Synopsis:
Moses reminds the congregation what all they have been through since leaving Egypt. This lecture takes place in the plain over the Red Sea between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab (by the way). This lecture occurs 40 years and 11 months after leaving Egypt. The lecture is basically – here is the land you were promised. Go take it. I have given you all you need, leaders you should respect, judges etc. It’s not my fault you all didn’t take this land when it was first presented to you. I did all I could to keep God from killing you all. I’ve taught you what I know about what is good and what is evil. Don’t fight amongst yourselves.
In other words:
Moses starts his goodbye talk. It’s going to take up this entire book.
Favorite bit:
Deuteronomy (1:2) It’s literally an aside – (There are eleven days journey from Horeb by way of the mount Seir undo Kadesh barnea). I have no idea why we needed to know this.
Least favorite bit:
Deuteronomy (1:4) When we realize this chapter is going to be a synopsis of what happened before (After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites which dwelt in Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei.
On the plus side:
These names sound like they came right out of Middle Earth.
Moral Lesson Learned:
A good lecture always includes a little bit of guilt (Deuteronomy 1)
