Deuteronomy 1:1–8

Deuteronomy 1:1–8: Moses begins his speech

Synopsis

In this passage, Moses begins his “summing up” speech to the Israelites. We are told in verses 1–2 that he gave this speech in the desert East of the Jordan, so this happens before they enter the Promised Land (but after the “Transjordan tribes” take their land East of the river).

Verses 3–4 tell us the intent of the book of Deuteronomy: Moses is “[proclaiming] to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them.”

Then, in verses 6–8, he begins his speech:

The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

And that’s where this passage ends.

Thoughts

There’s not much to say, about this passage; it’s just an introduction to the book. This section gives some detail as to when and where Moses gave this speech, but really, all that’s important to me is that he gave it as the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land.