Deuteronomy 1
1 Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year;
6 briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb;
14 of giving them officers;
19 of sending the spies to search the land;
34 of his anger for their incredulity;
41 and disobedience.
Transjordanian <05676> [on this.]
Suph ... Paran <05489 06290> [Red sea. or, Zuph. Or rather, Suph.]
This could not have been the Red Sea, not only because the word {yam,} "sea," is not joined with it as usual, but because they were now east of Jordan, and farther from the Red Sea than ever. It seems to be the same which is called {Suphah} in Nu 21:14; which must necessarily signify some place in or adjoining to the plains of Moab, and not far from the Jordan and Arnon. Ptolemy mentions a people called Sophonites that dwelt in Arabia Petr‘a, who may have taken their name from this place.
Paran <06290> [Paran.]
Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab, seem to have been either places or cities not far from the plains of Moab; for it is evident that Paran and Hazeroth could not have been those near the Red sea, and not far from Horeb.
Hazeroth <02698> [Hazeroth.]
way <01870> [by the way.]
Kadesh Barnea <06947> [unto.]
deliver <0874> [to declare.]
Horeb <02722> [in Horeb.]
stayed <03427> [Ye have.]
hill country ........... highlands <02022> [the mount.]
areas <07934> [all the places. Heb. all his neighbours. in the plain.]
Great <01419> [the great.]
given <05414> [set. Heb. given. which.]
able <03201> [I am not.]
God <0430> [your God.]
population ..... that <03117> [ye are this day.]
This was the promise made by God to Abraham, (Ge 15:5, 6,) which Moses considers now as amply fulfilled. Many suppose the expression to be hyperbolical; and others, no friends to revelation, think it a vain, empty boast, because the stars, in their apprehension, amount to innumerable millions. But, as this refers to the number of stars that appear to the naked eye, which only amount to about 3,010 in both hemispheres, the number of the Israelites far exceeded this; for independently of women and children, at the last census, they amounted to more than 600,000.
thousand <0505> [make you.]
blessing ...... said <01288 01696> [and bless you.]
Select <03051> [Take. Heb. Give.]
chose <03947> [I took.]
placing <05414> [made. Heb. gave.]
administrators ..... thousands <0505 08269> [captains over thousands.]
I ... admonished <06680> [charged.]
attention <08085> [Hear.]
resident foreigner <01616> [the stranger.]
discriminate ................ intimidated <05234 01481> [shall not.]
discriminate <06440 05234> [respect persons. Heb. acknowledge faces.]
That is, let not the bold, daring countenances of the rich or mighty induce you to give an unrighteous decision; and let not the abject look of the poor man induce you either to favour him in an unrighteous cause, or to give judgment against him at the demand of the oppressor.
hear ....................................... hearing <08085> [ye shall hear.]
discriminate ................ intimidated <05234 01481> [ye shall not.]
judgment ................... judgment <04941> [the judgment.]
matter <01697> [the cause.]
<03212> [through.]
arriving <0935> [we came.]
hill country <02022> [the mountain.]
afraid ... discouraged <03372 02865> [fear not.]
send <07971> [We will send.]
The people proposed this measure through unbelief; Moses, mistaking their motive, approved of it; and God, being justly displeased, permitted them to follow their own counsel, which proved injurious to them only through their sin and folly.
Lord <08135 03068> [The Lord hated us.]
drained <04549> [discouraged. Heb. melted.]
people <05971> [The people.]
defenses ..... as high <01219> [walled.]
That is, with very high walls, which could not be easily scaled. Harmer says, high walls are still to be seen in Arabia, and are deemed a sufficient defence against the Arabs, who scarcely ever attempt to plunder except on horseback. The monastery on Mount Sinai, and the convent of St. Anthony in Egypt, are surrounded with a very high wall, without gates; the persons and things being taken up and let down through an opening in the upper part, by means of a pulley and a basket. This kind of walling is a sufficient defence.
saw <07200> [we have seen.]
fight <03898> [he shall.]
do <06213> [according.]
desert <04057> [in the wilderness.]
him carrying ...... man carries <05375 0376> [bare thee.]
going ............................... go <01980> [Who went.]
fire <0784> [in fire.]
vow <07650> [and sware.]
Caleb <03612> [Caleb.]
wholeheartedly followed <0310 04390> [wholly followed. Heb. fulfilled to go after.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
assistant <05975> [which standeth.]
Encourage ....... Israel <02388 03478> [encourage him.]
infants <02945> [your little.]
yet <03117> [which in.]
sinned <02398> [We have sinned.]
go up <05927> [Go not up.]
with <07130> [for I am not.]
rebelled <04784> [but rebelled.]
recklessly ... up <02102 05927> [went presumptuously up. Heb. ye were presumptuous and went up.]
chased ....... bees <07291 01682> [chased you.]
When bees are provoked or disturbed, the whole swarm attack and pursue whatever annoys them, with great courage and fury, and sometimes are a most formidable enemy. They were so troublesome in some districts of Crete, that, according to Pliny, the inhabitants were actually compelled to forsake their homes. ’lian reports, that some places in Scythia were formerly inaccessible on account of the numerous swarms of bees with which they were infested. Mr. Park relates, that some of his associates imprudently attempted to rob a numerous hive which they found in their way. The exasperated little animals rushed out to defend their property, and attacked them with so much fury, that they quickly compelled the whole company of men, horses, and asses, to scamper off in all directions, The horses were never recovered, and a number of the asses were so severely stung, that they died the next day.
Hormah <02767> [unto Hormah.]
