Deuteronomy 1 Commentary
Assuming our calendar is the same as Israel’s calendar during the Exodus, we can place Aaron’s death in the month of May. Moses’ last speech would be around November but in the same year. Moses dies shortly after this speech.
In this speech, Moses highlights key moments of the long journey to the Promised Land. Long journey in terms of time; not in terms of distance. It should have taken 11 days! Verse 2.
We are at Mount Sinai. From here, the LORD gives Moses details of the land that Israel is to occupy. It extends as far as the great river Euphrates – “same” as Abraham’s land.
From Chapter 1, we can see that the idea of spies wasn’t part of the original plan. A fearful nation needed convincing on the suitability or perhaps also the size of the task ahead. Investigating God’s word for suitability is a real disaster in waiting. The word must be believed and not questioned.
We have a couple of details that we didn’t see in Numbers. In Numbers, Moses is silent as the spies spread a bad report. But here, we learn of how Moses pleaded with the people to trust God’s wisdom by referencing a rich history of God’s might work amongst the people. It never worked.
The result of their doubt was their banishment from the Promised Land. Deuteronomy summarizes the book of Numbers in a couple of lines. It highlights events of Numbers Chapters 13 and 14 as key events leading to the long trip lasting 40 years. Moses’ own moment of failure is alluded to here.
The reference to the “fortieth year” helps us understand Moses’ mission. It’s done. There is no further business. Both Moses and Aaron have executed their tasks, and the nation must move on—but without them. Yes, without them, but with the memory of everything between Mount Sinai and the plains of Moab—hence this book.
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