Deuteronomy 1

Where and when Moseh repeated the law of God verse 1 &c. a brief relation with that which happened in Israel from the time they departed from Horeb until they came to Kades-Barnea as Gods command to depart with a promise annexed 6 the ordaining of judges and officers 9 their journey through the wilderness and coming to Kades-Barnea 19 the sending out the returning and report of the spies 22 the rebellion and murmuring of the people 26 Gods wrath and sentence against the disobedient 34 who going contrary to Gods command are smitten by the Ammorites and complaining to God are not heard 41.

1. These are the words which Moseh spake unto all Israel [others those are or were the words &c. meaning that these two first verses are a conclusion of the acts and words that are related in the foregoing books] on this side Jordan for he went not over it but died in the land of Moabites see below chapter 34.5] in the wilderness on the plain [understand the fields or the even plain land of the Moabites see below verse 5 and chapter 34.8 item Numbers 22:1] over against Suph [some understand here by Suph the red sea wherein Pharaoh and his host drowned lying against by Egypt whether Israel had mind to return back again others the dead sea lying at the south end of the Moabites land west wards or the country lying by one of these two seas compare Numbers 21:14 Suph signifieth rush or weed sea weed sea grass] between Param and between Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab [of Paran see Genesis 14 on verse 6 Numbers 10:12 and 13.1 &c. of Hazeroth Numbers 13:1 and 33.17,18 some conceive that here are described the uttermost confines of the Moabites country south-wards North-wards and east-wards Tophel, Laban and Dizahab are nowhere else mentioned in the scripture so that there be divers opinion concerning them.]

2. They are eleven days journeyed from Horeb [of Mount Horeb see Exodus3.1 an d33.6 &c. some conceive Horeb and Sinai to be two mountains lying close together as also some maps do shew see the like below chapter 34 on verse 1] by the way of Mount Seir [that is which goeth to mount Seir or mount of the Edomites although the mount reaching from Horeb maybe likewise so called] unto Kades-Barnea [that is going directly from Horeb to Kades-Barnea by the way of Mount Seir or Edom called also as it seemeth the mount of Amorites below verse 7 by the words of Moses intimateth that the Israelites were fain to spend a long time about the travelling a little way in your journeying from Egypt to kades –Barnea they spent about two years time see on verse 6from thence to the field of Moab eight and thirty years below chapter 2.14 because god being provoked to anger made them go back again until the rebellious one perished in the wilderness see Numbers 14:33 ,34 &c. of Kades-Barnea see Genesis 16 on verse 14.]

3. And it came to pass in the fourtieth year [after the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt not long before Moseh his death Numbers 33:38] in the eleventh month [namely Sebat Zachariah 1.7 answering to part of January and to part of February when the beginning of the year being taken from the first month of the Ecclesiastical year called Abib or Nisan see Exodus 12:2 and 13.4 Nehemiah 2:1 Esther 3:7] on the first day of the month that Moseh spake to the children of Israel according to all the Lord hath given him in charge unto them [that is had commanded him to tell them .]

4. After he had smitten Sihom the King of the Amorites [Heb. Of the Amorites as elsewhere often see of the people Genesis 10 on verse 16 of these two passages as also of Basan and Astharoth and Edrei [Astharoth and Edrei dwelt at Astharoh at Edrei [Astharoth and Edrei were two cities in Basan afterwards given to the Reubenites for a possession lying on the East side of Jordan by the mountains Astharoth on the north of Syria Edrei on the south end of Basan see Genesis 14:5 where it is called Astharoth Kanaim and Joshua 13:31 the idols of the Philistines and the Zidonians were also called Astharoth see judges 2. On verse 13.]

5. On this side Jordan in the land of Moab [that is of the Moabites as often] Moseh began [or Moseh deisreth it seemeth good unto him] to expound this law [that is he repeated further declared and inculcated or wetted upon the people of the laws that he had propounded in the three former books this exposition beginneth properly below chapter 4after Moseh had related certain passages to move the Israelites to attention and obedience] saying.

6. The Lord our God spake unto us at Horeb saying ye have tarried long enough by this mount [to wit about a year for they came to Sanai and Horeb in the beginning of the third month after their going forth out of Egypt Exodus 19:1,2 and departed thence in second year at the twentieth day of the second month Numbers 10:11 Hebrews it is much for you to continue and dwell &c.]

7. Turn you and depart and go into the mount of the Amorites [Heb. Amorites which mount beginneth at the mountains Horeb and Sinai and reacheth thence north-wards unto Kades-Barnea by the borders of Syria and Canaan as maps do shew] and unto all their neighbors [Heb. & unto his neighbors that is near adjoining places] in the pain on the mountain and on the low ground and in the south and at the haven of the sea the land of Canaan and Lebanon unto the great river [this hath respect unto the borders of the land promise towards the south west north and east compare Numbers 34 and the annotate there on verse 2 but not withstanding this command the rebellious ones should by no means enter into the land below verse 35 mount Lebanon is often mentioned in the scriptures lying on the north borders of Canaan] the river Phrath [that is Euphrates see thereof genesis 2 on verse 14 and 15 on verse 18.]

8. Behold I have given that land before your face [that is I have laid it open before you that ye may possession of it &c. or thus it is said concerning the inhabitants of the land that God gave them before the face of Israel that is as the scripture also speaketh into their hand to smite them see below chapter 2.31 ,33 and elsewhere often] go into it and possess that land hereditarily which the Lord swear unto your father Abraham and Isaac and Jacob that he would give it to them and their seed after the.

9. And I spake unto you at that time [to wit according to Jethro’s counsel exodus 18.19] saying I shall not be able to bear you myself alone [that is the burthen of your affairs which happen among you would be too heavy for me alone to bear.]

10. The Lord your God hath multiplied you and behold ye is this day as the stars of heaven in multitude [according to the promise Genesis 15:5.]

11. The lord the God of your fathers add to you as ye are now a thousand times more and bless ye according as he hath spoken unto ye.

12. How should I alone bear your toil or trouble which should put me to and so in the sequel ] and your burden and your controversies ?[Heb. Strife or contentions that is your causes or suits which ye may commence one against another which bring before me to receive my verdict and judgment upon them.]

13. Take [Heb. Give] ye wise man and understanding and expert [others known] to your tribes that I may make them your heads that is ruler’s judges.]

14. Then ye answered me and said this word [or this thing] which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.

15. So I took the heads of your tribes wise and expert men and made them head over you rulers of thousand and rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties rulers of tens and officers for your tribes.

16. And I charged your judges at that time saying hear the differences between your brethren and judge rightly between the men and between his brother [or hearing the differences between your brethren judge rightly &c.] and the stranger of him [viz. that is or converseth with or among them .]

17. Ye shall not know the face in the judgment [that is ye shall not wrest the judgments according to any outwards respect or quality of those that should appear before the judgment seat see the like phrase Leviticus 19.15and below chapter 10.17 2 Chronicles 19:6,7 Job 13:8 James2.1, 9] ye shall hear the small [that is the mean poor despised one] as well as great [that is the rich mighty and honorable Heb. As the small as the great so that small so the great that is the least as well as the greatest] ye shall not be afraid of any mans face for the judgment that is God [that is it is ordained of god and it is executed in his name and by command from him according to the laws prescribed by him] but the matter which shall not be too heavy [or hard for you] that is more difficult than ye shall be able to decide] ye shall cause to come to me and ye shall bear it.

18. So I command ye at that time so the things which ye shall do.

19. Then he departed from Horeb and walked through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw on the way of mountain of Amorites as the Lord out God had commanded us and we came to Kades-Barnea.

20. Then I said unto ye then I come unto the mountain of the Amorites which the Lord our God will give unto us.

21. Behold the Lord thy God hath given that land before thy face [see above verse 8] go up possess it hereditarily according to the lord the God of thy fathers hath spoken unto thee fear not neither be dismayed.

22. Then ye all came near unto me and said let us send men before our face who may spy us out of the land and bring us word again [Heb. Bring us word again or answer] what way shall we go up to it and unto the cities we shall come.

23. Now this thing was good in mine eyes [that is pleased me therefore Moses presented it also before the Lord who gave him a command concerning it Numbers 13:3] so I took twelve men of you and men of every tribe.

24. Who turned themselves and went up to the mountain and came unto the valley of Eschol [the brook Socok as some maps do shew was next to the valley of Escol or valley of grapes issuing out of the mountain of Judah compare Numbers 13:25 and Judges 16 on verse 4 the Hebrew word signifieth sometimes a valley and sometimes a brook because brook do often run through the valley therefore others have the word brooks in the place instead of valley this word Escol signifieth a branch of grapes or a grape this place was called by the Israelites the valley of grapes because this kind of fruit that grew there in the great abundance was exceeding fair and big a sample whereof was cut down carried and brought by the spies when they returned back see Numbers 13:25] and spied out the same.

25. And they took of the fruits of he land in their hand [to wit grapes pomegranates and figs see Numbers 13:24] and brought it down unto us and brought us word again and said the land which the Lord out God will give us is good.

26. But ye would not go up but ye were rebellious to the mouth [that is against the command] of the Lord your God.

27. And you murmured in your tents and said because the Lord hateth us he hath brought us forth out of the land Egypt [others through hatred of the lord against us he hath &c. that is because he hated us] to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us.

28. Wither should we go up? or our brethren have made our heart melt [that is disheartened discouraged made us afraid it’s a similitude taken from wax which melted by the fire or by the heat of the sun so the heart growth faint and weak through fear of danger and mischief so Joshua .9,24 and 5.1 Jeremiah 49:23] saying it is a people greater and taller than we [more in number and stronger in power] the cities are great and fenced up in heaven [that is exceeding strong and firm others strengthened mounting up into heaven see Genesis 11:4] we have also seen the children of Enekims [that is of the Giants so called from one Enak see Numbers 13 verse 22and Judges 1:10,20]there.

29. Then I said unto ye dread not neither be afraid of them.

30. The Lord your God who walketh before your face he shall fight ye according to all that he did among ye inn Egypt before your eyes.

31. And in the wilderness where thou hast seen [others and that which thou hast seen in the wilderness] that the Lord thy God hath carried thee as a man doth carry his son[compare exodus 19.4 Numbers 11,12 and below chapter 32.10,11 Psalms 91:12 Isaiah 46:3,4] on all the way ye walked until ye came to this place.

32. But by this word [others this thing that is all that ye saw and heard moved ye not [ye believed not on the Lord your God [ye trusted not in him that he would perform his promises.]

33. Who walked on the way before your face to look out the place for you where ye might camp in the fire by night to shew ye the way that ye should go in [others to cause ye to see on the way &c.] and in the cloud by day.

34. Now when the Lord heard the vice of your words he was very wroth and swear saying:

35. If any of these man of evil generation shall see that good land which I swear to give unto your fathers [an imperfect speech used often in swearing see Genesis 14 on verse 23 some understand withal then let me be no God or let me not live]

36. Save Caleb the son of Jephunne [together with Joshua the son of Nun see below verse 38 and Numbers 14:6, 30] he shall see it and to him I will give the land [meaning a part of the land] that he had trodden upon [Caleb and Joshua had been along with the spies Numbers 14:6] and to his children because he persevered to follow the LORD [Heb. Because he fulfilled to fulfill to go after the Lord that is so constantly obeyed and followed the LORD in this thing see 14.24 and 32.11, 12.]

37. Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes [for Moses was so vexed and angry by the unbelief and murmuring of the people that he transgressed against the LORD see the history Numbers 2:10 ,11,12] saying thou shalt no go thither [see Numbers 20:12 and 27.14 below chapter 3.25 and 4.21 and 34.4]

38. Joshua the son of Nun who standeth before thy face [that is who is continually with and about thee to minister unto thee who waited upon thee compare 1 Kings 1:2 Daniel 1:5, 19] he shall go in thither strengthen him for he shall cause Israel to inherit it [that is he shall not only come to the land of Canaan but also be placed by thy room after thy deceased therefore instruct exhorts encourage and strengthen him to sit and prepare him for that great and eighty employment.]

39. And your little infants whom ye said they shall be a prey and your children whom this day they know neither good nor evil [a phrase frequently used in scripture to describe infancy or childhood see the like phrase Isaiah 7:15 Jonah 4:11] they shall go in thither and unto them will I give I give it and hey shall possess it hereditarily.

40. You on the contrary turn you and take your journey towards the wilderness by the way of reed sea [that is the sea of rushes commonly called the red sea which by the strong hand of God they had before passed through and were gone so far in their journey towards the land of promise.]

41. Then ye answered and said unto me we have sinned against the Lord we will march and fight up against all the LORD our God hath commanded us now when ye girded on every man his warlike furniture [or weapons of war] and were willing [or were ready prepared for it others emboldened yourselves or presumptuously advanced] to go up to the mount [see above on verse 2.]

42. Then the Lord said unto me say unto them go up not up neither to fight for I am not in the midst of you [viz. with my grace and usual assistance compare below chapter 23.14] lest ye be smitten before the face of your enemies.

43. But when I spake unto you ye hearkened not unto me but where rebellious against the mouth of he LORD and dealt proudly [as if you were able to vanquish your enemies by your own strength without the hand and help of God.] and marched up into the mount.

44. Then the Amorites which dwealt on the mountain marched forth to meet you [Heb. The Amorites that dwealt on the mountain marched forth &c.] And pursued you according as the Bees do [who being irritated provoked to fly in swarms from all sides after him that comes to disturb them and sting and chase him most bitterly see Psalms 118 vesre1 2] and they dashed you in pieces in Seir unto Horma.

45. Now when ye returned and wept before the face of the Lord then the Lord hearkened not your voice neither inclined his ears unto you.

46. So ye abode in Kades many days according to the day that ye abode there that is as the days do shew which ye know ye did abide there.]