Deuteronomy 1:6--4:49
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.]
turned <06437> [we turned.]
detouring <05437> [we compassed.]
circled ..... long enough now <07227> [long enough.]
cross <05674> [Ye are to pass.]
afraid <03372> [they shall.]
carefully <03966> [take ye.]
footprint <07272 04096> [no, not so much as a foot breadth. Heb. even to the treading of the sole of the foot.]
giving .............. given <05414> [because.]
blessed <01288> [blessed.]
All ..................... travels <03045> [he knoweth.]
forty <0705> [these forty.]
turned away ........................ traveling <05674> [And when.]
Elat <0359> [Elath.]
[Eloth.]
harass Moab <04124 06696> [Distress not the Moabites. or, Use no hostility against]
Moab.
Ar <06144> [Ar.]
Ar was situated south of the Arnon; and was called by the Greek writers Areopolis, and thought by them to be so named because the inhabitants worshipped [Ares,] or Mars. St. Jerome says that it was destroyed by an earthquake when he was an infant. Burckhardt supposes that the ruins of a small castle called Mehatet el Hadj, may be the site of this ancient city.
descendants <01121> [the children.]
All the nations here mentioned appear to have been the posterity of Ham, who lay under the prophetical curse of Noah, which was thus executed upon this part of them by the Moabites and Edomites.
Anakites <06062> [as the Anakims.]
Horites <02752> [Horims.]
dispossessed ... destroyed <03423 08045> [succeeded them. Heb. inherited them.]
Israel <03478> [stead. or, room. as Israel did.]
Israel had, at the time when Moses spake this, conquered Sihon and Og, and taken possession of their countries, as Edom had done to the Horims.
Wadi <05158> [brook. or, valley.]
Zered <02218> [Zered.]
The brook or torrent Zered, takes its rise in the mountains of Moab, and, running from east to west, falls into the Dead Sea. It seems to be the stream which Burckhardt calls Wady Beni Hammad, south of the Modjeb or Arnon, and about five hours north of Kerek.
[Zared.]
Kadesh Barnea <06947> [Kadesh-barnea.]
generation <01755> [until all the generation.]
hand .... Lord <03027 03068> [the hand of the.]
Zamzummites <02157> [Zamzummims.]
[Zuzims.]
powerful <01419> [great.]
Lord <03068> [but the Lord.]
These fragments of ancient history seem to be introduced to encourage the Israelites. If the Lord destroyed these gigantic people before the posterity of Lot and of Esau, what cause had the posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his chosen servants and friends, to fear the Anakims, or the Canaanites? especially as Israel acted by commission from God, and had his promise as their security of success, and the pledge of it in his presence, and the wonders which he had already wrought for them; and as they were the only nation of worshippers of the Lord, in the ordinances of his institution, which could be found on earth. This is so often repeated to possess the minds of the Israelites with a sense of God's providence, which rules every where; displacing one people, and placing another in their stead; and fixing their bounds also, which they cannot pass without his leave.
Esau <06215> [Esau.]
Horites <02752> [the Horims.]
<05761> [the Avims.]
[Avites. Azzah.]
[Gaza. the Caphtorims which came.]
Wadi Arnon <05158 0769> [the river Arnon.]
Look <07200> [behold.]
Go ahead Take <02490 03423> [begin to possess it. Heb. begin, possess.]
Kedemoth <06932> [Kedemoth.]
offer <01697> [with words.]
go through <05674> [only I will pass.]
descendants <01121> [As the children.]
It appears to have been only the Edomites of Kadesh-barnea, south of Canaan, who denied the Israelites a passage; for those of mount Seir, now called Shera, are here expressly said to have granted it them: and this, in fact, was the very road by which they arrived at Canaan.
land <0776> [into the land.]
Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
stubborn <0553> [obstinate.]
give ... Sihon <05511 05414> [give Sihon.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
struck ... down <05221> [we smote.]
put ....... divine judgment <02763> [utterly destroyed.]
cities ....... them ........ women ... children <04962 0802 02945 05892> [the men, and the women, and the little ones of every city.]
Heb. every city of men, and women, and little ones.
Aroer <06177> [Aroer.]
town <07151> [not.]
land <0776> [unto the land.]
Jabbok <02999> [Jabbok.]
Bashan ...... Bashan <01316> [Bashan.]
Bashan, one of the most fertile districts of the Holy Land, was bounded on the west by the Jordan and lake of Gennesareth, on the east by Trachonitis, on the south by the brook Jabbok, and on the north by mount Hermon; and seems to have been composed of two or three districts, on the south the land of Gilead, on the north the region of Argob, and east of both, the plain of Hauran. (See ver. 13-15.) The scenery of this elevated tract is described by Mr. Buckingham as extremely beautiful: its plains covered with a fertile soil; its hills covered with forests, and at every new turn presenting the most beautiful landscapes that can be imagined.
Og <05747> [Og.]
Edrei <0154> [Edrei.]
This town is placed by Eusebius about 25 miles northward from Bostri; and mentioned by Burckhardt under the name of Draa.
afraid <03372> [Fear.]
do ....... did <06213> [as thou didst.]
cities ................. cities <05892> [all his cities.]
region <02256> [all the region.]
put ...... divine judgment <02763> [we utterly.]
done <06213> [as we did.]
land <0776> [the land.]
Hermon <02768> [Hermon.]
Mount Hermon is the south-eastern branch of Lebanon, beyond Jordan. The Chaldee Targumist, who places it at C‘sarea and Samaritan interpreter call it {toor talga,} "the mountain of snow," because of its being always covered with snow; and Jerome informs us, that it lies higher than Paneas or C‘sarea Philippi, and that in the summer time snow used to be carried from thence to Tyre. It is now call El Heish, and is comprised in the district of Kanneytra.
Senir <08149> [Shenir.]
[Senir.]
cities ................ cities <05892> [the cities.]
Edrei <0154> [Edrei.]
Rephaites <07497> [giants.]
Rabbath <07237> [Rabbath.]
[Rabbah. nine cubits.]
Aroer <06177> [from Aroer.]
rest <03499> [the rest.]
called <01931 07121> [which was called.]
Michaelis says, "The tradition that giants formerly dwelt in this part, still remains in Arabia, only that it makes them rather taller than Moses does Og, and calls the land in which they lived, not Bashan, but Hadrach, which name occurs in Zec 9:1. I received this information from the verbal communication of a credible Arab, who was born on the other side of Jordan, about three-days journey from Damascus."
Jair <02971> [Jair.]
Argob <0709> [Argob.]
Geshurites <01651> [Geshuri.]
Bashan <01316> [Bashan-havoth-jair.]
Machir <04353> [Machir.]
Reubenites <07206> [Reubenites.]
Wadi ........ wadi .......... Wadi Jabbok <02999 05158> [river Jabbok.]
Chinnereth <03672> [Chinnereth.]
sea ......... Sea <03220> [the sea.]
<0798> [Ashdoth-pisgah. or, the springs of Pisgah, or, the hill.]
instructed <06680> [I commanded.]
Israelites .... battle <02428 01121> [meet for the war. Heb. sons of power.]
return <07725> [return.]
commanded <06680> [I commanded.]
Lord <03068> [so shall.]
afraid <03372> [shall not.]
Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
greatness <01433> [thy greatness.]
god <0410> [what God.]
good land ........... good <02896 0776> [the good land.]
Lebanon <03844> [Lebanon.]
Lebanon is a long chain of limestone mountains, extending from near the coast of the Mediterranean on the west to the plains of Damascus on the east, and forming the extreme northern boundary of the Holy Land. It is divided into two principal ridges, running parallel to each other in a north-north-east direction; the most westerly of which was properly called Libanus, and the easterly Anti-Libanus: the Hebrews did not make this distinction. It is computed to be fifteen or sixteen hundred fathoms in height. They are by no means barren, but are almost all well cultivated and well peopled; their summits being in many parts level, and forming extensive plains, in which are sown corn and all kinds of pulse. Vineyards, and plantations of olive, mulberry, and fig trees, are also cultivated in terraces formed by walls; and the soil of the declivities and hollows is most excellent, and produces abundance of corn, oil, and wine.
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Enough <07227> [Let it.]
up <05927> [thee up.]
Pisgah <06449> [Pisgah. or, the hill.]
take <05375> [lift up.]
Commission Joshua <03091 06680> [charge Joshua.]
lead <05674> [for he shall.]
[Jesus.]
statutes <02706> [unto the statutes.]
Statutes, every thing that concerned morals and the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments, all matters of civil right and wrong.
live <02421> [that ye may.]
<03068> [what the.]
<0376> [for all the men.]
It appears from this appeal, that the pestilence, as well as the sword of the magistrates, singled out the guilty persons and spared the rest. (Ps 91:6-8). The legislator, in order to deter the Jews from idolatry, alludes to this fact, but he notices no circumstance but one, which, though in the original narrative was not stated, was infinitely the most important to advert to on this occasion; but which no persons, but spectators of the fact, and perfectly acquainted with every individual concerned in it, could possibly feel the truth of.
The people had been often ready to conclude that Moses taught them by his own authority; but at the close of his life he solemnly assured them that he had instructed them exactly as the Lord had commanded him, neither more, nor less, nor otherwise. This is a most express declaration that he was divinely inspired, and utterly incompatible with his integrity of character, if he was not. Scott.
wise <02451> [this is your.]
great <01419> [Surely.]
nation <01471> [what nation.]
god .......... God <0430> [who hath.]
pay ... careful attention <05315 08104> [keep thy soul.]
disregard <05493> [lest they.]
teach ..... children ... grandchildren <03045 01121> [teach them.]
You ..................................... days <03117> [the day.]
You ................................. revere ..... days <03372 03117> [fear me.]
stood <05975> [stood.]
above <03820> [midst. Heb. heart.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
speech <08544> [no similitude.]
heard ......... only ... voice <08085 02108 06963> [only ye heard a voice. Heb. save a voice.]
revealed ............... writing <05046 03789> [And he.]
ten <06235> [ten.]
writing <03789> [he wrote.]
very <03966> [Take ye.]
form <08544> [of similitude.]
corrupt <07843> [corrupt.]
likeness <08403> [the likeness.]
Such as Baal-peor, the Roman Priapus; Ashtaroth or Astarte, the Greek and Roman Venus, and many others.
In these verses there is an evident allusion to the idolatrous worship in Egypt. Among the Egyptians, almost everything in nature was the object of their idolatry; among beasts were oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; among birds, the ibis, crane, and hawk; among reptiles, the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and beetles; all the fish of the Nile, and the Nile itself; besides the sun, moon, planets, stars, fire, light, air, darkness, and night. These are all included in the very circumstantial prohibition in the text, and very forcibly in the general terms of Ex 20:4, the reason of which prohibition becomes self-evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered.
see <07200> [when thou.]
creation <06635> [the host.]
Lord <03068> [which the Lord.]
assigned <02505> [divided. or, imparted.]
iron-smelting <01270> [the iron.]
people <05971> [a people.]
guard <08104> [heed.]
forget <07911> [lest ye forget.]
do ..... image <06213 06459> [make you.]
God <0430> [thy God.]
jealous God <0410 07067> [a jealous God.]
produced <03205> [beget.]
become corrupt <07843> [corrupt. See on ver.]
make ........ do ... evil things <07451 06213> [do evil.]
invoke heaven <05749 08064> [I call heaven.]
A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all the nations in the world; God and man being called upon to bear testimony to the truth of what was spoken, that if there was any flaw or insincerity it might be detected, and if any crime, it might not go unpunished. Such appeals to God shew at once the origin and use of oaths.
swiftly ..................... long <04118 0748> [ye shall.]
worship <05647> [ye shall.]
see <07200> [neither see.]
seek <01245> [But if.]
heart ... soul <03824 05315> [with all.]
things <01697> [all these.]
happen ...... latter <04672 0319> [are come upon thee. Heb. have found thee.]
latter <0319> [in the latter.]
return <07725> [if thou.]
obey <08085> [obedient.]
he <03068> [the Lord.]
forget <07911> [forget.]
ask .... distant ...... day <07592 03117> [ask now.]
end ...... other <07097> [from the one.]
deliver ... nation ....... nation <03947 01471> [take him.]
judgments <04531> [temptations.]
signs <0226> [by signs.]
power <02389> [by a mighty.]
very <01419> [and by great.]
alone <03045> [know.]
other <05750> [none else.]
loved <0157> [because.]
brought ... out <03318> [and brought.]
<06440> [in his sight.]
great <01419> [with his.]
dispossess <03423> [drive.]
day <03117> [as.]
consider <07725> [and consider.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Keep <08104> [keep.]
well <03190> [it may go.]
Bezer <01221> [Bezer.]
Bezer is the same as Bozra, formerly a royal city of Edom. \\See Note on "Ge 36:33"\\.
Ramoth <07216> [Ramoth.]
Ramoth was a celebrated city in the mountains of Gilead, placed by Eusebius fifteen miles east from Philadelphia or Ammon, and by Jerome in the neighbourhood of Jabbok, and consequently north of Philadelphia.
Golan <01474> [Golan.]
This city gave name to the district of Gaulonitis, now called Djolan, which comprises the plain to south of Djedour or Iturea, and to the west of Haouran: its southern frontier is the Nahar Aweired, by which it is separated from the district of Erbad, and the Sheriat el Mandhour, which separates it from the district of El Kefarat: on the west it is limited by the territory of Feik, and on the north-west by Djebel Heish, or mount Hermon.
This is evidently an introduction to the discourse of the subsequent chapters. Moses having practically improved some particulars in the history of Israel, proceeded to repeat and enforce the laws which he had delivered before, with additions and explanations, beginning with the ten commandments.
stipulations <05713> [These.]
statutes <02706> [statutes.]
ordinances <04941> [judgments.]
Transjordan <05676> [On this side.]
opposite <04136> [over.]
Beth Peor <01047> [Beth-peor.]
Beth-peor was a city which was situated, according to Eusebius, opposite Jericho, and six miles above Livias. As the name signifies "the house of Peor," it is probable that there was a temple to Peor, situated in this place, full in view of the people, while Moses was pressing upon them the worship of Jehovah alone; and perhaps the very temple where so many had sinned to their own destruction.
Moses <04872> [Moses.]
Aroer <06177> [Aroer.]
Mount <02022> [even unto.]
The Samaritan interpreter has, "unto the mountain of snow, which is Hermon." See Note on ch. 3:9.
Siyon <07865> [Sion.]
watershed <0794> [under the springs.]
