Deuteronomy 1 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Ch. 1-3  The Historical Context – how Israel came to this point of their history

Passage: Deut 1:1-8

1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan – that is, in the Arabah – opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.)

3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4 This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

6 The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighbouring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore he would give to your fathers – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and to their descendants after them.’

A. Find Out:    

1. Where did Moses speak these words? v.1,5
2. When did he speak them? v.3
3. What had recently happened? v.4
4. What had the Lord said, when? v.6
5. Where had the Lord told them to go? v.7
6. What assurance did He give them? v.8

B. Think:

1. Summarize in your own words the historical context of this book.
2. Where did Moses start his account? Why was that important?
3. Observe all the geographical references. Why are they important?

C. Comment:

     The opening words give us the historical and geographical context of this book. This is important for us to understand because Israel ‘s history was so bound up in the land, and in their dealings with God. For Israel to move into the land now, they must understand their history, for it has much to teach them.

    Forty years on from Sinai, on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses speaks to the people of Israel (v.1). We are reminded in passing, that from Sinai to the land is an eleven day journey (v.2) but forty years later (v.3) they are still only on the edge. There is a story here and the present people need reminding of it.

    The story starts back at Sinai, or Horeb (v.6) where God had called them into being as a nation. After a while the Lord had instructed them to move on (v.7). Sinai, the place of highest encounter with God, was not their destiny, only a stepping stone to it. After encounter God reveals purpose. At Sinai they had had a unique encounter with the Lord. Their purpose now is to go and possess and enjoy the land (v.8). Having formed them into a nation under Him, the Lord’s purpose was now for them to have a land where they could enjoy Him. Today, our purpose is not to have holy huddles but to go and possess the land in Jesus’ name! We need an encounter, but we are called to go on from there.

D. Application:

1. Encounter: my first call is to know the Lord.
2. Activity: my second call is then to inherit His purposes for me.

Passage: Deut 1:9-18

9 At that time I said to you, ‘You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. 10 The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. 11 May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! 12 But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? 13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.’

14 You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’

15 So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you – as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you. 17 Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.’ 18 And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

A. Find Out:

1. What prompted Moses to act? v.9,10
2. What did he see as his problem? v.12
3. What had he suggested as the solution? v.13
4. What did he instruct them to do? v.16
5. How was he still there for them? v.17
6. How were they being directed at that time? v.18

B. Think:

1. What had been Israel ‘s problem at that time?
2. What had been Moses’ situation?
3. Yet what had remained Moses’ role?

C. Comment:

     Moses now reminds them of how he had tried to spread the leadership responsibility in his caring for Israel (v.9-12). He had realised that there was no way that he could lead Israel on his own or preside over every dispute. His solution had been to suggest to Israel that they choose leaders from each of their tribes (v.13), men they consider to be wise, understanding and respected. When they chose them, Moses would then confirm and appoint them. There was no way that he could know everyone from such a multitude.

     In each of these things, Moses shows his servant heartedness – he suggests, they choose, and then he appoints and instructs. In all that he does he is careful for the welfare of Israel.

     These are the marks of a leader – humility, willingness to involve the people of God, gentleness of approach, wisdom, and authority to teach and appoint others.

     The New Testament indicates that God gives gifts (Rom 12:6) and it is then for the people of God to recognise the gifting. When that happens, the outcome is order and care for the people of God. Note the gifts: wisdom and understanding, and then respect which is earned with experience.

D. Application:

1. In our church context, is there an involvement of the people in the ordering of what takes place?
2. Involvement also requires responsibility.

Passage: Deut 1:19-31

19 Then, as the Lord our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went towards the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful wilderness that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, ‘You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. 21 See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’

22 Then all of you came to me and said, ‘Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.’

23 The idea seemed good to me; so I selected twelve of you, one man from each tribe. 24 They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshkol and explored it. 25 Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’

26 But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The Lord hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, “The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.”’

29 Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.’

A. Find Out:

1. Why had they set out? v.19
2. What happened when they reached Kadesh Barnea? v.20,21
3. How had the people responded? v.22
4. What was the initial report of the land? v.25
5. Yet how did they respond? v.26-28
6. How had Moses sought to encourage them? v.29-31

B. Think:

1. Why had Israel stumbled over entering the land?
2. Again, how had Moses sought to encourage them?
3. Why do you think Moses is reminding them of this now?

C. Comment:

      Past history can encourage us or warn us. This passage does both. Moses now recounts how they had left Sinai and arrived at the borders of the Promised Land where he had encouraged them to go in. The people asked for spies to go ahead, the Lord confirmed it (Num 13:1-3) and Moses instructed it. When the spies returned they confirmed that it was a land of plenty, but the people living there looked big and tough! Faith was needed to go in, a reliance upon the Lord – and they did not seem to have it!

      Instead of reminding themselves of their history and God’s hand upon them, instead of seeking God’s help, they grumbled! Moses sought to encourage them by reminding them how God had been there for them over the past weeks and months. God had delivered them years ago from Egypt , and provided for them throughout their time in the desert. Would He not do the same in the Land? Yes, there were a people to be conquered but God was far bigger. How important it is to maintain a right perspective! Faith flows when we do that!

      Why was Moses reminding them of all this? Because the time was fast approaching for a second expedition into the Land, and it is important that they learn from their past failure, so they will not repeat it now.

D. Application:

1. It is important to face past failures and own up to them.
2. Past failures allow us to learn to overcome in the present.

Passage: Deut 1:32-46

32 In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, 33 who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.

34 When the Lord heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 ‘No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’

37 Because of you the Lord became angry with me also and said, ‘You shall not enter it, either. 38 But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. 39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad – they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. 40 But as for you, turn round and set out towards the desert along the route to the Red Sea.’

41 Then you replied, ‘We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us.’ So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

42 But the Lord said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.”’

43 So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. 44 The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45 You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. 46 And so you stayed in Kadesh many days – all the time you spent there.

A. Find Out:

1. How did the Lord respond to their unbelief? v.34-36
2. What also happened about Moses? v.37,38
3. What did the Lord say should happen? v.39,40
4. How had Israel responded to this? v.41
5. What did the Lord warn would happen? v.42
6. So what did they do and with what outcome? v.43-46

B. Think:

1. What 3 acts of unbelief are revealed in these verses?
2. What curbs did the Lord put on them?
3. Again, why do you think Moses is recounting this at this time?

C. Comment:

     First note three acts of unbelief. The first act had been their refusal to enter the Land when told to go. This was a clear failure to trust the Lord (v.32).

     The second act was to ignore the Lord’s directions to go back to the desert, and instead they determined to go in and take the land.

     The third act was to ignore a warning not to fight because the Lord was not with them. In each of these ways they rejected the Lord’s counsel.   

     Next observe the curbs the Lord put on them. The first curb was to refuse to let them enter the land because of their unbelief. Only their children would enter.

     The second curb was to withdraw from them and refuse to fight for them. The Lord will not be manipulated. He will not change His declared will.

     Why was Moses retelling this story forty years later? We’re not told specifically but it surely must be to firm up the resolution of the people in preparation to enter the Land and to reinforce or enlarge their knowledge of the Lord. It is both an encouragement (to get up and go with God) and a warning (not to fail as their parents had failed). God is there to help them and fight for them. History told them that and Moses reiterates it for now. This is now the time for entering the land. A reminder of the past should strengthen them in the present.

D. Application:

1. We do what God says to do, when He says to do it, or we face the consequences. The Lord knows best!
2. The Lord is with us. Go with Him!