Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:1

THese be the words] Which are partly a repetition of precedent passages, and so might be the conclusion of the Booke of Numbers; but withall they are such as make a good part of Deuteronomie, and so may have reference to what followeth; where he repeateth much of that which hath beene spoken of before, not binding himselfe to any exact order in observation of places.

on this side] In the Countrey of Moab, not yet having passed over Jordan into Canaan, and the Israelites or people in Canaan were in this respect said to be beyond Jordan; yet ordinarily, when they passed over and were possessed of Canaan, this part where Reuben, Gad, and the halfe Tribe of Manasseh had their portion, was said to be beyond Jordan.

Jordan] The most famous river of Palestine, or Canaan; arising out of two fountaines, Jor and Dan, (which give the name unto it) at Mount Lebanon, in the North-end of Canaan, whence it runneth all along the Countrey: Or, it may be so called from Jarad, to descend, because it descendeth from the mountaine.

in the wildernesse] Some take this for the Champian Countrey of Moab, some for the wildernesse of Arabia, where the Israelites had remained fourtie yeares.

Deuteronomy 1:2

eleven dayes] That was their journey from Horeb, or Sinai, to the plains of Moab, which was in measure fiftie one leagues, which was after foure leagues a day, eleven dayes journey, going by Mount-Seir and Kadesh-Barnea. See Annot. on vers. 46.

Horeb] Or, Sinai, (for the Mountaine where the Law was first published with terrible solemnitie about fourtie yeares before this was called by both those names).

Deuteronomy 1:3

eleventh moneth] Called in Hebrew, Shebat, answering to part of January, and part of Februarie.

Deuteronomy 1:4

at Astaroth in Edrei] Astaroth, and Edrei, were two Cities of the land of Og, Joshua 13:31. within sixe miles distance one of another, where he might dwell by turnes; at this time keeping his Court at Astaroth, he went thence to Edrei, and drew his Militarie forces thither to battell, Numbers 21:33. Deuteronomy 3:1. at which battell he was slaine; so that though he had his dwelling at Astaroth, he had his death at Edrei; wherefore the words [which dwelt at Astaroth] for the clearing of the sense, must be made a parenthesis.

Deuteronomy 1:5

began] To make this repetition of the Law following.

Deuteronomy 1:7

Turne you] Take your thoughts from all other things, and set them seriously towards your progresse unto Canaan, and bend your course that way.

mount of the Amorites] To Kadesh-Barnea, at the border of the land of Canaan, which Citie is hard by those hils where the Amorites dwell.

the river Euphrates] In this verse are set downe the bounds of the land of Canaan, according to the foure quarters of the world, East, West, North, and South: but in the 34. of Num. the limits of the promised land are narrower; the reason may be, because there is a distinction betwixt that which was hereditary to the Israelites as their constant possession, and that which by conquest was added to it, and made tributary; and if they had lesse then either, the fault was not in Gods failing of his promise, but in the peoples breach of covenant with him, whereby he was discharged from his engagement to them: See Chap. 19. 8, 9.

Deuteronomy 1:9

spake unto you] By the counsell of Jethro my father in law, Exodus 18:19.

to beare you] That is, to beare the burden of government of you, and provision for you. See vers. 12.

Deuteronomy 1:15

knowne] Not onely wise and worthy men, but so knowne and reputed by the people.

Deuteronomy 1:19

• terrible wildernesse] By reason of the extreme barrennesse, having (for the most part) neither house, nor men, nor beasts, nor birds, nor trees, nor grasse, nor wels, nor rivers, nor any thing necessary for the sustenance of man, but by miraculous supply; and terrible by fiery serpents within it, and a multitude of mighty enemies bordering upon it. Chap. 8. 15.

Deuteronomy 1:22

We will send] The motion of sending searchers or surveighers of the land of Canaan proceeded from the people, yet was it approved by Moses, and by their joynt consent and approbation from God, it was put in execution, Numb. 14.

Deuteronomy 1:25

said, It is a good land] So said Caleb and Joshua, whom (though but two) he preferreth before the other tenne; the better part being rather to be beleeved then the greater part, who raised a bad report of the land, and as false as it was bad.

Deuteronomy 1:27

hated us] How grosly are Gods owne people sometimes mistaken? how ungratefully is he requited, when his fatherly discipline of love is received as a demonstration of hatred towards them?

Deuteronomy 1:28

up to heaven] So said the false-hearted, and in this, false-worded spies, to discourage the people; otherwise such excesses of speech, intending to raise the minde to an extraordinary apprehension of extraordinary things, are figurative hyperboles, not unusuall in the Scriptures, and very frequent in humane Writers, especially poeticall.

Anakims] That is, men of huge stature, of the posteritie of Anak the Giant: See Chap. 2. vers. 10.

Deuteronomy 1:36

wholly followed] God must not be obeyed or served by halves, but wholly and intirely; and that, as it is most acceptable to him, so is it most profitable for man.

Deuteronomy 1:37

for your sakes] Your murmurings made me sometimes too rash in speaking, Psalms 106:3. and sometimes too slow in beleeving in the Lord, which moved him to offence against me, Numbers 20:12. See Deut. Chap. 3. 26. & Chap. 4. 21.

Deuteronomy 1:40

turne ye] He doth not now turne them back toward the Red Sea, but repeateth what he had formerly said unto them, Numbers 14:25.

Deuteronomy 1:42

I am not among you] Signifying that man, though he have a courage to fight, hath no power to prevaile, but when God is at hand to helpe him; and therefore when there is just cause to goe forth to warre, he is to be sought unto to goe forth with the host, Psal. 60. vers. 10, 11.

Deuteronomy 1:44

as Bees doe] When they set upon drones, or Waspes, or swarme about the eares of those that provoke them, Psalms 118:12. so the Amorites inraged, in great troupes pursued you, and with their warlike weapons (as the Bees with their stings) made at you, to wound and kill you.

Deuteronomy 1:45

would not hearken] Such was your stubbornnesse when it was well with you, and such your hypocrisie when the rod of correction was upon you, that he shewed as little respect to your teares or prayers, as you did to his precepts, Zac 7:11. 13.

Deuteronomy 1:46

Kadesh] A wildernesse, Psalms 29:8.

according to the dayes] Repeating the words againe, he admonisheth them to double their thoughts upon their abode in that place wherethey were many dayes, yea many yeares; for though by a right progresse it was but eleven dayes journey, vers. 11. yet by their sinnes, they were made to wander there almost thirtie eight yeares, Chap. 2. vers. 14. therefore there was just ground to come over the words againe, that they might recount the rubs they had in the way, and the reasons of so long delay: See Annot. on vers. 2.