Devarim - Words Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

The layout of the book of Deuteronomy is comparable to a standard suzerainty treaty. 1. Preamble (Deuteronomy 1:1-5) 2. Historical Prologue (Deuteronomy 1:6-3:29) 3. Stipulations (Deuteronomy 4:1-26:19) a. General Deuteronomy 4:1-11:32 b. Specific Deuteronomy 12:1-26:19 4. Sanctions (Blessings &Curses) Deuteronomy 27-28 5. Summary recapitulation Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 6. Continuity and disposition a. Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12 continuity.

The parashah Devarim is broken down this way: • Deuteronomy 1: 1-8 (P) – East of the Jordan • Deuteronomy 1:9-18 (C) – Judges free Moses to teach • Deuteronomy 1:19-33 (C) – YHVH as leader • Deuteronomy 1:34-45 (C) – Confession yet rebellion • Deuteronomy 1:46-2:25 (P) - Crossover • Deuteronomy 2:26-37 (C) – Accept the message of peace • Deuteronomy 3:1-22 (C) -- Possession of the land east of the Jordan

East of the Jordan P Deuteronomy 1:1-4 Deuteronomy 1:5-8 Comments A Deuteronomy 1:1-2 Deuteronomy 1:5 Deutero in Greek is 1, 2 These are the words 5 On this side of the Jordan in “second reading.” which Moses spoke to all the land of Moab, Moses began be-er, piel, to Moses is speaking to the ב ֵּאֵּר) Israel on this side of the to explain Jordan in the wilderness, make plain) this law, saying, Israelites on “this side of in the plain opposite Suph, the Jordan,” which is the between Paran, Tophel, east side of the Jordan. Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. B Deuteronomy 1:3 Deuteronomy 1:6-8a The children of Israel have 1, 2 Now it came to pass in 6 "The Lord our God spoke to us been in the wilderness 40 the fortieth year, in the in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt years. eleventh month, on the long enough at this mountain. 7 first day of the month, Turn and take your journey, and It is now time to go to the that Moses spoke to the go to the mountains of the land of the Canaanites for children of Israel Amorites, to all the neighboring YHVH has set the land according to all that the places in the plain, in the before them. mountains and in the lowland, in

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey Lord had given him as the South and on the seacoast, to commandments to them, the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. 8 See, I have set the land before you; C Deuteronomy 1:4 Deuteronomy 1:8b The defeat of Sihon and Og 1, 2 4 after he had killed Sihon go in and possess the land which were evidence that they king of the Amorites, who the Lord swore to your fathers — could go in and defeat and dwelt in Heshbon, and Og to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — drive out the inhabitants of king of Bashan, who dwelt to give to them and their the land that was promised at Ashtaroth in Edrei. descendants after them.' to their forefathers.

Judges Free Moses to Teach C Deuteronomy 1:9-15 Deuteronomy 1:16-18 Comments A Deuteronomy 1:9-13 Deuteronomy 1:16-18 Moses recounts how he was 1, 2 9 "And I spoke to you at that 16 "Then I commanded not able to bear the time, saying: 'I alone am not your judges at that time, problems and burdens of able to bear you. 10 The Lord saying, 'Hear the cases the people. your God has multiplied you, between your brethren, and here you are today, as the and judge righteously According to Exodus 18:13- stars of heaven in multitude. 11 between a man and his 26, Moses’ father-in-law, May the Lord God of your brother or the stranger Jethro, recommended rulers fathers make you a thousand (ger) who is with him. over thousands, hundreds, times more numerous than you fifties, and tens to judge are, and bless you as He has 17 You shall not show cases. Leaders had to fear promised you! partiality in judgment; you God, be men of truth, and shall hear the small as well hate covetousness. 12 How can I alone bear your as the great; you shall not problems and your burdens and be afraid in any man's Moses would handle the your complaints? presence, for the most difficult cases and judgment is God's. teach the statutes and laws 13 Choose wise, understanding, to the people. and knowledgeable men from The case that is too hard among your tribes, and I will for you, bring to me, and I There was to be no partiality make them heads over you.' will hear it.' 18 And I in judgment. commanded you at that time all the things which There is one law for both you should do. the native born and the ger in their midst. B Deuteronomy 1:14-15 After speaking to the 14 And you answered me and people, these judges were said, 'The thing which you have chosen. told us to do is good.' 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men,

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.

YHVH As Leader C Deuteronomy 1:19-22 Deuteronomy 1:26-33 Comments A Deuteronomy 1:19 Deuteronomy 1:32-33 YHVH is the one who 1, 2 19 "So we departed from 32 Yet, for all that, you did commanded His people Horeb, and went through all not believe the Lord your when and where to go. He is that great and terrible God, 33 who went in the the one who searched for wilderness which you saw on way before you to search an appropriate place for the way to the mountains of out a place for you to pitch them to go and stay. His the Amorites, as the Lord our your tents, to show you the presence was always with God had commanded us. way you should go, in the them. Then we came to Kadesh fire by night and in the cloud Barnea. by day. B Deuteronomy 1:20-21 Deuteronomy 1:29-31 Here we see the theme: Do 1, 2 20 And I said to you, 'You 29 "Then I said to you, 'Do no be afraid or terrified. have come to the mountains not be terrified, or afraid of of the Amorites, which the them. 30 The Lord your God, They could see what YHVH Lord our God is giving us. 21 who goes before you, He will did for them in the past and Look, the Lord your God has fight for you, according to all know He would do the same set the land before you; go He did for you in Egypt in the future if they trusted up and possess it, as the Lord before your eyes, 31 and in Him. God of your fathers has the wilderness where you spoken to you; do not fear or saw how the Lord your God Note this is the same thing be discouraged.' carried you, as a man carries YHVH told Joshua in Joshua his son, in all the way that 10:8. They were to fear you went until you came to YHVH, not their enemies this place.' (Joshua 4:24). C Deuteronomy 1:22 Deuteronomy 1:26-28 They knew YHVH had been 1, 2 22 "And every one of you 26 "Nevertheless you would leading them, but at this came near to me and said, not go up, but rebelled point, they were thinking 'Let us send men before us, against the command of the they needed to rely on the and let them search out the Lord your God; 27 and you spies’ report to know which land for us, and bring back complained in your tents, way they should go up. This word to us of the way by and said, 'Because the Lord kind of thinking and the which we should go up, and hates us, He has brought us report of the spies led to of the cities into which we out of the land of Egypt to their complaints and shall come.' deliver us into the hand of rebellion against YHVH’s the Amorites, to destroy us. leadership. 28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey our hearts, saying, "The That behavior caused them people are greater and taller to remain in the wilderness than we; the cities are great until the time we are and fortified up to heaven; reading about. moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."' See Numbers 13:1-14:25

D Deuteronomy 1:23-25 Initially, the request to send 23 "The plan pleased me spies seemed like a good well; so I took twelve of your plan. It gave them evidence men, one man from each of the fact that YHVH’s plan tribe. 24 And they departed for them was good, a real and went up into the blessing. mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, 'It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.'

Confession Yet Rebellion C Deuteronomy 1:34-42 Deuteronomy 1:43-45 Comments A Deuteronomy 1:34-40 Deuteronomy 1:44-45 The first generation that left 1, 2 34 "And the Lord heard the sound of 44 And the Amorites Egypt was evil because they your words, and was angry, and who dwelt in that did not obey YHVH. Joshua took an oath, saying, 35 'Surely not mountain came out and Caleb were the only 2 one of these men of this evil against you and exceptions. When the first generation shall see that good land chased you as bees generation heard they of which I swore to give to your do, and drove you would not be permitted to fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of back from Seir to enter the land, they made Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to Hormah. 45 Then you an attempt to reverse that him and his children I am giving the returned and wept decision. It was a land on which he walked, because before the Lord, but humiliating experience. he wholly followed the Lord.' 37 The the Lord would not Lord was also angry with me for listen to your voice See Numbers 14:20-45. your sakes, saying, 'Even you shall nor give ear to you. not go in there. 38 Joshua the son of The second generation Nun, who stands before you, he would be permitted to enter shall go in there. Encourage him, for the land. he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey 39 'Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.' B Deuteronomy 1:41 Deuteronomy 1:43 Note that they confessed 1, 2 41 "Then you answered and said to 43 So I spoke to you; their sin, but they continued me, 'We have sinned against the yet you would not to rebel against the Lord; we will go up and fight, just as listen, but rebelled commands of YHVH by the Lord our God commanded us.' against the command ignoring YHVH’s warnings. And when everyone of you had of the Lord, and girded on his weapons of war, you presumptuously went This is serious. How many were ready to go up into the up into the mountain. people have confessed of mountain. their sins only to rebel against the commands of YHVH? C Deuteronomy 1:42 YHVH warned them not to 1, 2 42 "And the Lord said to me, 'Tell try to correct their mistake them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I by going up to fight their am not among you; lest you be enemies. defeated before your enemies."' YHVH warned them that He would not be with them.

YHVH warned them they would be defeated.

Crossover P Deuteronomy 1:46-2:13a Deuteronomy 2:13b- Comments 25 A Deuteronomy 1:46-2:1 Deuteronomy 2: 13b- The first generation that 1, 2 1:46 "So you remained in Kadesh 16 died in the wilderness were many days, according to the days that ' So we crossed over the first generation of the you spent there. the Valley of the men of war that came out of Zered. 14 And the Egypt. 2:1 "Then we turned and journeyed time we took to come into the wilderness of the Way of the from Kadesh Barnea Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to me, and until we crossed over we skirted Mount Seir for many days. the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed.

16 "So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, B Deuteronomy 2:2-6 Deuteronomy 2:17-19 Notice that YHVH has 1, 2 2 "And the Lord spoke to me, saying: 3 17 that the Lord spoke remained in charge of 'You have skirted this mountain long to me, saying: 18 'This leading the people on their enough; turn northward. 4 And day you are to cross journeys. command the people, saying, "You are over at Ar, the about to pass through the territory of boundary of Moab. Moses has submitted to His your brethren, the descendants of leadership, directions, and Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be 19 And when you commands. afraid of you. come near the people of Ammon, do not There were 2 groups of Therefore watch yourselves carefully. harass them or people that they were not 5 Do not meddle with them, for I will meddle with them, to harass or meddle with in not give you any of their land, no, not for I will not give you order to take their land: so much as one footstep, because I any of the land of the • The descendants of Esau have given Mount Seir to Esau as a people of Ammon as (Edomites) possession. a possession, because • The descendants of Lot I have given it to the (Ammonites) 6 You shall buy food from them with descendants of Lot as YHVH had given both of money, that you may eat; and you a possession.'" these people groups their shall also buy water from them with own land as a possession. money, that you may drink. C Deuteronomy 2:7-8 Deuteronomy 2: 20-23 The descendants of Esau are 1, 2 7 "For the Lord your God has blessed 20 (That was also mentioned in both of these you in all the work of your hand. He regarded as a land of parallels. knows your trudging through this giants; giants formerly great wilderness. These forty years the dwelt there. But the Despite complaints, the Lord your God has been with you; you Ammonites call them people lacked nothing have lacked nothing."' Zamzummim, 21 a because of YHVH’s ongoing people as great and provision. 8 "And when we passed beyond our numerous and tall as brethren, the descendants of Esau the Anakim. But the

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey who dwell in Seir, away from the road Lord destroyed them YHVH gave land to the of the plain, away from Elath and Ezion before them, and they descendants of Esau and Geber, we turned and passed by way dispossessed them Lot. He would do the same of the Wilderness of Moab. and dwelt in their for the Israelites. place, 22 just as He had done for the Just as YHVH destroyed the descendants of Esau, Anakim (Zamzummim) who dwelt in Seir, before the Ammonites, the when He destroyed Horites before the the Horites from Edomites, and the Avim before them. They before the Caphtorim, YHVH dispossessed them would help the Israelites and dwelt in their drive out their enemies from place, even to this the land they were going in day. 23 And the Avim, to possess. who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza — the Knowing these 3 people Caphtorim, who came groups had been from Caphtor, dispossessed would have destroyed them and given YHVH’s people great dwelt in their place.) confidence as they moved forward. D Deuteronomy 2:9-13a Deuteronomy 2:24-25 They were not to harass 1, 2 9 Then the Lord said to me, 'Do not 24 "'Rise, take your Moab either; Ar had also harass Moab, nor contend with them journey, and cross been given to Lot as a ve-iv-ru) possession after the ; ּוְעִבְרו ) in battle, for I will not give you any of over their land as a possession, because I the River Arnon. Look, Emmim. have given Ar to the descendants of I have given into your Lot as a possession.'" hand Sihon the The Horites had been in Seir Amorite, king of before being driven out by 10 (The Emim had dwelt there in times Heshbon, and his land. the Edomites. past, a people as great and numerous Begin to possess it, and tall as the Anakim. 11 They were and engage him in The people are commanded -ve ; וְּעִבְר ּו ) also regarded as giants, like the battle. 25 This day I to CROSS OVER Anakim, but the Moabites call them will begin to put the iv-ru): Emim. dread and fear of you • The Valley of Zered upon the nations • The River Arnon 12 The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, under the whole but the descendants of Esau heaven, who shall The word ‘Hebrew’ comes .avar ; עבר dispossessed them and destroyed hear the report of from the root them from before them, and dwelt in you, and shall tremble their place, just as Israel did to the and be in anguish The mixed multitude land of their possession which the because of you.' crossed over the Red Sea, Lord gave them.) the Valley of Zered, the river Arnon, and the Jordan. ; ּוְעִבְרו ) Now rise and cross over'" 13 ve-iv-ru) the Valley of the Zered.

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey We are to cross over from unrighteousness to righteousness, lawlessness to lawfulness, walking in the flesh to walking the spirit, death to life.

Accept The Message of Peace C Deuteronomy 2:26-31 Deuteronomy 2:32-37 Comments A Deuteronomy 2:26-29 Deuteronomy 2:33-37 Recall Numbers 21:21-32 1, 2 26 "And I sent 33 And the Lord our God delivered messengers from the him (Sihon king of Heshbon) over Note what happens when Wilderness of to us; so we defeated him, his someone rejects the Kedemoth to Sihon sons, and all his people. messengers of peace. They king of Heshbon, with are delivered over to words of peace, saying, 34 We took all his cities at that destruction and defeat. 27 'Let me pass time, and we utterly destroyed the through your land; I men, women, and little ones of Here lies a spiritual lesson will keep strictly to the every city; we left none remaining. for us. Accepting the gospel road, and I will turn (message of peace and neither to the right nor 35 We took only the livestock as means of reconciliation) to the left. 28 You shall plunder for ourselves, with the brings life, but rejecting it sell me food for spoil of the cities which we took. brings death. money, that I may eat, and give me water for 36 From Aroer, which is on the The Edomites and money, that I may bank of the River Arnon, and from Ammonites were spared. drink; only let me pass the city that is in the ravine, as far through on foot, as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the Lord our God 29 just as the delivered all to us. descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and 37 Only you did not go near the the Moabites who land of the people of Ammon — dwell in Ar did for me, anywhere along the River Jabbok, until I cross the Jordan or to the cities of the mountains, to the land which the or wherever the Lord our God had Lord our God is giving forbidden us. us.' B Deuteronomy 2:30 Deuteronomy 2:32 Sihon king of Heshbon’s 1, 2 30 "But Sihon king of 32 Then Sihon and all his people spirit/heart was Heshbon would not let came out against us to fight at hardened/obstinate like the us pass through, for the Jahaz. Pharaoh of Egypt. Lord your God

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey hardened his spirit and Spiritually, this brings death. made his heart obstinate, that He Do not allow your might deliver him into spirit/heart to be hard or your hand, as it is this obstinate. Allow God to put day. a new spirit within you and to make your heart of stone a heart of flesh that is sensitive to His Torah. C Deuteronomy 2:31 Right now, there is a dispute 1, 2 31 "And the Lord said over the land of Israel that to me, 'See, I have will likely be until Messiah’s begun to give Sihon return. Giving away parts of and his land over to the land is not the solution. you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit In the end, there will be a his land.' major battle, probably over THIS LAND. Israel’s enemies will be removed and YHVH’s people will possess it.

Possession of the Land East of the Jordan C Deuteronomy 3:1-17 Deuteronomy 3:18-22 Comments A Deuteronomy 3:1-3 Deuteronomy 3:21-22 Recall Numbers 21:33-35 1, 2 3 "Then we turned and went up the 21 "And I commanded road to Bashan; and Og king of Joshua at that time, Note the message: Bashan came out against us, he and saying, 'Your eyes Do not fear for YHVH your all his people, to battle at Edrei. have seen all that Lord God Himself fights for you. your God has done to 2 And the Lord said to me, 'Do not these two kings; so God used the examples to fear him, for I have delivered him will the Lord do to all boost their confidence: and all his people and his land into the kingdoms through • The Edomites and your hand; you shall do to him as which you pass. 22 Ammonites dispossessed you did to Sihon king of the You must not fear giants. Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' them, for the Lord • Defeat of Sihon. your God Himself • Defeat of Og, a giant. 3 "So the Lord our God also fights for you.' delivered into our hands Og king of Each testified to future Bashan, with all his people, and we victories. attacked him until he had no survivors remaining. B Deuteronomy 3:4-11 Deuteronomy 3:18-20 It is YHVH who gave them 1, 2 4 And we took all his cities at that 18 "Then I this land to possess. time; there was not a city which we commanded you at did not take from them: sixty cities, that time, saying: 'The

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey all the region of Argob, the Lord your God has The men of valor were to go kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All given you this land to and take it until every tribe these cities were fortified with high possess. had their possession. walls, gates, and bars, besides a great many rural towns. 6 And we All you men of valor Meanwhile their wives and children and livestock would ב ְנֵּי־] utterly destroyed them, as we did (sons of chayil sons of virtue, remain in the cities until the ; חָיִּל to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and strength]) shall cross warring ceased. children of every city. 7 But all the over armed before livestock and the spoil of the cities your brethren, the Notice the word chayil = we took as booty for ourselves. children of Israel. 19 valor. This is the same But your wives, your Hebrew word for the 8 "And at that time we took the land little ones, and your virtuous woman in Proverbs from the hand of the two kings of livestock (I know that 31. the Amorites who were on this side you have much of the Jordan, from the River Arnon livestock) shall stay in Og’s bed was 9 X 4 standard to Mount Hermon 9 (the Sidonians your cities which I cubits; this is about 13.5 X 6 call Hermon Sirion, and the have given you, 20 feet (411.5 cm x 182.9 cm). Amorites call it Senir), 10 all the until the Lord has cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all given rest to your Bashan, as far as Salcah and Edrei, brethren as to you, cities of the kingdom of Og in and they also possess Bashan. the land which the Lord your God is 11 "For only Og king of Bashan giving them beyond remained of the remnant of the the Jordan. Then each giants. Indeed his bedstead was an of you may return to iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of his possession which I the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits have given you.' is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit. C Deuteronomy 3:12-17 The extensive 1, 2 12 "And this land, which we kingdoms/land of Sihon and possessed at that time, from Aroer, Og were given to the which is by the River Arnon, and half Reubenites, Gadites, and ½ the mountains of Gilead and its the tribe of Manasseh (Jair cities, I gave to the Reubenites and and Machir). the Gadites. 13 The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I See previous request and gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. discussion over this land in (All the region of Argob, with all Numbers 32:1-42. Bashan, was called the land of the giants. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and called Bashan

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey after his own name, Havoth Jair, to this day.)

15 "Also I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead as far as the River Arnon, the middle of the river as the border, as far as the River Jabbok, the border of the people of Ammon; 17 the plain also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the east side of the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah.

Devarim HODF 5/2018 By Beth Mehaffey