Deuteronomy 1

1 These [specific, particular] are the words [chronicles, events] that Moses [the Israelite leader] spoke [communicated, proclaimed] to all [every, entire] Israel in the wilderness [desert, uninhabited land] east [beyond, on the other side] of the Jordan [the river, a key location]—in the Arabah [plain, desert plain] opposite [across from, facing] Suph [the Red Sea, a body of water]—between [in the midst of, surrounded by] Paran [a desert area] and Tophel [a geographic location], Laban [a person or place], Hazeroth [a settlement, camp], and Dizahab [a place of abundance, enough gold]. word study 2 It is an eleven-day [approximately two weeks, a relatively short] journey from Horeb [the mountain of God, Sinai] to Kadesh-barnea [a city in the southern desert, a place of refuge] by way [the path, the route] of Mount Seir [a mountain in Idumaea, a region of Esau]. word study 3 In the fortieth [a significant period of time, often used for testing or preparation] year, on the first [one, united, a new beginning] day of the eleventh month, Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] proclaimed [to speak, communicate, or command] to the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] all that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had commanded [to give orders, appoint, or ordain] him concerning [regarding, about, or on behalf of] them. word study 4 This was after he had defeated [overcome, smitten] Sihon [the Amorite king] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], who lived [dwelt, resided] in Heshbon [a city east of the Jordan River], and then at Edrei [a chief city in Bashan] had defeated [struck, slain] Og [a powerful king] king of Bashan [a fertile region], who lived [dwelt, abided] in Ashtaroth [a place associated with a Sidonian deity]. word study 5 On the east side [beyond, on the far side] of the Jordan [the river that flows from Lebanon to the Dead Sea] in the land [territory, region] of Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son], Moses [the Israelite leader, lawgiver] began to explain [to make plain, to declare] this law [instruction, guidance], saying [to speak, to command]: word study 6 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the one supreme God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to us at Horeb [another name for Mount Sinai]: “You have stayed [dwelt, remained, or abided] at this mountain [a hill] long enough [for a sufficient time, adequately]. word study 7 Resume your journey [and take your journey, start traveling] and go to the hill country [mountain, highlands] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe]; go to all [every, the whole] the neighboring peoples [those living nearby, adjacent nations] in the Arabah [plain, desert valley], in the hill country [mountains, highlands], in the foothills [lowlands, Shephelah], in the Negev [south country, southern district], and along the seacoast [coastline, shore] to the land [earth, territory] of the Canaanites [inhabitants of Canaan] and to Lebanon [a mountain range], as far as [till, until] the great [large, mighty] River Euphrates [a major river in western Asia]. word study 8 See [behold, look], I have placed [set, given] the land [earth, territory] before you [in your presence, to your advantage]. Enter [go in, come] and possess [take ownership, occupy] the land [country, region] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] swore [made an oath, promised] He would give [grant, bestow] to your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] Abraham [the father of faith], Isaac [he laughs], and Jacob [he supplants], and to their descendants [seed, offspring] after them [following them, in their place].” word study 9 At that time [when we were at Sinai Mountain] I said [spoke, commanded] to you, “I [Moses] cannot [am not able, have no power] carry [lift, bear, undertake the care of] the burden [responsibility, weight] for you alone [by myself, apart]. word study 10 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] has multiplied [increased, grown] you, so that today [this day, at this time] you are as numerous [abundant, countless] as the stars [celestial bodies, heavenly hosts] in the sky [heaven, the visible universe]. word study 11 May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of your fathers [ancestors, patriarchs], increase you a thousand [a large number, a multitude] times over [as ye are, to a vast degree] and bless you [to praise, honor, or bestow divine favor upon] as He has promised [spoken, commanded, or vowed]. word study 12 But how [in what way, where] can I bear [lift, carry, undertake] your troubles [cumbrance, weight, burden], burdens [load, pressure, responsibility], and disputes [strife, quarrels, arguments] all by myself [alone, apart, without help]? word study 13 Choose for yourselves [wise and discerning] wise [intelligent and skilled], understanding [and perceptive, having good sense], and respected [known and esteemed] men from each of your tribes [clans or families], and I will appoint them as your leaders [rulers or heads, to guide and direct].” word study 14 And you answered [replied, responded] me and said [spoken, declared], “What you propose [suggest, recommend] to do [accomplish, undertake] is [considered, deemed] good [pleasant, beneficial, welfare].” word study 15 So I took the leaders [chiefs, wise and respected men] of your tribes, wise [intelligent, skilled] and respected [known, honored] men, and appointed them as leaders [heads, rulers] over you—as commanders [captains, princes] of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers [officials, overseers] for your tribes. word study 16 At that time [in that specific occasion, when it was necessary] I charged [commanded, gave orders to] your judges: “Hear [listen carefully to, give attention to] the disputes [causes, controversies] between your brothers [fellow Israelites, relatives], and judge [decide, vindicate] fairly [righteously, with justice] between a man [an individual, a person] and his brother [relative, fellow countryman] or a foreign resident [sojourner, stranger living among you]. word study 17 Show no partiality [do not respect persons, have no favoritism] in judging; hear both small [the little, those of low importance] and great [the prominent, those of high importance] alike. Do not be intimidated [afraid, in awe] by anyone, for judgment [justice] belongs to God [Elohim, the supreme Judge]. And bring to me any case [matter, thing] too difficult [hard, severe] for you, and I will hear [listen, give attention to] it.” word study 18 And at that time [when the occasion arose, in that circumstance] I commanded [gave orders, instructed] you [as objects of my instruction] all the things [everything, every matter] you were to do [should accomplish, had to fulfill]. word study 19 And just as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] had commanded [given orders, appointed] us, we set out [departed, journeyed] from Horeb [Sinai Mountain, the mountain of God] and went toward the hill country [mountainous region] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], through all [everything, the entirety] the vast [great, extensive] and terrifying [fearful, awe-inspiring] wilderness [desert, open field] you have seen [looked upon, observed]. When we reached Kadesh-barnea [a city in the southern desert of Judah], word study 20 I said: “You have reached [come to, arrived at] the hill country [mountain] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], which the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God] is giving [bestowing, granting] us [to us, as an inheritance]. word study 21 See, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] has placed [given, set before] the land [the soil, a country, or territory] before you [in your presence]. Go up [ascend, rise] and take possession [occupy, control] of it as the LORD [Yehovah], the God of your fathers, has told [spoken, commanded] you. Do not be afraid [fear not, revere not] or discouraged [dismayed, completely broken].” word study 22 Then all of you [every one of you, as a unified group] approached me and said, “Let us send men [an exploration party, scouts] ahead of us to search out [explore, investigate thoroughly] the land [the promised territory, Canaan] and bring us word [report back, give an account] of what route [way, path] to follow and which cities [towns, settlements] to enter [come into, inhabit].” word study 23 The plan [seeming good to me, pleasing] seemed good to me, so I selected [chose, took] twelve men [individuals, leaders] from among you, one [a single, unique] from each tribe [clan, family group]. word study 24 They left [turned and went] and went up [ascended] into the hill country [mountain], and came [went as far as] to the Valley [brook] of Eshcol [cluster, a valley in Palestine] and spied out [explored, searched] the land [the area, the region]. word study 25 They took [in their hands, gathered] some of the fruit [produce, crops] of the land [earth, territory] in their hands, carried it down [brought it back, descended] to us, and brought us word [report, message]: “It is a good [pleasant, beneficial] land [earth, region] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God] is giving [granting, bestowing] us.” word study 26 But you were unwilling [refused to obey, did not consent] to go up [to ascend, rise to the challenge]; you rebelled [resisted, disobeyed] against the command [instruction, word] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God]. word study 27 You grumbled [murmured in rebellion, complained] in your tents [nomadic homes, tabernacles] and said, “Because the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] hates [has hatred towards] us, He has brought [led, guided] us out of the land [earth, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] to deliver [give, hand over] us into the hand [power, direction] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan] to be annihilated [destroyed, devastated, utterly ruined]. word study 28 Where [in what direction or location] can we go? Our brothers [male siblings or close relatives] have made our hearts [the innermost part of our being, including mind, will, and emotions] melt [to weaken or lose courage], saying: ‘The people [a nation or group of individuals] are larger [in number or size] and taller [in stature or strength] than we are; the cities [towns or populated areas] are large [in size or importance], with walls [fortifications or barriers] up to the heavens [the sky or the realm of God]. We even saw [perceived or observed] the descendants [sons or offspring] of the Anakim [a tribe of giant people, the Anakites] there [in that location or at that time].’” word study 29 So I said to you: “Do not [in any way, never] be terrified [dread, stand in awe] or afraid [fear, revere] of them [those people, your enemies]! word study 30 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God], who goes [to walk or proceed] before you, will fight [to battle or contend] for you, just as you saw Him do [according to all that He did] for you in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] word study 31 and in the wilderness [a desert or open field], where the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] carried you, as a man [a male person or individual] carries his son [a descendant or child], all the way [the road or path] by which you traveled [walked or went] until you reached [came into or arrived at] this place [a location or region].” word study 32 But in spite of [despite, notwithstanding] all this [these things, the events that occurred], you did not [refused to, failed to] trust [be faithful to, have confidence in] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], word study 33 who went before you on the journey [in the way, to search out], in the fire [burning, flame] by night and in the cloud [a sign of God’s guidance] by day, to seek out [explore, spy out] a place [location, region] for you to camp [set up tents, rest] and to show you the road [path, way of life] to travel [walk, journey]. word study 34 When the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] heard [listened with attention and obedience] your words, He grew angry [was wroth, furious] and swore [made a vow, took an oath] an oath, saying [to speak, command, or promise], word study 35 “Not one [none, no single individual] of the men [individuals, people] of this [present, current] evil [bad, wicked, morally corrupt] generation [group of people, era] shall see [behold, look upon, experience] the good [pleasant, beneficial, wonderful] land [earth, territory, region] I swore [made an oath, promised] to give [provide, grant, bestow] your fathers [ancestors, forefathers, paternal heritage], word study 36 except Caleb [the faithful spy] son of Jephunneh [a leader from the tribe of Judah]. He will see it [experience the promise], and I will give him and his descendants [sons, a legacy of faith] the land [a promised inheritance, the earth] on which he has set foot [trodden, explored], because he followed [wholly, completely] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] wholeheartedly [with all his heart, fully committed].” word study 37 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was also [even, too] angry [displeased, enraged] with me on your account [because of you, for your sakes], and He said, “Not [no, none] even you [you yourself] shall enter [go into, come into] the land [the promised land, the country]. word study 38 Joshua [the chosen leader] son of Nun, who stands [is present] before you, will enter [go into, possess] it. Encourage [strengthen, support] him, for he will enable [cause to inherit, give possession to] Israel [God’s chosen people] to inherit [take possession of, receive as a legacy] the land [the promised territory, the inheritance]. word study 39 And the little ones [your children, infants] you said would become [be taken as] captives [plunder, spoil]—your children [sons, descendants] who on that day [at that time] did not know [were unaware of, had no knowledge of] good [what is pleasant, beneficial] from evil [what is bad, harmful]—will enter [go in, come into] the land [the promised territory] that I will give [bestow, grant] them, and they will possess [occupy, take control of] it. word study 40 But you [as for you, turn back to God] are to turn back [to face, turn around] and head for the wilderness [desert, open field] along the route [way, path, journey] to the Red Sea [sea of reeds, Gulf of Aqaba]. ” word study 41 “We have sinned [gone wrong, missed the mark] against the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God],” you replied. “We will go up [ascend, rise] and fight [engage in battle, war], as the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] our God [Elohim, the one supreme God] has commanded [given orders, appointed] us.” Then each of you put on [girded, prepared] his weapons of war [articles of battle, utensils for fighting], thinking [considering, regarding] it easy [ready, straightforward] to go up [ascend, rise] into the hill country [mountain, high land]. word study 42 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to me, “Tell them [command, instruct] not to go up [ascend, rise] and fight [battle, engage in war], for I am not with you [present, among] to keep you from defeat [protect, deliver] by your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose].” word study 43 So I spoke [to communicate, to declare] to you, but you would not listen [to hear and obey]. You rebelled [to resist, to disobey] against the command [instruction, decree] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] and presumptuously [with pride, arrogance] went up into the hill country [the mountain, a place of spiritual significance]. word study 44 Then the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descended from Canaan] who lived [dwelt, resided] in the hills [mountains, high places] came out [emerged, met] against you and chased [pursued, followed] you like [as, in the manner of] a swarm of bees [a multitude, a large number]. They routed [defeated, overcame] you from Seir [a mountain in Idumaea, hairy or shaggy] all the way [till, until] to Hormah [a town in southern Judah, devotion]. word study 45 And you returned [to a place of humility, to Kadesh-Barnea] and wept [shed tears, mourned] before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], but He would not listen [hear, heed] to your voice [sound, cry] or give ear [pay attention, incline] to you [toward your pleas]. word study 46 For this reason [because of your disobedience] you stayed [dwelt, remained, abode] in Kadesh [a holy place in the desert] for a long time [many days]—a very long time. word study