A short entry on a busy Sunday morning. The opening chapters of Deuteronomy, the last book of the Pentateuch (five books of Moses), are a recapitulation of some of the events from Numbers. At the start of chapter 1, we're told that the journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea took 11 days via the mountains, notably Mount Seir, where the Israelites were instructed to go forth and "possess" their lands. God also remembers those among his chosen people who doubted his plans (1:27).
In chapter 2, Moses recounts that, after "compassing" mount Seir, the people headed north via the plains and bought meat and water from their "brethren the children of Esau" (2:8), before passing via Moab and over the "brook Zered" – a long journey from Kadesh-barnea that is said to have taken 38 years. At 2:20, Moses mentions the myths that giants once roamed these lands, before they were destroyed by God (making them sound a bit like dinosaurs). Despite fearsome foes, like the Amorite king Sihon of Heshbon, the Israelites prevailed in battle at the site of Jahaz (2:32). It is remembered with pride that no quarter was given, even to women and children.
Chapter 3 covers the same old ground of past victories in battle, this time over Og the Bashan king. At 3.11, we're told that Og's iron bed was fabled to be nine cubits (4.1m) in length and four cubits (1.8m) in width, so about twice the length of a modern king size bed, but about the same width. At 3:24-28, Moses pleads with God to let him travel with the Israelites into the promised land, but God gets angry and tells him he can only view it (3:27), and that Joshua will lead (3:28) the people onwards. Moses is told instead:
In chapter 2, Moses recounts that, after "compassing" mount Seir, the people headed north via the plains and bought meat and water from their "brethren the children of Esau" (2:8), before passing via Moab and over the "brook Zered" – a long journey from Kadesh-barnea that is said to have taken 38 years. At 2:20, Moses mentions the myths that giants once roamed these lands, before they were destroyed by God (making them sound a bit like dinosaurs). Despite fearsome foes, like the Amorite king Sihon of Heshbon, the Israelites prevailed in battle at the site of Jahaz (2:32). It is remembered with pride that no quarter was given, even to women and children.
Chapter 3 covers the same old ground of past victories in battle, this time over Og the Bashan king. At 3.11, we're told that Og's iron bed was fabled to be nine cubits (4.1m) in length and four cubits (1.8m) in width, so about twice the length of a modern king size bed, but about the same width. At 3:24-28, Moses pleads with God to let him travel with the Israelites into the promised land, but God gets angry and tells him he can only view it (3:27), and that Joshua will lead (3:28) the people onwards. Moses is told instead:
Get thee up into the top of Pisgah,
and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward,
and southward, and eastward,
and behold it with thine eyes:
for thou shalt not go over this Jordan
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| Moses at the top of Pisgah |
Despite this setback, in chapter 4 Moses continues to obediently do God's work, by emphasising to the Israelites the need to stick to his statutes and judgments, for God "is a consuming fire, even a jealous God". There's an inevitable sadness and strangeness about these passages, especially given that someone so faithful to God as Moses should be denied entry to the promised land, after making so many sacrifices and leading his people this close on a long journey, all because of a mere trifle (using his stick to summon forth water from a spring; see earlier blog for more). Moses then (at 4:43) names three cities of refuge for those fleeing persecution, one of which is Golan, a place now associated with the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory occupied by Israel since the late 1960s.
At the start of chapter 5, Moses reminds his people that the covenant with God applies to future generations too, and they must abide by the statutes and judgments of God, notably those outlined in the Ten Commandments. The people are even told (at 6:9) that should write out the commandments on their house posts and gates. Throughout chapters 5 and 6, some of these commandments are expanded upon, with more detail about false idols, while others (see 5:17-21) are just reiterated. This passage brought to mind the story of the "Wicked Bible" that contained a misprint saying, "thou shalt commit adultery" – a copy of this Bible containing the printer's error went on sale in late 2015.
In chapter 7, we're told that seven nations had to be wiped out to accommodate Israel, and that the "altars", "images" (false idols) and "groves" of these people were burnt to the ground. I wonder if this is the inspiration of the White Stripes song, Seven Nation Army (see below). At 7:14, God promises the Israelites that no women or cattle among them will be "barren", and that they will thrive in these newly conquered lands, though (at 7:25) they're instructed not to take the gold or silver of the vanquished as booty. In chapter 8, verse 2, God reveals that the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness was part of his plan designed to "humble" his people, and to show them that man "doth not live by bread only" (8:3). He also reminds them that he led them out of Egypt, and via scorpions and serpents (8:15), to this new promised land.
At the start of chapter 5, Moses reminds his people that the covenant with God applies to future generations too, and they must abide by the statutes and judgments of God, notably those outlined in the Ten Commandments. The people are even told (at 6:9) that should write out the commandments on their house posts and gates. Throughout chapters 5 and 6, some of these commandments are expanded upon, with more detail about false idols, while others (see 5:17-21) are just reiterated. This passage brought to mind the story of the "Wicked Bible" that contained a misprint saying, "thou shalt commit adultery" – a copy of this Bible containing the printer's error went on sale in late 2015.
In chapter 7, we're told that seven nations had to be wiped out to accommodate Israel, and that the "altars", "images" (false idols) and "groves" of these people were burnt to the ground. I wonder if this is the inspiration of the White Stripes song, Seven Nation Army (see below). At 7:14, God promises the Israelites that no women or cattle among them will be "barren", and that they will thrive in these newly conquered lands, though (at 7:25) they're instructed not to take the gold or silver of the vanquished as booty. In chapter 8, verse 2, God reveals that the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness was part of his plan designed to "humble" his people, and to show them that man "doth not live by bread only" (8:3). He also reminds them that he led them out of Egypt, and via scorpions and serpents (8:15), to this new promised land.
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