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The Command to Leave Horeb
1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them, after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to explain this law, saying, “The LORD our God said to us in Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negeb and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.’
Leaders Appointed
“At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself. The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife? Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
Israel’s Refusal to Enter the Land
“Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea. And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’ Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.’
“Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’ Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.
The Penalty for Israel’s Rebellion
“And the LORD heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!’ Even with me the LORD was angry on your account and said, ‘You also shall not go in there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.’
“Then you answered me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD. We ourselves will go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.’ And every one of you fastened on his weapons of war and thought it easy to go up into the hill country. And the LORD said to me, ‘Say to them, Do not go up or fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be defeated before your enemies.’ So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country. Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD did not listen to your voice or give ear to you. So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there.
(ESV)
Deuteronomy 1 Commentary
What should have taken 11 days took 40 years. If you have read the book of Numbers, you already have a good understanding of these events. Deuteronomy opens by summarizing the key events that have taken place up to this point in the journey toward the Promised Land.
In Deuteronomy 1:6-18, Moses begins his address by quoting the Lord’s command for the Israelites to leave Mount Horeb and head toward the Promised Land. The emphasis is placed on God’s covenant relationship with Israel, underscoring the people’s responsibility to act on God’s promises. Moses recalls that the land promised to the patriarchs is vast, extending from the Euphrates River to Lebanon and the Mediterranean.
Moses also addresses the need for leadership among the growing nation of Israel. Due to the increased population, Moses delegates judicial and military responsibilities to appointed leaders. These leaders are to be wise, discerning, and experienced. Judges are instructed to administer justice impartially, treating all people equally under the law, including resident aliens. There is a heavy theme of responsibility and honesty. Moses concludes by reminding the people of the importance of following God’s commands as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
When we get to verse 19 of Deuteronomy 1, we are reminded of why the Israelites have not yet acquired the land promised to them by God.
- Journey to Kadesh-barnea (Deuteronomy 1:19): The Israelites’ journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, the staging point for entering the Promised Land, took them through a difficult wilderness.
- Moses’ Encouragement (Deuteronomy 1:20-21): Upon arriving at Kadesh-barnea, Moses encouraged the Israelites to take possession of the land that God was about to give them. The Hebrew participle used here emphasizes the immediacy of God’s promise.
- Spies Sent (Deuteronomy 1:22-24): Despite Moses’ encouragement, the people requested spies to scout the land. Moses agreed, selecting twelve spies, one from each tribe. The spies explored the land, including the fertile region of Eshcol Valley.
- Spies’ Report and People’s Fear (Deuteronomy 1:25-28): The spies returned with good news about the land’s fruitfulness, but the people focused on the difficulties, fearing the strength of the inhabitants and fortified cities. This led to full-scale rebellion against God’s plan.
- Moses’ Reassurance (Deuteronomy 1:29-33): Moses urged the people not to be afraid, reminding them that God would fight for them, as He had done in Egypt. God had already shown His protective care, carrying them like a father carries his son. Although this generation had witnessed the incredible acts of God, they doubled down on their refusal to take the land.
- God’s Oath and Punishment (Deuteronomy 1:34-35): Due to the people’s rebellion, God swore that the current generation, except Caleb, would not enter the Promised Land. Caleb was rewarded for his faithfulness and courage.
- Moses’ Exclusion (Deuteronomy 1:36-37): Moses himself was excluded from entering the land due to his actions, although the reasons for this are not fully detailed in this passage (see Numbers 20).
- Joshua’s Leadership (Deuteronomy 1:38): Joshua was appointed to lead the people into the Promised Land, and the people were encouraged to support him.
- The People’s Disobedience (Deuteronomy 1:39-46): Despite their rebellion, the younger generation (children) would eventually possess the land. After God’s judgment, the Israelites attempted to enter the land without God’s blessing and were defeated.
Deuteronomy means “the second giving of the law.” It covers (most likely) the final days of Moses’ life. Even though it is very practical, Deuteronomy is probably one of the least studied and most important books of the Old Testament. Here are some other facts about Deuteronomy…
- It contains practical revelation from God for how He desires us to live.
- It is an invitation for a relationship with Him.
- It establishes an eternal kingdom by which humanity can fellowship with God.
- Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more often than any other book of the OT.
- Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy when being tempted by Satan which suggests there is spiritual power in its words and themes.
- Deuteronomy is quoted or alluded to nearly 200 times in the NT.
Deuteronomy is also interesting because it is a book that was most likely “revised” after the exile. When God’s people returned from their exile in Persia, it took on the role of a covenant renewal document. This book reveals so much about the character of God. You could write an entire theology just from this one book. Overall, there are nine different names given to God!
The book of Deuteronomy still has relevance today. We function on a daily basis with a low spiritual IQ. Like the Israelites, we are slow learners. Often, there is a promise given to us that we say we believe in but refuse to walk in. Many times, we take “40 years” to accomplish an 11-day task. Though God offers us abundant grace, there is still a responsibility to obey. Did I mention Deuteronomy is practical?
The truth of God is that even when we are rebellious, unbelieving grumblers, it does not thwart God’s plans or promises. He knows where we walk, and He finds us on the path we have willingly chosen. He knows where that path leads as well. He will follow us and go with us, offering opportunities to give more of ourselves to Him. He will provide for us, just as He did Israel, with everything necessary for a spiritually prosperous life. But, He will also discipline us when we go astray because He loves us.
As we study Deuteronomy, reflect on the character of God and what it means for your journey. What is your “Promised Land?” What is your “wilderness?” How is God walking alongside and revealing His grace to you day by day?
“When we look at circumstances apart from God; when we account our temptations and inbred corruptions too masterful to be subdued; when giants bulk bigger than the ascended Christ, we also turn back from the Rest of God to the barren wanderings of the waste. God allows these difficulties as a foil to His power and grace and to train us to high attainments.”
F.B. Meyer
“And the beautiful thing is that God is with you, even in the wilderness experiences. You may not enter into the best that God has. You may not possess all of your possessions and yet, if you spend your life roaming in the wilderness it’s not God’s will, it’s not his desire, but he will be with you there and help you there.
Chuck Smith
God will lift to the highest level that you will allow Him to lift you and do the best for you on that level, but the work of God in our lives is always limited by us. We’re always the one that put the restrictions upon what God can do for us. We’re the ones that place the limits on God’s work.”