Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:20-21 to you. Strictly speaking, the addressees at Kadesh were the parents of the current generation, who were either children at that time or were born afterward. However, the repetition of "you" throughout Deuteronomy (cf. 4:15; 5:3) treats the current generation as having been present through their parents and thus incorporates the current generation in their parents' sin. This pessimistically suggests that the current generation is no different from their predecessors (cf. 1:3). Do not fear is a common command in the Scriptures; God alone is to be feared (10:12; 13:4).

1:23-25 twelve men. See Num. 13:4-15. The Valley of Eshcol is close to Hebron and still renowned for its fruit. good land. See also Deut. 1:35; 3:25; 4:21-22; 6:18; 8:7, 10; 9:6; 11:17. Moses does not repeat all the details of what the spies said, particularly their "bad report" (Num. 13:32), or describe Caleb's positive minority report.

1:26 Yet. The positive report of the spies in v. 25 is sharply juxtaposed with the people's rebellion in v. 26. Deuteronomy highlights Israel's culpability, reinforcing the warning for the current generation not to follow in their parents' footsteps.

1:27-28 murmured. See Num. 14:1-4. This was not the only time Israel murmured in complaint during the 40-year wilderness period, though the word used here (Hb. ragan) is rare (cf. Ps. 106:25). Because the Lord hated us. In their sin, Israel attributed to God the opposite motive for his action (cf. Deut. 9:28, and the attitude of the people in Num. 14:1-4). The words attributed to the spies in Numbers (cf. Num. 13:28-29) are repeated by the people in Deuteronomy. Anakim were reputed to be giants (Num. 13:22, 28, 33; cf. Deut. 2:10, 11, 21; 9:2). Israel's fear expressed here is addressed by Moses in chs. 2-3.

1:29-31 Do not be . . . afraid. See v. 21. This exhortation is grounded in past experience of the plagues and the exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 7-14) and the wilderness provision (see also Deut. 1:33). before your eyes . . . you have seen. Even though this is the next generation (see note on vv. 20-21), Moses sees the nation as a unity and addresses his audience as though they were there with the previous generation. carried you, as a man carries his son. The image is tender and loving, repudiating the false claim of v. 27.

1:32-33 you did not believe. Unbelief parallels rebellion (v. 26). fire by night and in the cloud by day. See Ex. 13:21.

1:34-36 God's anger at Israel's sin resulted in the 40-year wilderness period, preventing the first generation from entering the land. God's mention of good land makes it clear that he agrees with the spies' report (v. 25) and rejects the people's ill-founded fear and unbelief. Caleb was one of the 12 spies who gave the minority report (Num. 13:30) and advocated entry into the land. wholly followed. See Num. 14:24.

1:37-38 Even with me. Moses' failure, which prevented his entry into the land, was not related to the spies' incident but occurred when he struck the rock in self-exalting anger at Meribah (see note on Num. 20:2-13). on your account. Moses says that his own sin was provoked by Israel. See also Deut. 3:26; 4:21; 32:51. Joshua the son of Nun is first mentioned in Ex. 17:9-14. He was Moses' assistant (Ex. 24:13) and one of the 12 spies (Num. 13:8). With Caleb, he advocated entry into the land (Num. 14:6-9). Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of Israel (Num. 27:18; Deut. 31:3).

1:39 have no knowledge of good or evil. The expression suggests very young children before they are old enough to distinguish between right and wrong. The need for discernment between good and evil is enforced in 30:15-20.

1:42-44 If God does not fight for Israel, defeat is assured (cf. v. 30). you would not listen. Israel stubbornly continues to refuse to heed God's word (see 9:6-7). chased you as bees do. Cf. Ex. 23:28. Instead of fighting for Israel, God now fights against it.