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asher55305 - Deuteronomy - 01 - Devarim
PARASHAH: Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22
Moses, nearing the end of his life and knowing he will never enter the Promised Land, addresses the Israelite nation.
ALIYAH 1 [1:1-11]
The lengthy opening passage of Deuteronomy seems to locate Moses' final address precisely in space and time. But, like the four rivers of Eden, the identity and location of many of the geographic markers are unknown to us today. And (as with the rivers of Eden) some commentators believe the names are to be interpreted allegorically.
In 1:9 - 11, Moses declares that "I cannot bear you alone [because] God has made you great. Behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May God, God of your forefathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are!" The great number of the Israelites is both a blessing and a burden, because, being numerous, they are difficult to govern. A large nation requires structures of government.
ALIYAH 2 [1:12-21]
Moses recalls the appointment of judges to administer the laws of the Torah. He then recalls the approach to the Holy Land, and the decision to send out spies to reconnoiter the land.
ALIYAH 3 [1:22-38]
The tale of the spies as told here differs somewhat from the version in Numbers. "There [in Numbers ch. 13 - 14], the sending out of the scouts was an order from God. Here, it is strictly the people's idea."
Also, this version makes no mention of the negative aspects of the spies' report as recounted in Numbers. Rather, in Moses' telling, "you did not want to go up, and you rebelled against the word of the Lord your God." [1:26]
ALIYAH 4 [1:39 - 2:1]
Upon learning of their punishment - that their generation would be banned from entering the Land of Israel - some people decided that they really wanted to go after all, and, in fact, were determined to enter the Holy Land now that it was off limits. They did, and were promptly routed by the Amorites.
The thing that gets me about this episode is that it's just so human. "We don't want to go into the Land of Israel!" "Okay fine, you can wander around the desert for 40 years then." "Wait wait wait! We're sorry! We really want to go!" "Too late." "No really, we're going and You can't stop us!" WHOMP.
ALIYAH 5
Now 38 years have elapsed, and the Israelites are ready to enter the Holy Land. They are warned to avoid confrontation with Seir (Edom), Moab, and Ammon.
ALIYAH 6
South of the Jabbok River, Sichon, which had refused safe passage to the Israelites, is conquered. Gilead and Bashan (kingdom of the defeated giant Og), around the Yarmuk River, are given to Menasseh.
ALIYAH 7
Reuben, Gad, and Menasseh are to cross the Jordan to do battle together with their brethren, before returning to their own lands east of the Jordan. Moses reminds Joshua of the victories against Sichon and Og, and to be courageous in the battles to come. [513]
PARASHAH: Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22
Moses, nearing the end of his life and knowing he will never enter the Promised Land, addresses the Israelite nation.
ALIYAH 1 [1:1-11]
The lengthy opening passage of Deuteronomy seems to locate Moses' final address precisely in space and time. But, like the four rivers of Eden, the identity and location of many of the geographic markers are unknown to us today. And (as with the rivers of Eden) some commentators believe the names are to be interpreted allegorically.
In 1:9 - 11, Moses declares that "I cannot bear you alone [because] God has made you great. Behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May God, God of your forefathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are!" The great number of the Israelites is both a blessing and a burden, because, being numerous, they are difficult to govern. A large nation requires structures of government.
ALIYAH 2 [1:12-21]
Moses recalls the appointment of judges to administer the laws of the Torah. He then recalls the approach to the Holy Land, and the decision to send out spies to reconnoiter the land.
ALIYAH 3 [1:22-38]
The tale of the spies as told here differs somewhat from the version in Numbers. "There [in Numbers ch. 13 - 14], the sending out of the scouts was an order from God. Here, it is strictly the people's idea."
Also, this version makes no mention of the negative aspects of the spies' report as recounted in Numbers. Rather, in Moses' telling, "you did not want to go up, and you rebelled against the word of the Lord your God." [1:26]
ALIYAH 4 [1:39 - 2:1]
Upon learning of their punishment - that their generation would be banned from entering the Land of Israel - some people decided that they really wanted to go after all, and, in fact, were determined to enter the Holy Land now that it was off limits. They did, and were promptly routed by the Amorites.
The thing that gets me about this episode is that it's just so human. "We don't want to go into the Land of Israel!" "Okay fine, you can wander around the desert for 40 years then." "Wait wait wait! We're sorry! We really want to go!" "Too late." "No really, we're going and You can't stop us!" WHOMP.
ALIYAH 5
Now 38 years have elapsed, and the Israelites are ready to enter the Holy Land. They are warned to avoid confrontation with Seir (Edom), Moab, and Ammon.
ALIYAH 6
South of the Jabbok River, Sichon, which had refused safe passage to the Israelites, is conquered. Gilead and Bashan (kingdom of the defeated giant Og), around the Yarmuk River, are given to Menasseh.
ALIYAH 7
Reuben, Gad, and Menasseh are to cross the Jordan to do battle together with their brethren, before returning to their own lands east of the Jordan. Moses reminds Joshua of the victories against Sichon and Og, and to be courageous in the battles to come. [513]
