Verse 1
These. Note the ten (see App-10) addresses by Moses:
1) Deuteronomy 1:6-4:40
2)Deuteronomy 5:1-10:5
3) Deuteronomy 10:10-12:32
4) Deuteronomy 13:1-26:19
5) Deuteronomy 27:1-26; Deuteronomy 28:1-63
6) Deuteronomy 29:2-29; Deuteronomy 30:1-20
7) Deuteronomy 31:2-6
8)Deuteronomy 32:1-43
9) Deuteronomy 32:44-47
10) Deuteronomy 33:2-29
the words = Haddebarim. See note above.
all Israel. Compare Deuteronomy 5:1. Mode given by God, Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:29. Leviticus 24:14. "All" used by Figure of speech Synecdoche (App-6) to signify a national gathering of any size (1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Samuel 12:1, 1 Samuel 12:19; 1 Kings 8:2, 1 Kings 8:14, 1 Kings 8:22, 1 Kings 8:55, 1 Kings 8:62; 1 Kings 12:12, 1 Kings 12:16, 1 Kings 12:18, &c).
this side Jordan = across Jordan, a neutral term, expression to be determined by context. Numbers 22:1.
the plain. Hebrew. "Arabah = name of vale from Jordan to gulf of Akabah. Red sea = Suph, name of a place. Omit "sea". See Numbers 33:48, Numbers 33:49, Numbers 33:50; Numbers 35:1; Numbers 36:13.
Verse 2
eleven days": i.e. going direct.
Seir = Edom.
Kadesh-barnea. See Numbers 32:8.
Verse 3
fortieth. The number of Probation. See App-10. First month, Miriam died, Numbers 20:1; fifth month, Aaron died, Numbers 33:38; at the end, Moses died on 29 Sebat, 1452; for the thirty days" mourning end with last day of the fortieth year (29 Adar, 1452). See App-50,:4.
children = sons.
according unto, &c. Always thus. Compare 2 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 1:21.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 4
and Og. Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6.) = "and [had slain] Og". Compare Numbers 21:34. Numbers 3:5. in Edrei. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and in". Compare Joshua 12:4.
Verse 5
began = undertook with will. Heb ya"al. First occurrence Genesis 18:27, Genesis 18:31.
declare. Hebrew. ba"ar, make plain, show sense, set forth, especially in writing. Occurs only here and Deuteronomy 27:8, and Habakkuk 2:2.
law = torah = instruction.
Verse 6
The LORD our God = Jehovah "eloheinu. Two titles of later date do not occur in Deut.: "The LORD of hosts" (Samuel) and "the Holy Ono of Israel" (Isaiah).
spake. Jehovah spake only here to "us". His speaking to others, see Deuteronomy 2:1. Jehovah "said", See Deuteronomy 2:9. Jehovah "commanded", See Deuteronomy 4:14. Horeb. Twentieth day of second month. Numbers 10:11-13.
Verse 7
Turn you = Face about. Note the Figure of speech Polyonymia (App-6) in this verse. Hebrew. panah, set one"s face; start.
vale. Hebrew. Shephelah = Philistia.
south. Hebrew. Negeb, the hill country south of Judea. See note on "South", Genesis 12:9; Genesis 13:1.
river. Hebrew. nahar, a flood, not nahal, a wady. Compare Genesis 15:18.
the river. Figure of speech Anadiplosis. App-6.
Verse 8
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6).
Abraham., Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:8; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 26:3, &c. This promise mentioned twenty-seven times in Deut., but unintelligible without Genesis.
Verse 9
I spake. See Exodus 18:17, Exodus 18:18. Numbers 11:14.
Verse 10
multiplied. Compare Deuteronomy 10:22.
Verse 11
as = according as.
promised. See Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17, &c.
Verse 12
How. See note on Lamentations 1:1. cumbrance. Hebrew. torah, only here and Isaiah 1:14 (trouble).
Verse 13
men. Hebrew, plural of "ish or "enosh
Verse 14
tribes. Hebrew. shebet, tribe, according to historical or political corporation; always this word in Deut. Where "tribe" is genealogical or geographical elsewhere it is matteh.
Verse 15
I took. Compare Exodus 18:21-26.
chief. Hebrew. sar. Compare Genesis 32:28.
men. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.
Verse 17
respect = recognise.
persons. Hebrew faces. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, put for persons. Compare Leviticus 19:15.
judgment. Hebrew the judgment: i.e. suited to each case. Compare Exodus 18:26.
is God"s = it [is] God"s.
Verse 19
wilderness = desert. Compare Numbers 10:11-36; Numbers 11:5; Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:26; and Ch. Deuteronomy 8:15.
as = according as.
Kadesh-barnea. Compare Numbers 32:8. A place of solemn import in Israel"s history.
Verse 20
Amorites = descendants of the Nephilim. See App-25.
Verse 21
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
fear not, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8. Joshua 1:9; Joshua 8:1; Joshua 10:25). 1 Chronicles 22:13; 1 Chronicles 28:20. 2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 20:17; 2 Chronicles 32:7. Jeremiah 23:4; Jeremiah 30:10.
Verse 22
every one, &c. = all of you. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1.
We will send, &c. Proposal came from people, and is here charged home against them. Jehovah assented, and this assent appears in the history. Numbers 13:1-3.
men. Hebrew, plural of "ish, or "enosh. App-14.
Verse 24
Eshcol = a cluster of grapes. Numbers 13:22-25.
Verse 25
good land. Compare Numbers 13:27.
Verse 26
commandment. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the word spoken by it. So Deuteronomy 1:43. Exodus 17:1. Genesis 24:57, &c.
Verse 27
murmured. Hebrew. ragan, to rebel. Only here, Psalms 106:25, and Isaiah 2:9, Isaiah 2:24.
Amorites. The Severus codex reads "the Amorite" (singular) See App-34.
destroy = exterminate. Hebrew. shamad.
Verse 28
our brethren = our own brethren. Compare Numbers 13:28.
heart. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "hearts" (plural)
taller = greater. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, read "more in number".
walled, &c. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6.
Anakims. First occurrence; elsewhere, Deuteronomy 2:10, Deuteronomy 2:11, Deuteronomy 2:21; Deuteronomy 9:2. Joshua 11:21, Joshua 11:22; Joshua 14:12, Joshua 14:15. See App-25. For "sons of Anak", see note on Numbers 13:22.
Verse 31
son. See Numbers 11:11, Numbers 11:12.
Verse 32
the LORD. Hebrew "in the LORD"(= Jehovah).
Verse 33
a place. See Exodus 15:17. Numbers 10:33. Joshua 3:3, Joshua 3:4. Ezekiel 20:6.
your tents. Not only your inheritance, but the halting-place for daily journeying thither. Both were and are Jehovah"s choice for His People.
in fire by night. See Exodus 13:21, Exodus 13:22. Numbers 10:33, Numbers 10:34.
Verse 34
was wroth. See Numbers 14:20-35 and Psalms 95:8-11.
Verse 36
Caleb. Compare Numbers 14:23, Numbers 14:24. Joshua 14:9. Judges 1:20.
children = sons.
Verse 37
This and the next verse are put in a Parenthesis (App-6).
angry. See Numbers 20:12.
Verse 38
Joshua., Numbers 14:30.
Verse 39
your little ones., Numbers 14:31.
Verse 40
turn you = start. Numbers 14:25.
Red sea = eastern arm. The gulf of Akabah. Compare Deuteronomy 1:1.
Verse 41
answered and said. Idiom. App-6. In this idiom the word "answered" receives its meaning from the context. Here it = confessed, or repented and said.
we will go up. Compare Numbers 14:40-42.
ready. Hebrew. hun. Occurs only here: = rash, or presumptuous.
Verse 43
rebelled., Numbers 14:44, Numbers 14:45.
commandment. Hebrew mouth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, put for what is uttered by it, as in Deuteronomy 1:26.
Verse 44
Amorites. Compare Numbers 14:43. See App-25.
bees. Hebrew with art. "the bees". Art. of species.
destroyed you = beat you down. Hebrew. kathath.
Verse 46
abode in Kadesh. This is not a summary of the thirty-eight years" wandering, but of what happened before then. How solemn the word "abode" when the command had been "go up".