Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 1

Bullinger's Companion Bible NotesBullinger's Companion Notes

Verse 1

These. Note the ten (see App-10 ) addresses by Moses: 1) Deuteronomy 1:6-40 2)Deuteronomy 5:1-5 3) Deuteronomy 10:10-32 4) Deuteronomy 13:1-19 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 ( 1Sa 7:3 ; 1 Samuel 12:1 , 1 Samuel 12:19 ; 1Ki 8:2 , 1 Kings 8:14 , 1 Kings 8:22 , 1Ki 8:55 , 1 Kings 8:62 ; 1 Kings 12:12 , 1Ki 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 , Isa 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".

Bibliographical Information
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 1". "Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bul/deuteronomy-1.html. 1909-1922.