Deuteronomy 1

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 1

1¶ These [be] the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red [sea], between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

2([There are] eleven days' [journey] from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

3And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first [day] of the month, [that] Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

4After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

5On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

6The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:

7Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all [the places] nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

8Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

9¶ And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

10The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

11(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye [are], and bless you, as he hath promised you!)

12How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

13Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

14And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken [is] good [for us] to do.

15So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between [every] man and his brother, and the stranger [that is] with him.

17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.

18And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

19¶ And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

20And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.

21Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up [and] possess [it], as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

22And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

23And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

24And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.

25And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought [it] down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, [It is] a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

26Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:

27And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

28Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities [are] great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

29Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

30The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

31And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

32Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

33Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents [in], in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

34And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

36Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

37Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

38[But] Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40But [as for] you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

41Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.

42And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I [am] not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

43So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill.

44And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.

45And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

46So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode [there].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Moses begins his address to Israel in Moab, recounting their journey from Horeb. He reminds them of God's command to enter the Promised Land and their subsequent rebellion at Kadesh-barnea, where they refused to go up due to fear of the inhabitants. This disobedience led to God's judgment, condemning that generation to wander in the wilderness, excluding even Moses, while only Caleb, Joshua, and the children would enter.

Medium Summary

Deuteronomy chapter 1 opens with Moses addressing all Israel in the land of Moab, forty years after their departure from Egypt, recounting the journey from Horeb. He reminds them of the LORD's command to leave Horeb and possess the vast land promised to their fathers. Moses then recalls the appointment of judges to assist him in governing the multiplying nation, emphasizing the importance of righteous and impartial judgment. Upon reaching Kadesh-barnea, the people requested to send spies, who returned with a report of a good land but also of formidable, giant inhabitants, causing the Israelites to murmur and rebel against God's command to advance. Despite Moses' assurances that the LORD would fight for them, their unbelief provoked God's wrath, leading Him to swear that none of that disobedient generation, save Caleb and Joshua, would enter the Promised Land. Furthermore, Moses himself was barred from entry. When the people later presumptuously attempted to fight without God's presence, they were defeated by the Amorites and remained in Kadesh for an extended period.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy chapter 1 commences with Moses' address to all Israel in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan, in the fortieth year of their wilderness journey. He begins to declare the law, recalling pivotal events since their departure from Horeb. Moses reminds the people that the LORD had commanded them to leave Mount Horeb, where they had dwelt long enough, and to proceed to possess the vast land of the Canaanites, extending to Lebanon and the Euphrates, which He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Recognizing the immense growth of the nation, Moses recounts how he appointed wise and understanding men from each tribe to serve as captains and judges, delegating authority to manage the people's burdens and disputes. He charged these judges to hear cases impartially, judging righteously between all persons, including strangers, and to bring difficult matters to him, emphasizing that judgment belongs to God. The narrative then shifts to their arrival at Kadesh-barnea, a crucial point in their journey towards the promised land. Moses urged them to go up and possess the land without fear, as the LORD had set it before them. However, the people proposed sending spies to explore the land first, a suggestion Moses approved. Twelve men, one from each tribe, were sent, and they returned with fruit from the land, confirming its goodness, but also reporting on the formidable, giant inhabitants and strongly fortified cities. This report caused the people to murmur in their tents, accusing the LORD of hating them and bringing them out of Egypt to be destroyed. Despite Moses' attempts to reassure them, reminding them of God's past deliverance in Egypt and His continuous care and guidance in the wilderness, bearing them as a father bears his son, the people refused to believe the LORD their God. Consequently, the LORD heard their words and was wroth, swearing that none of that evil generation, except Caleb, who wholly followed the LORD, would see the good land. Joshua, son of Nun, was also designated to enter and cause Israel to inherit it, along with their children who had no knowledge of good and evil. Moses himself was also forbidden entry due to their rebellion. The LORD then commanded the disobedient generation to turn back into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. In a final act of rebellion, after confessing their sin, the people presumptuously attempted to go up and fight the Amorites, ignoring Moses' warning that the LORD was not among them. As a result, they were severely defeated and chased by the Amorites, leading to their prolonged stay in Kadesh.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Command to Possess the LandThe LORD commanded Israel to leave Mount Horeb and enter the vast land promised to their forefathers, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant and their right to inherit it.
  • Delegation of AuthorityMoses, recognizing the immense growth of the Israelite population, appointed wise and understanding men from the tribes to serve as judges and officers, alleviating his burden and ensuring righteous governance among the people.
  • The Spies' Report and RebellionAt Kadesh-barnea, Israel sent spies who, despite confirming the land's goodness, instilled fear by reporting on the formidable inhabitants. This led the people to murmur and rebel against God's direct command to enter and possess the land.
  • Consequences of UnbeliefDue to their lack of faith and rebellion against the LORD's command to possess the land, God declared that the entire generation, except Caleb and Joshua, would not enter the Promised Land, condemning them to wander in the wilderness.
  • Moses' ExclusionAs a consequence of Israel's rebellion and God's wrath, Moses himself was also prevented from entering the Promised Land. This highlights the severity of the generation's disobedience and its far-reaching impact.
  • Presumptuous DisobedienceAfter God's judgment, the Israelites, despite being warned by Moses that the LORD was not with them, presumptuously attempted to fight the Amorites. This resulted in a decisive defeat, further demonstrating their continued rebellion against divine instruction.