Bible Commentaries

First Discourse (Deuteronomy 1:14 to Deuteronomy 4:43)

The long sojourn in the wilderness is now drawing to a close. The Israelites are encamped in the Plains of Moab within sight of the Promised Land. Moses, feeling that his death is approaching, delivers his final charges to the people. In the first, he reviews briefly the history of Israel from Mt. Sinai to the Jordan, dwelling on the goodness of God, and making it the basis of an earnest appeal to the people to remember all that He has done for them, and to keep His commandments.

Introduction. Review of the Journey from Sinai to Kadesh

1-5. Introduction.

1. On this side Jordan] RV 'beyond Jordan,' i.e. on the E. side. The writer speaks from the standpoint of Canaan, as also in Deuteronomy 1:5, Deuteronomy 3:8; Deuteronomy 4:41, Deuteronomy 4:46, Deuteronomy 4:49. see Intro. to Numbers.

2. The plain is the Arabah, the valley running N. and S. of the Dead Sea. The Red sea] Heb. Suph, the name of some place on the Gulf of Akaba.

6-46. Review of the journey from Sinai to Kadesh on the border of Canaan.

6. Horeb] the name given in Dt to Mt. Sinai. The name Sinai occurs in this book only in the Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:2).

7. The plain] see on Deuteronomy 1:1. The hills] RV 'hill country,' the elevated ridge in the centre of Palestine. The vale] the maritime plain. The south] the Negeb. See on Numbers 13:17, Numbers 13:21.

9. This seems to refer to what is recorded in Exodus 18:13-26.

22. See Numbers 13. It would appear that the sending of the spies was suggested by the people, and that Moses referred the matter to God for confirmation: cp. Numbers 13:1.

37. For your sakes] Had the unbelief of Moses gone unpunished, the people would have been hardened in their own transgression. Por their sakes, therefore, it was impossible to overlook it: see on Numbers 20:12.

46. Many days] see on Numbers 13:26; Numbers 20:1.