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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:1-5 Prologue. This first, brief section provides the chronological and geographical setting of Deuteronomy, identifying the speaker and audience as well as summarizing that the book is an exposition of the law. It parallels the preamble sections of ancient covenant treaties.
1:1 The Hebrew name of Deuteronomy (Debarim; lit., "The words") is taken from the opening phrase, These are the words. This opening informs the reader that the bulk of Deuteronomy, up to the end of ch. 30, is the spoken words of Moses. Moses has been the leader of Israel since early in the book of Exodus, called by God to that role at the burning bush (Exodus 3). Deuteronomy is Moses' final speech before his death. all Israel. Deuteronomy emphasizes the unity of the people. beyond the Jordan. That is, east of the Jordan River, on the north end of the Dead Sea. Since leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, Israel has been in the wilderness for (Exodus 14-15; see Ex. 15:22). Arabah. The low Jordan Valley and area surrounding the Dead Sea. Suph . . . Dizahab. These are places that Israel passed through en route to Moab. Numbers 12:16 mentions Paran and Hazeroth. Suph, Tophel, Laban, and Dizahab are not mentioned elsewhere in the OT.
1:2 Horeb is the name used in Deuteronomy for Mount Sinai (except see 33:2), where Israel received the commandments (Ex. 19:1-Num. 10:12). Kadesh-barnea. A town on the southern border of the Promised Land where Israel camped (Num. 13:26).
1:3-4 The juxtaposition of "eleven days" (v. 2) with fortieth year highlights the time lost in reaching the border of the Promised Land. The was God's punishment for Israel's failure to enter the land (Num. 14:33-34). As in Deut. 1:1, Moses spoke, here stressing his faithfulness in speaking according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them. Deuteronomy rarely distinguishes between God's words and Moses' words. defeated Sihon. See Num. 21:21-35. Heshbon and Bashan were east of the Jordan, north of where Deuteronomy is set (see Deut. 1:1, 5).
1:5 The repeated mention of beyond the Jordan (also v. 1) underscores that Israel is not yet in the Promised Land. (Moab is "beyond" the Jordan, i.e., on the east side, from the perspective of Canaan.) Unlike their fighting against Sihon and Og (v. 4), Israel had not fought against Moab en route to the Promised Land. This law refers to the entire law given to Israel at Sinai (Ex. 19:1-Num. 10:12). Moses' task is not simply to repeat that law but to expound it (in effect, to preach it) so that Israel will newly accept the law before crossing the Jordan to conquer the land. At Sinai, Israel verbally agreed to the covenant law's obligations (Ex. 24:3) but did not behave accordingly. Hence in Deuteronomy Moses exhorts Israel to a covenant renewal with God.
