first month of the ecclesiastical year, called Abib or Nisan. See Exod. 12:2; 13:4; Neh. 2:1; Esther 3:7.

12 That is, had commanded him to tell them.

4Aftera he had slain Sihon the king of the 13Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at 14Astaroth in Edrei:

a Num. 21:24, 33.

13 Hebr. of the Amorite, as elsewhere often. See of this people, Gen. 10 on verse 16. See Num. 21:21-35 and Joshua 13:31, of these two historical accounts, also of Bashan, Ashtaroth and Edrei.

14Astaroth and Edrei were two royal cities in Bashan, afterwards given to the Reubenites for a possession, situated on the east side of Jordan by the mountains; Astaroth on the north by Syria, Edrei on the south end of Bashan. See Gen. 14:5 (where it is called Ashteroth Karnaim) and Joshua 13:31. The idols of the Philistines and Zidonians were also called Ashtaroth, see Judges 2 on verse 13.

5On this side Jordan, in the land of 15Moab, 16began Moses to declare 17this law, saying,

15 That is, of the Moabites, as often.

16 Or, Moses desired, it seemed good unto him.

17 That is, he repeated further, declared and inculcated upon the people the laws that he had propounded in the three preceding books. This exposition begins properly in Deuteronomy 4, after Moses had related certain passages to move the Israelites to attention and obedience.

6The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, 18Ye have dwelt 19long enough in this mount:

18 Hebr. It is much for you to continue, or, dwell, etc.

19 Namely, about a year, for, they came near to Sinai and Horeb in the beginning of the third month, after their exodus out of Egypt, Exod. 19:1, 2; and departed from there in the next year, on the twentieth day of the second month, Num. 10:11.

7Turn you, and take your journey, and go to 20the mount 21of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and 22in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river 23Euphrates.

20 Beginning at the mountains Horeb and Sinai, and reaches thence northward unto Kadesh-barnea at the borders of Syria and Canaan, as the maps do show.

21 Hebr. of the Amorite, and to all his neighbours, that is, nearest places.

22 This has respect to the borders of the promised land, towards the south, west, north and east. Compare Numbers 34 and there at Num. 34 on verse 2. But notwithstanding this command, the rebellious ones would by no means enter into this land, verse 35. Mount Lebanon is often mentioned in Scripture, situated to the north borders of Canaan.

23 Hebr. Phrate. See thereof Gen. 2 on verse 14; Gen. 15 on verse 18.

8Behold, I have set the land 24before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham,b Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

24 That is, I have laid it open before you that you may take possession of it, etc. Thus it is said concerning the inhabitants of this land, that God has given them before the face of Israel, that is, (as the Scripture also speaks) into their hand to smite them. See Deut. 2:31, 33, and elsewhere often.

b Gen. 15:18; 17:7, 8.

9¶And I 25spake unto you at that time, saying, Ic am not able to bear 26you myself alone:

25 Namely, according to Jethro’s counsel, Exod. 18:19.

c Exod. 18:18.

26 That is, the burden of your affairs, which happen among you, would be too heavy for me to bear alone.

10The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day 27as the stars of heaven for multitude.

27 According to the promise, Gen. 15:5.

11(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)

12How can I myself alone bear your 28cumbrance, and your burden, and your 29strife?

28 That is, the toil or trouble which you put to me; and so in the sequel.

29 Hebr. controversy or contention, that is, your causes or lawsuits which you commence one against another, and bring before me to receive my verdict and judgment upon them.

1330Take you wise men, and understanding, and 31known among your tribes, and I will make them 32rulers over you.

30 Hebr. Give.

31 Other, experienced.

32 That is, heads, judges.

14And ye answered me, and said, The 33thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.

33 Or, This word.

15So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, 34Hear the causes between your brethren, andd judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is 35with him.

34 Or, Hearing the differences between your brethren, judge rightly, etc.

d John 7:24.

35 That is, who is, or, dwells with or among them.

17Yee shall not 36respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the 37small as well as the 38great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is 39God’s: and the cause 40that is too 41hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

e Lev. 19:15; 1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 24:23; James 2:1.

36 That is, you shall not wrest the judgment according to any outward appearance, condition or quality of those who appear before the judgment seat. See the like phrase, Lev. 19:15; Deut. 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:6, 7; Job 13:8; James 2:1, 9.

37 That is, the insignificant, the poor, the despised person. Hebr. as the small, as the great, or, so the small so the great, that is, the least as well as the greatest.

38 That is, the rich, mighty, honorable persons.

39 That is, it is ordained of God and is executed in His Name and by command from Him, according to the laws prescribed by Him.

40 That is, more difficult than you shall be able to decide.

41 Or, heavy.

18And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

19¶And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

20And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.

21Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land 42before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

42 See verse 8.

22¶And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and 43bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

43 Hebr. return a word, or bring a reply.

23And the saying 44pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of af tribe:

44 That is, it was good in mine eyes; therefore Moses presented it also before the LORD, Who gave him a command concerning it, Num. 13:3.

f Num. 13:2, 3, etc.

24And theyg turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the 45valley of 46Eshcol, and searched it out.

g Num. 13:23.

45 The brook Sorek (as some maps show) was next to this valley of Eshcol or valley of grapes, coming forth out of the mountain of Judah. Compare Num. 13:23 and Judges 16 on verse 4. The Hebrew word signifies sometimes a valley, and sometimes a brook, because brooks do often run through the valleys; therefore others have the word brook in this place.

46 This word eshcol signifies a bunch of grapes, or, a grape. This place was called by the Israelites the valley of grapes, because this kind of fruit grew there in great abundance and was exceeding fair and large. A sample of it was cut down, carried and brought by the spies when they returned back. See Num. 13:24.

25And they took of the 47fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

47 Namely, grapes, pomegranates and figs. See Num. 13:24.

26Notwithstandingh ye would not go up, but rebelled against 48the commandment of the LORD your God:

h Num. 14:1.

48 That is, against the command.

27And ye murmured in your tents, and said, 49Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

49 Other, Through hatred of the LORD against us he hath, etc., that is, because He hates us.

28Whither shall we go up? our brethren have 50discouraged our heart, saying, The people is 51greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to 52heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons ofi the 53Anakims there.

50 Hebr. melted, that is, disheartened us, made us afraid; it is a similitude taken from wax which melts by fire, or by the heat of the sun. As such the heart grows weak and faint through fear of danger and misfortune. So Joshua 2:9, 24; 5:1; Jer. 49:23, etc.

51 More in number and stronger in power.

52 That is, exceeding strong and firm. Other, strengthened, mounting up into heaven. See Gen. 11:4.

i Num. 13:28.

53 That is, giants, so called after an Anak. See Num. 13 on verse 22; Judges 1:10, 20.

29Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

30The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

3154And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, 55as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

54 Other, And that which thou hast seen in the wilderness.

55 Compare Exod. 19:4; Num. 11:12; Deut. 32:10, 11; Psalm 91:12; Isa. 46:3, 4.

32Yet 56in this thing ye did not 57believe the LORD your God,

56 Other, by this word; that is, all that you saw and heard, moved you not.

57 You trusted not in Him, that He would perform His promises.

33Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, 58toj shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

58 Other, to cause you to see on the way, etc.

j Exod. 13:21.

34And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation seek that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,59

k Num. 14:22, 23; Psalm 95:11.

59 An incomplete speech, used often in swearing an oath. See Gen. 14 on verse 23; Num. 14 on verse 23. Some understand with this: then let me be no God, or, I shall not live.

36Save 60Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give 61the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, 62because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

60 Together with Joshua, the son of Nun. See verse 38 and Num. 14:6, 30.

61 Understand a part of the land. Caleb and Joshua had been among the spies, Num. 14:6.

62 Hebr. because he fulfilled to go after the LORD, that is, has constantly obeyed and followed the LORD in this matter. See Num. 14:24; 32:11, 12.

37Also the LORD was angry with me 63for your sakes, saying, Thoul also shalt not go in thither.

63 For Moses was so vexed and angered by the unbelief and the murmuring of the people, that he transgressed against the LORD. See the history in Num. 20:10, 11, 12.

l Num. 20:12; 27:14; Deut. 3:26; 4:21; 34:4.

38But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth 64before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause 65Israel to inherit it.

64 That is, who is continually with and about thee to minister unto thee, who waiteth upon thee. Compare 1 Kings 1:2; Dan. 1:5, 19.

65 That is, he shall not only come into the land of Canaan, but also be placed in thy stead after thy decease; therefore instruct, exhort, encourage and strengthen him, to prepare him for that great and weighty office.

39Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge 66between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

66 A phrase frequently used in Scripture to describe infancy or childhood. See a similar phrase in Isa. 7:15; Jonah 4:11.

40But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the 67Red sea.

67 That is the Sea of rushes, which by the strong hand of God they had passed through before, and were gone so far in their journey towards the land of promise.

41Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his 68weapons of war, ye 69were ready to go up 70into the hill.

68 Or, instruments of war.

69 Or, were readily prepared for it. Other, emboldened yourselves, or, presumptuously advanced.

70 See on verse 2.

42And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not 71among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

71 With My grace and usual assistance. Compare Deut. 23:14.

43So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went 72presumptuously up into the hill.

72 As if you were able to vanquish your enemies by your own strength, without the hand and help of God.

44And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, 73came out against you, and chased you, as 74bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.

73 Hebr. the Amorite came out, etc.

74 Which, being irritated and provoked, do fly in swarms from all sides after him who comes to disturb them, and sting and chase him most bitterly. See Psalm 118 on verse 12.

45And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

46So ye abode in Kadesh many days, 75according unto the days that ye abode there.

75 That is, as the days do show, which you know you did abide there.