Deuteronomy 01
The Covenant Setting
1:1 This is what Moses said to the assembly of Israel in the Transjordanian wastelands, the arid country opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di Zahab
Deuteronomy is a Greek word meaning, "second law." However, this book is not a second law. Whenever ancient kings conquered and took over a land, they often made a suzerainty treaty with the people that they were about to govern. This treaty was the constitution of the new nation. The Book of Deuteronomy was the constitution of the nation of Israel.
All of the prior generation had died in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. None of this newer generation had witnessed the Ten Plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, the water from the rock, or the other miracles in the Sinai Wilderness. Before Moses was to die, he would ordain Joshua as the new leader of Israel. Moses would personally ordain Joshua and deliver the new constitution to the new nation of Israel.
The constitution of Israel was divided into five parts: (1) the preamble, 1:1–5; (2) the historical prologue, 1:6–4:49; (3) the main provisions of the constitution, 5:1–26:19; (4) the curses and blessings aspects of the constitution, 27:1–30:20; and (5) the arrangements for continuation of the covenant, 31:1–33:29.
Moses was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land, so he gave these speeches to Israel on the Transjordan of Moab. The name of Moab in Hebrew means "seed of the father." This name in Hebrew was fulfilled by Moab's actions.
Moab was the oldest daughter of Lot and big sister to Ammon. Both of these sisters were reared, influenced, and seduced by the homosexual lifestyle culture of Sodom and Gomorrah. This same-sex marriage culture was so dangerous to the survival of mankind, that God destroyed this satanically produced culture as a warning to future nations.
After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Moab and her sister Ammon committed incest with their father. These two sisters passed the Sodom and Gomorrah cultural lifestyle to their children. The Moabites and Ammonites both became powerful nations and mortal enemies of Israel. Their hatred of Israel would cause them to break the Abrahamic Covenant and bring curses upon themselves.
This area of Moab was just outside the Promised Land on the other side of the Jordan River. Moses gave these speeches to the new generation and then copied them down later as part of the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. Except for the Lord Jesus Christ (who was prophet, priest, and King, as well as deity and man), Moses was called "the greatest prophet." God spoke "face to face" only with Moses. Jesus was a greater prophet than Moses, because Jesus was God in human flesh. Jesus not only saw Jehovah "face to face," but He was Jehovah. Jesus is the second person of the Triune Godhead.
1:2 Now it is ordinarily an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by way of Mount Seir.
Of all the families, peoples, tribes, cities, and nations of the world, only Israel was given a suzerainty treaty with and by the grace of God Himself. The rebellious parents of this new generation had been promised the land of Canaan directly by God. They saw God perform many miracles in Egypt and in the wilderness. They observed first-hand the ten plagues, the dividing of the Red Sea, the raining down of manna from heaven, the water from rocks, the dividing of the earth to swallow Korah and his followers, and the appearance of the Shekinah Glory every morning as a cloud by day and every evening as a fire by night.
However, with all of this divine and observable light, none these parents (except for Joshua and Caleb) believed that God could safely deliver them into the Promised Land. The Israel parents' unbelief caused them to turn an 11 day road journey into a 38 year journey. Israel walked around in circles in the Sinai desert for 38 years. The Book of Numbers recorded some of the details of this 38 year circular journey.
1:3 However, it was not until the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year that Moses addressed the Israelites just as the Lord had instructed him to do.
God instructed His Prophet Moses to address Israel. This was God's word given to this new generation through a human mediary.
Why did God not give the Word Himself? The parents of this new generation had heard God's voice at Mount Sinai and were terrified. God spoke softly, gently, and truthfully at Mount Sinai to all of the people who were present, but men who are totally and depraved and evil are terrified of a Living God who will judge their sin and throw them into the Lake of Fire for eternity. Therefore, the parent generation asked Moses to speak for God.
It is interesting to note that man is so totally depraved and evil that he does not want to hear the voice of God. The natural man does not want to hear instruction from God. He would rather live his life in sin than to hear directly from God. This is why seeker churches are very well populated on Sundays, but expository churches are empty. Unbelievers and carnal Christians do not want to hear the deep teachings of the Word of God. They prefer a church where the voice of God is muffled and silenced.
If unbelievers heard the audible voice of God, then like Israel, they would ask God not to speak audibly to them. Unbelievers would rather hear from a false human prophet or seeker-friendly pastor who tickles their ears and tells them how God is like a nice grandpa who winks at their sins and allows everyone into heaven.
Some unbelievers, carnal Christians, and charismatics think that they hear audibly from God, but they are actually hearing either through the imaginations of their own totally evil and depraved mind, or they are hearing from Satan and his demons. Demons often masquerade as "angels of light." They do not mind giving out a mixture of religious truth and error to deceive those who are not grounded in the entire council of the written Word of God.
1:4 This took place after the defeat of King Sihon of the Amorites, whose capital was in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, whose capital was in Ashtaroth, specifically in Edrei.
Sihon means to wipe out, uproot, eradicate, exterminate, or sweep away, as a warrior sweeping all before him. It also means great, extreme, or boldness. King Sihon's name implies the he was a great Amorite warrior king who exterminated all of his enemies. He violated the Abrahamic Covenant when he refused to allow Israel to pass through his land. He attacked Israel and attempted to exterminate them from this world. Instead, he and his nation were exterminated.
Og means "king's ruler." King Og's name suggests that he boasted of himself as "the King of kings and the Lord of lords." This was a name which was reserved for God alone. Only the Messiah is "King of kings and Lord of lords."
King Og was another powerful Amorite king who ruled over 60 walled military cities. He violated the Abrahamic Covenant by attacking Israel in the wilderness. Instead of exterminating Israel, he and his sixty cities were exterminated. King Og received the kind-for-kind curses of the Abrahamic Covenant.
The Jewish literature commented that King Og was one of the few giants who survived the Great Flood, but this is nothing but rabbinic superstition. Every human being was drowned in the flood except for Noah's family of eight. More information about King Og will be given in future chapters of Deuteronomy.
King Sihon and King Og were both evil Amorite kings who had exploited their enemies and their own people. God told Abraham that he would give the Amorites 400 years before their cup of wrath was filled. At the time of the writing of the Book of Deuteronomy, these 400 years were now complete. God sent Joshua to execute judgment upon these evil Amorites.
1:5 So it was in the Transjordan, in Moab, that Moses began to deliver these words:
Moses spoke these words before Joshua took this new generation of Israel over the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. These words were given to Moses by God Himself. These words were not the human viewpoint of Moses. Moses would later write them down for future generations. God would help Moses recall the exact words of this speech. The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed Moses as a prophet.
Events at Horeb
1:6 The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb and said, “You have stayed in the area of this mountain long enough.
The Hebrew for "the Lord our God" is יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ (Jehovah Elihi-nu), meaning "our covenant-keeping-promise-keeping Triune-Creator God."
After finishing the preamble of Israel's Constitution, Moses reviewed the historical prologue of Israel. This prologue would begin in chapter 1:6 and end in chapter four.
All of the first generation of Israel (except for Joshua and Caleb) had died in the wilderness. The time for wandering in the wilderness was over. It was time for this new generation of Israel to break camp and conquer the Promised Land.
1:7 Get up now, resume your journey, heading for the Amorite hill country, to all its areas including the arid country, the highlands, the Shephelah, the Negev, and the coastal plain – all of Canaan and Lebanon as far as the Great River, that is, the Euphrates.
This new generation was commanded to conquer "all" of the Promised Land. The exact dimensions of the physical land of Canaan which were given to Abraham were repeated again in this verse. Israel has never physically conquered or occupied all of this land. Therefore, God will have to raise Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants of Israel from the dead and literally give them the exact dimensions of this land.
It is important to note that if God does not keep this promise, then He is a liar. Basically, amillennialists and postmillennialists are calling God a liar. They think that they have to help God out with His promises. Therefore, these heretical theologians spiritualize all of these passages of Scripture and transfer these promises to the church. This type of interpretation is faulty hermeneutics. This type of hermeneutics is heresy. If the plain sense of Scripture makes perfect sense, then seek no other sense. The Bible should be taken literally, unless there is a figure of speech used to convey a literal concept.
When God says Israel, He means Israel. When God says church, then He means the church. Human pastors do not have the authority to spiritualize these passages to make them fit their own man-made theology. Amillennialists and postmillennialists are guilty of taking away and adding to the Scriptures.
1:8 Look! I have already given the land to you. Go; occupy the territory that I, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants.”
God had already conquered the land which He promised to give to Israel through the Abrahamic Covenant. God will raise these three patriarchs from the dead and give them the literal dimensions of this land. The amillennialists and postmillennialists will not stop God from fulfilling this literal promise. Eschatology cannot be understood unless these verses are taken literally.
1:9 I also said to you at that time, “I am no longer able to sustain you by myself.
Moses was God's greatest prophet. He was held to a higher standard.
While Moses was in the wilderness, he was called by God to strike the rock once and bring water from the rock. This ritual was a prophetic typology of the Messiah being struck once for the sins of the world and bringing everlasting refreshment (by atonement) to his people. Moses became angry with his people, so he disobeyed God and struck the rock twice. This violation of God's command ruined the visual prophetic ritual of the coming Messiah. Therefore, God would not allow Moses to enter into the Promised Land.
1:10 The Lord your God has increased your population to the point that you are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky.
At the time of the writing, only 5000 stars were visible to the human eyes. The population of Israel was now over two million people. Moses recorded this scientific fact 2100 years before the first telescope was invented. Atheistic scientists need to humble themselves before their Creator God who gave them so much scientific knowledge in advance. However, the total depravity of man makes man arrogant in his thinking. Only the grace of God can bring light to the eyes of the atheist, the agnostic, and the evolutionist. Total depravity blinds man to the light of God.
1:11 Indeed, may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you just as he said he would!
In Hebrew, "The Lord, the God" is יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י (Jehovah Elohi), meaning "the Promise-keeping-covenant-keeping Triune Creator God."
The population of Israel was about two million people at this time. During the Millennial Kingdom, God will protect Israel from the genocide attempts of the Gentiles. The Gentiles of the Millennial Kingdom will one day become friends with the Jewish people. These future Gentiles of the Millennial Kingdom will all want to learn about God directly from the Jews. The Millennial Gentiles will beg the Millennial Jews to teach them about God.
It is interesting to note that the population of the future Millennial Jews will be about two million x 1000 people. The Jewish population will be about 2,000,000,000 (two billion) people. This number does not include the Gentiles.
Although Moses could only visibly see 5000 stars in his day, God revealed to him that there were over two billion stars in the sky. During the Scientific Revolution the 1600's, Johannes Keppler only counted about 1600 stars with his telescope.
1:12 But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?
According to the census in Numbers, Israel's population at this time was over two million people.
1:13 Select wise and practical men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.”
Israel’s population had grown so fast, that Moses appointed regional judicial leaders to help him decide court cases.
1:14 You replied to me that what I had said to you was good.
This advice came from Jethro, who was the Midianite father-in-law of Moses. Jethro was the father of Zipporah. Zipporah was the bride of Moses who did not want to circumcise her second son. Zipporah asked her husband not to circumcise her second son, which was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant. Moses was the leader of Israel. Moses listened more to his wife than he did to his God, so it almost cost him his life. God caused such great sickness upon Moses, that Zipporah herself had to perform the circumcision on her second son in order to save the life of her husband.
1:15 So I chose as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials.
This regional division came from Jethro and not from God. This division would later evolve into the seventy Jewish leaders of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin committee would grow, devolve, and eventually crucify their own Messiah.
1:16 I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens and judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner.
The Sanhedrin would elevate their man-made oral law (the Mishnah and Talmud) above the written Word of God.
1:17 They must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.
The Sanhedrin elevated their human options above the written Word of God.
Notice that when a judge sits on a bench, he is sitting and judging as God would sit and judge on earth. Pity the judge who takes bribes, aborts babies, and makes laws to keep himself and his political party in power. God holds human judges to a higher standard. The Book of Deuteronomy deals with these types of corrupt judges. Corrupt judges may think that they are getting away with their evil decisions, but the Eternal Judge is watching them. He will judge them.
Instructions at Kadesh Barnea
1:18 So I instructed you at that time regarding everything you should do.
Moses received his instructions directly and "face-to-face" from God.
1:19 Then we left Horeb and passed through all that immense, forbidding wilderness that you saw on the way to the Amorite hill country as the Lord our God had commanded us to do, finally arriving at Kadesh Barnea.
The Shekinah Glory led two million people of Israel through a hot and dry wilderness without losing a single person.
1:20 Then I said to you, “You have come to the Amorite hill country which the Lord our God is about to give us.
God told Abraham that He would give the Amorites 400 more years of living in the land of Canaan until their cup of iniquity would fill.
1:21 Look, he has placed the land in front of you! Go up, take possession of it, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to do. Do not be afraid or discouraged!”
God had already given Israel the land of Canaan. All they had to do was to go take it and possess it. It was a done deal.
1:22 So all of you approached me and said, “Let’s send some men ahead of us to scout out the land and bring us back word as to how we should attack it and what the cities are like there.”
This request was a sign of unbelief. Israel had seen the miracles of God, but their total depravity caused them to disbelieve God. Israel did not need to send out any spies. God had already given Israel the land.
1:23 I thought this was a good idea, so I sent twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.
Moses did not ask God if this was a good idea. This idea was the human viewpoint of Moses. Even great leaders, prophets, and pastors possess inferior spiritual insight. Studying Bible doctrine, prayer, and confession of sin is needed by even the most godly saints.
1:24 They left and went up to the hill country, coming to the Eshcol Valley, which they scouted out.
The scouts were operating on human viewpoint instead of divine viewpoint.
1:25 Then they took some of the produce of the land and carried it back down to us. They also brought a report to us, saying, “The land that the Lord our God is about to give us is good.”
These spies were the fathers of the present generation, but these fathers did not have much faith in Jehovah to bring them into the land which was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The land was good, just as Jehovah had promised.
Disobedience at Kadesh Barnea
1:26 You were not willing to go up, however, but instead rebelled against the Lord your God.
Ten of the twelve human spies convinced Israel to listen to their human viewpoint advice rather than to Jehovah's divine viewpoint advice.
1:27 You complained among yourselves privately and said, “Because the Lord hates us he brought us from Egypt to deliver us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us!
The old generation accused Jehovah of malice and premeditated murder.
1:28 What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage by describing people who are more numerous and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven itself! Moreover, they said they saw Anakites there.”
The Hebrew word for "Anakites" is עֲנָקִ֖ים (anakim). The Anakim were a powerful race of giant and warlike people. They lived in the lands of southern Palestine near Hebron before the arrival of the Israelites. Their ancestry has been traced back to Anak. Anak was the son of Arba, who at that time was regarded as the “greatest man among the Anakim.”
The name “Anakim” most likely means “long-necked ones" or “tall ones.” They were believed to be the descendants of the Nephilim, a powerful race who dominated the pre-Flood world. However, this Nephilim ancestry belief was false. It was nothing but Jewish human viewpoint speculation. All of the Nephilim died in the flood. Only eight people survived the flood. These eight survivors were Noah's three sons and their wives. The Nephilim were not on the ark.
When the twelve Israelite spies returned from exploring the Promised Land, they gave a frightening report of these giants whom they identified as the sons of Anak (Deuteronomy 9:2). The Israelites were seized with fear, thinking that they were the descendants of the Nephilim. They rebelled against God and refused to enter the Promised Land.
1:29 So I responded to you, “Do not be terrified of them!
Moses warned the people not to believe in these human viewpoint speculations.
1:30 The Lord your God is about to go ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.
Just as Jehovah had defeated Egypt with His divine miracles, so would Jehovah defeat the Anakim with His divine miracles. At Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the Antichrist and his global one world army in a similar fashion.
1:31 and in the desert, where you saw him carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.”
Jehovah carried Israel through the desert just as a father would carry his own son through a desert. Jehovah carried Israel every day for 38 years.
1:32 However, through all this you did not have confidence in the Lord your God,
Israel saw daily miracles from God, but either their total depravity or their lack of Bible doctrine caused them to distrust Jehovah. The biggest sin of a Christian is ignorance of his own Bible.
1:33 the one who was constantly going before you to find places for you to set up camp. He appeared by fire at night and cloud by day, to show you the way you ought to go.
Jehovah appeared to Israel daily in the form of the Shekinah Glory. He led them from camp to camp by becoming their personal and literal GPS.
Judgment at Kadesh Barnea
1:34 When the Lord heard you, he became angry and made this vow:
The Hebrew word for "angry" is קָצַף (katsaf), meaning to provoke God to judgment. God is patient and slow to anger. However, when a man or a nation fills their own cup of iniquity, then Jehovah will respond with.
1:35 “Not a single person of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors!
The old generation of Israel which came out of Egypt was evil. Either they were unsaved, or they were believers who committed the sin unto death. This old generation would not enter into the Promised Land..
1:36 The exception is Caleb son of Jephunneh; he will see it and I will give him and his descendants the territory on which he has walked, because he has wholeheartedly followed me.”
Caleb and Joshua were the only two exceptions. Joshua would lead Israel into Canaan. Caleb would possess all of the land in which he had walked.
1:37 As for me, the Lord was also angry with me on your account. He said, “You also will not be able to go there.
Moses was the greatest human prophet of God, but he was not perfect. He had an imperfect human sin nature. Moses was given more light than any man, so he was judged at a higher level.
Moses was commanded by God to strike the rock in the wilderness once, but Moses struck the rock twice. This rebellious action ruined the type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ was the rock who would be struck once, but this striking would bring a flow of everlasting life to all who believe in Him. For this rebellious act. Moses was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land. However; Moses would later visit the Lord Jesus Christ at the Transfiguration.
1:38 However, Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, will go. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit the land.
Joshua would lead Israel into the Promised land, but even Joshua would need encouragement from Moses. Even most army generals are cowards, unless they receive encouragement from God's word
1:39 Also, your infants, who you thought would die on the way, and your children, who as yet do not know good from bad, will go there; I will give them the land and they will possess it.
The older generation of Israel accused God of not protecting their children. Therefore, God would bring every one of their children under the age of twenty into the Promised Land. This promise meant that every child was immortal for the following 38 years. It also meant that every parent would be dead within 38 years (except for Joshua and Caleb).
1:40 But as for you, turn back and head for the desert by the way to the Red Sea.”
Israel would wander in a circle for 38 years.
Unsuccessful Conquest of Canaan
1:41 Then you responded to me and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will now go up and fight as the Lord our God has told us to do.” So you each put on your battle gear and prepared to go up to the hill country.
The fathers of the new generation were full of human viewpoint. They decided to rebel against God. They entered the Promised Land against the commands of God.
1:42 But the Lord told me: “Tell them this: ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you and you will be defeated by your enemies.’”
Jehovah commanded Israel not to enter into the land at this time or they would be defeated.
1:43 I spoke to you, but you did not listen. Instead you rebelled against the Lord and recklessly went up to the hill country.
Israel did not listen to the divine viewpoint of God. Instead, they followed their own human viewpoint.
1:44 The Amorite inhabitants of that area confronted you and chased you like a swarm of bees, striking you down from Seir as far as Hormah.
The Amorites chased Israel and stung them like a swarm of bees. Israelite dead bodies covered the land of Canaan from Mount Seir to Hormah.
1:45 Then you came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to you whatsoever.
Israel's cup of iniquity was full. Israel wept, but God paid no attention to her tears.
1:46 Therefore, you remained at Kadesh for a long time – indeed, for the full time.
Israel wandered in circles in the wilderness for the next 38 years.
Deuteronomy 02
The Journey from Kadesh Barnea to Moab
2:1 Then we turned and set out toward the desert land on the way to the Red Sea just as the Lord told me to do, detouring around Mount Seir for a long time.
Moses continued his speech with the new generation of Israel. He reminded them of some of the details of their forty-year journey. For a long time, the people just circled around the mountain, going nowhere.
2:2 At this point the Lord said to me, 2:3 “You have circled around this mountain long enough; now turn north.
God has a sense of humor. He asked Israel to quit walking around in circles and follow His direction. Many Christians circle a similar mountain during their lifetime. Instead of allowing God to lead them, they circle mountains.
2:4 Instruct these people as follows: ‘You are about to cross the border of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who inhabit Seir. They will be afraid of you, so watch yourselves carefully.
Esau was the brother of Jacob. Israel and Edom were cousin nations. During the Millennial Kingdom, Esau will be eliminated, but Israel will live and expand as the sand on the seashore. Edom was afraid of Israel, because Esau knew that Isaac had received the promises and protections of the Abrahamic Covenant. Edam also heard how the ten plagues destroyed Egypt. Edam feared that Israel might come and take her land.
2:5 Do not be hostile toward them, because I am not giving you any of their land, not even a footprint, for I have given Mount Seir as an inheritance for Esau.
Notice that God gave land boundaries to different nations. Many wars are fought, because nations do not respect these God-given boundaries.
2:6 You may purchase food to eat and water to drink from them. 2:7 All along the way I, the Lord your God, have blessed your every effort. I have been attentive to your travels through this great wasteland. These forty years I have been with you; you have lacked for nothing.’”
Even though Israel was rebellious towards God and cursed to walk in the wilderness for forty years, God still blessed her and gave her every provision she needed. God provided for all of her needs, even though Israel was a rebellious wife.
2:8 So we turned away from our relatives the descendants of Esau, the inhabitants of Seir, turning from the desert route, from Elat and Ezion Geber, and traveling the way of the Moab wastelands.
The Moabites were ancestors of Moab. She was the oldest daughter of Lot. She and her little sister intoxicated their father, seduced him, and created the incestuous nations of Moab and Ammon.
2:9 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass Moab and provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as your territory. This is because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.
Notice that Moab was also given land by Jehovah, even though she went into paganism.
2:10 (The Emites used to live there, a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakites. 2:11 These people, as well as the Anakites, are also considered Rephaites; the Moabites call them Emites. 2:12 Previously the Horites lived in Seir but the descendants of Esau dispossessed and destroyed them and settled in their place, just as Israel did to the land it came to possess, the land the Lord gave them.)
Notice that verses 10-12 are in italics. Moses did not originally pen this information. It was later added by a different author. Editorial notes in the Pentateuch do no harm to the doctrine of biblical inspiration. Inspiration refers to the final product, not to the manner or author of the writings.
The Emites, Anakites, and Repehaites were often used interchangeably. Their names meant “dreaded ones”. They were known for their tall structures.
The Horites were possibly the non-Semitic Hurrian people who lived in scattered groups in Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia. They occupied Seir before Esau moved there and drove them out.
If the Moabites could drive out these powerful types of people, then this should encourage Israel that she could do the same.
2:13 Now, get up and cross the Wadi Zered.” So we did so.
God commanded israel to pass through the Wadi Zered. A wadi is a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.
Wadi Zered is found in western Jordan. It was known ins Hebrew as נחל זרד (nachar-zered), meaning brook of Zered. This wadi was the boundary between Moab and Edom. Brooks, rivers, mountains, and valleys were often used by God as boundaries for different nations and people.
This Zerod wadi was very long and large. It ended in the Dead Sea in the town Safe (Al-Safi). The Wadi area today is full of farmers who use the water mostly for crops, such as tomatoes and melons.
2:14 Now the length of time it took for us to go from Kadesh Barnea to the crossing of Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, time for all the military men of that generation to die, just as the Lord had vowed to them.
Moses reminded the younger generation that it took 38 years for their parents to die. God did not bluff. He kept His promise to Israel, even in judgment.
2:15 Indeed, it was the very hand of the Lord that eliminated them from within the camp until they were all gone.
All of these parents died abnormal and early deaths. There was an average of 139 funerals per day. Each funeral was a witness to God’s judgment upon rebellious Israel.
Instructions Concerning Ammon
2:16 So it was that after all the military men had been eliminated from the community, 2:17 the Lord said to me, 2:18 “Today you are going to cross the border of Moab, that is, of Ar. 2:19 But when you come close to the Ammonites, do not harass or provoke them because I am not giving you any of the Ammonites’ land as your possession; I have already given it to Lot’s descendants as their possession.
Ammon was the younger daughter of Lot. The younger daughter also committed incest with her father, which produced the Ammonites. God had allotted the the Ammonites some land, so Israel was not to harass or provoke the Ammonites into war.
2:20 (That also is considered to be a land of the Rephaites. The Rephaites lived there originally; the Ammonites call them Zamzummites. 2:21 They are a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakites. But the Lord destroyed the Rephaites in advance of the Ammonites, so they dispossessed them and settled down in their place. 2:22 This is exactly what he did for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir when he destroyed the Horites before them so that they could dispossess them and settle in their area to this very day. 2:23 As for the Avvites who lived in settlements as far west as Gaza, Caphtorites who came from Crete destroyed them and settled down in their place.)
Notice the parenthesis. Verses 20-23 was another editorial addition. Also, notice that God established the boundaries for these other nations as well.
Before the time of Moses, the area of Moab at Ar was the region east of the Jordan. This land was considered to have been the land of the Rephaites. The Ammonites called the Rephaites זמזם (Zamzim), meaning "buzzers" or "the people whose speech sounds like buzzing." In Arabic. the word translates as "to rumble, roll (thunder), or murmur". The Zanzummies were large, strong, and powerful warriors, just like the Anakites.
The Anakites were the warrior race whom the 10 spies had feared 40 years earlier. The Anakites were not the Nephilm survivors of Genesis 6, because all of the Nephilim died in the flood. The Nephilim could have been a reference to the Titans, whom the Greeks seem to have mythologized.
Jehovah destroyed the Rephaites, so that the Ammonites could possess their land. Jehovah could have used famine, disease, infertility, natural disaster, or military genocide to accomplish this task. Every natural disaster and military conquest has been ordained by a sovereign God who controls all of history.
As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the Hornets were destroyed by God so that the edomites could replace them. Later in history, the Edomites will be so completely destroyed, that they will not have a single family member in the Millennial Kingdom.
Genesis Rabba 26:16 (a rabbi commentary) states that the Avvites were related to the Rephaites. The Talmud explains that originally the Israelites were not entitled to conquer the land of the Avvites, because of an oath that Abraham had sworn to Abimelech.However, the rabbi taught that this oath no longer applied after the Caphtorites had destroyed them. This view was also mentioned in Rabbi Rashi's commentary on Deuteronomy.
The Caphtorites came from Captor, which was located on the island of Crete. According to Amos 9:7, Jeremiah 47:4, and possibly Genesis 10:14, the Philistines came from Caphtor prior to their conquest and settlement of southern Israel. The Caphtorites defeated the Avvites and took their land. The Caphtorites became the Philistines. The caphtorites are mentioned in the historical documents of the Assyrians, the *Mari texts, the Ugaritic texts, and by some Egyptian sources.
The secular name for the ancient inhabitants of Crete is the “Minoans". King Midas of ancient mythology was known to be the King of the Minoans. According to the myth, everything that he touched turned to gold. The Cretans also created the minotaur and the maze human sacrifice ritual system.
It is important to note that there have been many evil nations in history who have been wiped out by Jehovah. Many ancient nations were so totally depraved and evil, that instead of parents teaching their children the Word of God, the parents sacrificed their children to demonic idols made of wood and stone. When a nation's cup of iniquity is full, then God judges the evil nation and often removes that group of people from off this earth. This type of divine procedure is similar to a physician who removes a cancer from a patient. The doctor must remove the center so that the rest of the body can grow and live.
2:24 Get up, make your way across Wadi Arnon. Look! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Go ahead! Take it! Engage him in war! 2:25 This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.”
God ordered Israel to exterminate the entire city and take the land. These Amorites were given four hundred years to repent, but they had refused to do so. Biblical genocide is purging evil out of this world. Genocide is good, if it is called by God. During the Great Tribulation, God will purge over 2/3 of the evil population off of the earth. The Millennial Kingdom will not tolerate evil people. During the Millennial Kingdom, all evil people will be given 100 years to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or they will be executed. Good and evil cannot exist in God's world. One must stay and the other must go. One of the purposes of the Great Tribulation is to purge evil out of the world.
Defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon
2:26 Then I sent messengers from the Kedemoth Desert to King Sihon of Heshbon with an offer of peace:
King Sihon was an Amorite king whose cup of iniquity was almost full. God gave this evil king one last chance to know the one true God. Moses sent a message of peace to King Sihon. One an only know peace by knowing the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
2:27 “Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the roadway. I will not turn aside to the right or the left.
Moses requested peaceful transportation through King Sihon's territory.
2:28 Sell me food for cash so that I can eat and sell me water to drink. Just allow me to go through on foot,
Moses would bring these Amorites foreign business opportunities. Two million visitors could bring a tourist city lots of revenue.
2:29 just as the descendants of Esau who live at Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land the Lord our God is giving us.”
Esau and Moab gave Israel safe passage. These two cities would be blessed (at least for a while) by the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant. Their cups of iniquity were not yet full. Moses kept his word with those two cities, so he would also keep his word with King Sihon.
2:30 But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the Lord our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day.
God is sovereign and knows all things. King Sihon was totally depraved and evil. He hated Israel and would not allow them to pass through his land. God hardened King Sihon by giving him more divine revelation. God controls all of history. He allowed King Sihon to use his own free will so that God could execute His sovereign plan.
2:31 The Lord said to me, “Look! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession.”
King SIhon blew his only chance of survival. He broke the Abrahamic Covenant, which would bring curses upon him and his region. God commanded Moses to defeat King Sihon and take his land.
2:32 When Sihon and all his troops emerged to encounter us in battle at Jahaz, 2:33 the Lord our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, along with his sons and everyone else.
King SIhon and his troops did not have a chance. God had already decided the battle before it even began. There is no such thing as luck in war, as many secular humanist authors suggest. Every sword, arrow, bullet, and bomb will fulfill its divine destiny.
2:34 At that time we seized all his cities and put every one of them under divine judgment, including even the women and children; we left no survivors.
The Hebrew word for divine judgment is חָרַם (herem), meaning to devote to God for destruction. Every man, woman and child was to be executed. When God goes to war, He does not play politics. The price for attacking Israel was genocide. This battle strategy sent a powerful warning to Israel’s enemies. The price of war against Israel was extinction. If modern nations understood the Abrahamic Covenant, then there would be fewer wars. If voters understood the Abrahamic Covenant, then there would be fewer antisemitic politicians in office.
It is also important to note that only God, not man, can call for genocide. There is no such thing as a "holy war", unless God calls it. God does not audibly call for holy war today. All of his holy wars have been completed, except for that of the Great Tribulation.
2:35 We kept only the livestock and plunder from the cities for ourselves.
All of the men, women, and children were killed. Israel plundered the city. The plunder from Egypt and the plunder from these Amorites made Israel a very wealthy nation. Israel would need this wealth to jumpstart their nation. Israel would need this wealth to perform the daily sacrificial rituals which would later point to the Lord Jesus Christ as "the Lamb of God who takes way the sins of the world".
2:36 From Aroer, which is at the edge of Wadi Arnon (it is the city in the wadi), all the way to Gilead there was not a town able to resist us – the Lord our God gave them all to us. 2:37 However, you did not approach the land of the Ammonites, the Wadi Jabbok, the cities of the hill country, or any place else forbidden by the Lord our God.
Israel defeated every one of the cities of King Sihon. However, Israel did not attack any of the lands forbidden by God. These early victories gave Israel encouragement that God was on their side.
Deuteronomy 03
Defeat of King Og of Bashan
3:1 Next we set out on the route to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei.
Moses continued his speech to the new generation of Israelites who would be entering into the land of Canaan under Joshua. King Og controlled sixty Amorite cities. The Amorites were an evil tribe of the Canaanites. They were a cursed race. God told Abraham that the Amorites would be given 400 years to repent. Their cup of iniquity was now full. Armies from these sixty Amorite cities combined for battle against Israel.
3:2 The Lord, however, said to me, “Don’t be afraid of him because I have already given him, his whole army, and his land to you. You will do to him exactly what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon.”
God decided the outcome of this battle before the battle even began. He decided the victor of this battle before the foundations of the world were even created.
Battles are not decided by horses, men, large armies, or nuclear weapons. Battle and wars are all decided by the sovereign will of God who created and predestined all things.
What is history? History is the revelation of God's mind to his creation. Only men and angels can understand biblical history.
All secular history is a mixture of truth, error, and biased from the devil's viewpoint. Only the Bible records 100% true history from God's point of view.
When secular history and biblical history disagree, then it is important to note that the Bible is always right and secular history is always wrong. The Holy Spirit is the author of Biblical history. Finite men (who are influenced by the satanic world system) are the authors of secular history. Therefore, secular history is flawed, biased, inaccurate, and at best, a mixture of truth and error. Biblical history is perfect. unbiased, truthful, accurate, trusted, and worthy of study, mastery, and application.
It is important to master God's history so that one can learn the mind of God. Only the elect can understand biblical history. The elect learns biblical history by divine revelation from the Holy Spirit. According to Ephesians 4, the Holy Spirit equips pastor-teachers to teach the body of Christ the divine truths of biblical history.
The Bible is the divine history book given to man as a love gift by the grace of God. Only believers can master and understand this book.
According to 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible is a closed book to the natural man. The natural man is the unbeliever who has not been regenerated and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. This is why atheists, agnostics, evolutionists, and liberals make such foolish decisions. They are deceived by the lies of the satanic world system. They do not have enough Bible doctrine to discern the difference between divine truth and satanic deception.
It is important to note that believers who refuse to study the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level are fragmented in their Bible doctrine and in their thinking. The devil knows their weaknesses. The devil will exploit their Bible doctrinal weaknesses and deceive them as well. Fragmented Christians will waste their lives away by attending the wrong church, serving in the wrong ministry, praying for the wrong things, spending their God-given wealth and time on the wrong things, teaching others doctrinal error, and serving the enemy rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the devil will deceive these fragmented Christians into thinking that they are serving God, but they are actually serving the devil. The only escape from this demonic deception is mastery of Bible doctrine at the deepest level.
3:3 So the Lord our God did indeed give over to us King Og of Bashan and his whole army and we struck them down until not a single survivor was left.
King Og violated the Abrahamic Covenant. He wanted his sixty cities to exterminate Israel from the face of the earth, but it was the followers of King Og who were the ones who were exterminated. The price of the Amorites' antisemitism was extinction. This judgement would result in a kind-for-kind curse of the Abrahamic Covenant.
3:4 We captured all his cities at that time – there was not a town we did not take from them – sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the dominion of Og in Bashan.
Israel defeated all sixty of these Amorite cities. They defeated these sixty cities not of their own strength, but by the power of God.
3:5 All of these cities were fortified by high walls, gates, and locking bars; in addition there were a great many open villages.
The high walls, gates, and locking bars were the most advanced technologies of war at this time period in history. These advanced technologies could not protect these evil antisemitic cities from God's wrath.
3:6 We put all of these under divine judgment just as we had done to King Sihon of Heshbon – every occupied city, including women and children.
Every man, woman, and child was killed under the חָרַם (herem) curse. If there is an age of accountability, then this type of divine genocide may have been the only way of saving the soul of these Amorite children. Since the Amorites were killing their children by infant sacrifice and destroying their children's souls by teaching them doctrinal error, then God removed this culture from the earth just as a doctor removes cancer from the physical body of a diseased patient. The cancer must be removed so that the body can live. The Amorites must be eliminated so that the Israelites could survive.
It is important to note that the Amorites were dangerous, because they did not conquer their enemies by physical force. Instead, the Amorites used multiculturalism to seduce their enemies into their culture so that they could assimilate together and destroy their souls by ungodly instruction.
This type of demonic strategy was called the "error of Balaam", which was mentioned in the Book of Jude. Balaam could not curse or defeat Israel physically in battle, because Israel was protected by the Abrahamic Covenant. Therefore, Balaam sent pretty Moabite girls to dance by the campfire at night and seduce the Israelite men into their culture. This type of seduction is so evil and so powerful, that the Holy Spirit raised up Jude to teach and warn Bible believers about this type of satanic deception. Again, the only defense against the deceptions of multiculturalism is the mastery and application of Bible doctrine.
3:7 But all the livestock and plunder from the cities we kept for ourselves.
Israel added to their plunder, making them a wealthier economic start-up nation. In his sovereignty, God built up the economies of Egypt and the Amorites, so that Israel could plunder these evil cultures and start up their economy in the Promised Land.
3:8 So at that time we took the land of the two Amorite kings in the Transjordan from Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon 3:9 (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion and the Amorites call it Senir), 3:10 all the cities of the plateau, all of Gilead and Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
Moses reminded this new generation that both King Sihon and King Og’s territory and plunder were results of God’s providence and protection over Israel.
3:11 Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.)
The notes in parenthesis were not part of the original speech of Moses. They were not written by Moses, but they were additional notes written by an unknown editor to future believing readers. This divine addition by an outside editor does not destroy the doctrine of inspiration or inerrancy of the Bible, because this unknown editor was directed by the Holy Spirit to add these additional notes. It is the finished product, not the method of revelation, which is inspired. This editor noted that the coffin of King Og still remained in Rabbath at the time of his editing.
Distribution of the Transjordanian Allotments
3:12 This is the land we brought under our control at that time: The territory extending from Aroer by the Wadi Arnon and half the Gilead hill country with its cities I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites. 3:13 The rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob, that is, all Bashan, is called the land of Rephaim. 3:14 Jair, son of Manasseh, took all the Argob region as far as the border with the Geshurites and Maacathites (namely Bashan) and called it by his name, Havvoth-Jair, which it retains to this very day.) 3:15 I gave Gilead to Machir. 3:16 To the Reubenites and Gadites I allocated the territory extending from Gilead as far as Wadi Arnon (the exact middle of the wadi was a boundary) all the way to the Wadi Jabbok, the Ammonite border. 3:17 The Arabah and the Jordan River were also a border, from the sea of Chinnereth to the sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea), beneath the watershed of Pisgah to the east.
Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh requested these pieces of land, even though all of this land was on the wrong side of the Jordan. This request by these three tribes was a request by human viewpoint. This was not part of God's original plan. God wanted all twelve tribes to receive the land dimensions which were originally given to Abraham. These pieces of land on the wrong side of the Jordan were not originally promised to Abraham. God allowed these three tribes to receive this land by his permissive will, but not by his sovereign will. In the future, these three tribes would be the first attacked and conquered by Israel’s enemies. In the future Millennial Kingdom, these three tribes will receive the original land which God had decreed to Abraham by his sovereign will (Ezekiel 40-48).
Instructions to the Transjordanian Tribes
3:18 At that time I instructed you as follows: “The Lord your God has given you this land for your possession. You warriors are to cross over before your fellow Israelites equipped for battle.
Moses reminded Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh that the land promised to them was on the other side of the Jordan. However, if the warriors would help take the rest of the Promised Land, then he would agree to these terms.
3:19 But your wives, children, and livestock (of which I know you have many) may remain in the cities I have given you.
While the warriors of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were fighting the Canaanites on the other side of the Jordan, then the wives, children, and livestock were to remain in their cities.
3:20 You must fight until the Lord gives your countrymen victory as he did you and they take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them on the other side of the Jordan River. Then each of you may return to his own territory that I have given you.”
Moses reminded this new generation that Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had promised to fight until all of the Promised Land was taken. Then, they could return back to their homes.
It is important to note that all of the Promised Land was never taken by Joshua. Israel would have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they would have taken the land and performed the divine genocide which God had originally commanded.
Israel would later be seduced into idolatry by the multiculturalism of these unconquered Canaanites. Israel would fall into the "error of Balaam" many times in their history.
It is important to note that modern fragmented Christians often fall into this same satanic trap. The "error of Balaam" is multiculturalism. The teachings of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, rabbinicism, Catholicism, charismatic theology, and other cults and isms are not equal to the written doctrines of the Bible. All of these cults and isms are a mixture of truth and error. Divine truth only comes from the WRITTEN Word of God. This is why Jesus often reminded the rabbi and their followers of the Oral Law that "it is written". Modern charismatics need to also be reminded today that the Word of God is what is "written", not what is "spoken" by tongues, oral prophecies, or words of knowledge.
3:21 I also commanded Joshua at the same time, “You have seen everything the Lord your God did to these two kings; he will do the same to all the kingdoms where you are going. 3:22 Do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God will personally fight for you.”
Joshua and Caleb were the only two true surviving witnesses who observed and experienced all of the miracles from Egypt to Canaan. All of the other two million witnesses had died in the wilderness, just as God predicted. They had seen the miracles, but they could not trust God. Jesus taught that only the written Word of God, not miracles, was needed to bring a person to salvation (See Lazarus and the Rich man teaching in this commentary).
Moses commissioned and encouraged Joshua as the new leader of this new generation. The name of Joshua is ישוע (Yeshua), or Jesus, meaning "He will save" or "Jehovah saves". Just as Joshua was to lead Israel into the Promised Land, so will Yeshua lead Israel into the Promised Land of the Millennial Kingdom,.
Denial to Moses of the Promised Land
3:23 Moreover, at that time I pleaded with the Lord,
Moses possessed a very intimate relationship with the Lord. In Hebrew, the word "pleaded" is וָאֶתְחַנַּ֖ן (wa-atchanan), a wa-conjunction with a hithpael verb, meaning a verb of intensive and repeated action. Moses continued to intensely ask the Lord to be gracious and allow him to enter into the Promised Land.
3:24 “O, Lord God, you have begun to show me your greatness and strength. (What god in heaven or earth can rival your works and mighty deeds?)
Moses was not advocating polytheism. He was comparing the power of the one true God to the nothingness of polytheism. At this time in history, there were no atheists. The Gentile world was full of polytheism. Basically, an atheist is a "fool", because the atheist says "there is no God" (Psalm 14:1).
It is foolish for an atheist to claim that nothing created all things. Mathematically and scientifically, the fact is that 0 x 0 = 0 in every tested scientific circumstance. "Creation ex nihilio" sounds scientific, but it is scientifically impossible. Nothing cannot create billions and billions of galaxies.
3:25 Let me please cross over to see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River – this good hill country and the Lebanon!”
Moses really wanted to see the Promised Land. He would later see the Promised Land during the transfiguration of Jesus.
3:26 But the Lord was angry at me because of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he said to me, “Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.
The Hebrew word for "angry" is וַיִּתְעַבֵּ֨ר (wa-yatabar), an intensive verb, meaning extremely furious. God was not a human who would change his mind. Moses' cup of iniquity was full. God expects more from his leaders. The Gentiles would be judged, but Israel was given more light. Therefore, God would judge Israel double for her sins. The church will receive similar judgements, because of the light which is given to her. America has been given more light than any other nation, so she will receive more divine judgement as well. The American electorate is so devoid of Bible doctrine, that she is currently choosing leaders who will destroy her.
3:27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and take a good look to the west, north, south, and east, for you will not be allowed to cross the Jordan.
God is God. He says what He means. Moses was allowed to observe the land, but not to step foot into it.
3:28 Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people over and will enable them to inherit the land you will see.”
Moses commissioned Joshua in front of the people.
3:29 So we settled down in the valley opposite Beth Peor.
Israel camped for the night. After Moses finished his divine speeches, then Israel would be ready to enter into the Promised land.