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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:37
The Lord was angry with me also for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. This must be regarded as parenthetical, for what he here refers to in regard to himself occurred, not at the time of the rebelli…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:38
Though the rebellious generation were to perish, and Moses was not to be permitted to enter Canaan, God would not depart from his promise, but would by another leader bring the people to the inheritance which he had swo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:39
Only among the young of that generation should the inheritance be divided, as they had no part in the rebellion of their seniors. Your little ones; i.e. children beginning to walk ( טַף, from טָפַף mo, to trip, to take…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:40-46
Tardy repentance. In the conduct of these Israelites we have a typical exhibition of human nature. In its folly, its fickleness, its unreasonableness, and its obstinacy. Forbidden to enter Canaan, they change their mood…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:40
The command to go to the mount of the Amorites (Deuteronomy 1:7) is recalled, and they are ordered to turn into the wilderness and go by the way leading to the Red Sea (setup. Numbers 14:25).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:41
We have sinned; in Numbers it is simply said that "the people mourned greatly" (bemoaned themselves, יִתְאַבְּלוּ); but this is not incompatible with the statement here that they confessed their sins; the one would natu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:41-46
The people, appalled at the prospect of another sojourn in the wilderness, yet still rebellious and disobedient to God's command, though professing penitence, determined, in spite of direct prohibition on the part of Go…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:41-46
Forced back! In the preceding paragraph we had an illustration of unbelief in doubting the promise of God, and of the effect of that unbelief in excluding from the promised rest. Here we have an illustration of a like u…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:42
Moses, by the command of God, warned the people that, if they presumed to go up, they should go without his protection, and so would certainly fall before their enemies.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:43
In vain were they thus warned. Moses spoke to them as God commanded, but they would not be persuaded. Went presumptuously; rather, acted insolently and went up; margin, Authorized Version, "Ye were presumptuous, and wen…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:44
The Amorites, for the Canaanites generally; in Numbers, the Amalekites are specially mentioned as joining with the Amorites in chastising the Israelites. These tribes came down from the higher mountain range to the lowe…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:45
Ye returned; i.e. either to Kadesh, where Moses had remained, or from their rebellious and defiant attitude to one of apparent submission and contrition, or the whole phrase, "Ye returned and wept," may mean merely that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:46
It was unnecessary that Moses should tell the people the precise length of time they abode in Kadesh after this, because that was well known to them; he, therefore, contents himself with saying that they remained there…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-23
God's faithfulness in dealing with nations outside the covenant. We have here strict injunctions given to the pilgrims not to disturb the children of Edom, nor the Moabites, nor the children of Ammon, because they were…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-37
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-23
THE NEW BEGINNING AND REVIEW OF THE JOURNEYINGS OF ISRAEL FROM KADESH TO THE RIVER ARNON, THE FRONTIER OF THE AMORITES. At this point the language of address is exchanged for that of narrative. The change of subject fro…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1
And we compassed mount Seir many days. These "many days" are the thirty-eight years during which the people wandered in the wilderness before they camped the second time at Kadesh; their going round Mount Seir, which wa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-23
(specially Deuteronomy 2:7). God's knowledge of our pilgrimage. (For the historical and geographical details connected with this section, see the Exposition.) Moses here reviews the career of Israel during the wandering…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-23
International relationships. The wilderness state is the most salutary for men. Prematurely to enter into the land of rest would prove an endless calamity. Theoretically, it is possible to gain heaven too soon. Even "th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:4
It would appear that the Edomites made preparations to resist the passage of the Israelites through their territory (Numbers 20:18-20). As the Israelites, however, kept on the outskirts of their country, and did not att…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:5
Meddle not with them; literally, Excite not yourself against them, i.e. so as to strive in battle with them; comp. the use of the verb in Jeremiah 1:1-19 :24, "hast striven" (Authorized Version); Daniel 11:25 (where מִל…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:7
They were enabled to buy what they required—For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand; their flocks and herds had increased during their wanderings (Numbers 32:1); and they may have gained weal…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:8
And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we, etc. Rather, And we passed by from (away from) our brethren the sons…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:9
The Moabites, being the descendants of Lot, and so allied by race to the Israelites, the latter were commanded to pass through their country without offering them any injury or assault. Ar, a border-town of Moab (Number…