Deuteronomy Chapter 1

The book of Deuteronomy which means the second law is a book in which Moses reminds the second generation of Israel about all that God had done for them since leaving Egypt.  It is also a reminder of God’s laws and instructions for this second generation to hear before moving on to the promised land.  And most importantly is a plea from Moses to this new younger generation to only worship the one true God.

Moses knew that He would not enter the promised land with the congregation and so he felt compelled to repeat the law and the Ten Commandments to these who were little children or not yet even born when the law was first given. 

Let's Reflect

1.  We know how many years the wilderness wanderings were in total because of this chapter.  Some Bible scholars believe that the book of Deuteronomy was delivered to Israel by Moses in the span of ten days.  According to verse 3 what year was it when Moses began his sermon of Deuteronomy?

2.  Verse 3 also tells us an important fact about the words that Moses spoke and are recorded in the book of Deuteronomy.  What is that fact?

3.  Moses retraced their steps that had led them to this point.  He recited the angst he had as a leader of a great number of people and how God orchestrated leaders to be set up under Moses to help with all the responsibilities.  How is the large population of Israel described in verse 10?

4.  As Moses retold the sending of 12 spies into the promised land, how did he describe the report that the spies brought back?

5.  The people would not move forward to possess the land that God was providing.  How did Moses describe the main problem of that older generation?  See verse 32.

6.  Verses 34 to the end of the chapter describe the rebellion of Israel.  The first rebellion is of the older generation that refused to take possession of the promised land.  What was their punishment?

7.  The second rebellion was of prideful people who thought they could defeat the Amorites.  Moses recounted how the Lord had instructed them not to go up to fight because He was not in the midst of them.  What was the result of that attempt by the people to fight a battle without the Lord’s blessing?