Deuteronomy 1:13

_AND I SPAKE UNTO YOU AT THAT TIME, SAYING, I AM NOT ABLE TO BEAR YOU MYSELF ALONE:_ I spake unto you at that time - a little before their arrival in Horeb. Moses addresses that new generation as the representatives of their fathers, in whose sight and hearing all the transactions he recounts took place. A reference is here made to the suggestion of Jethro (Exodus 18:18), and in noticing his practical adoption of a plan by which the administration of justice was committed to a select number of subordinate officers, Moses, by a beautiful allusion to the patriarchal blessing, ascribed the necessity of that memorable change in the government to the vast increase of the population. Verse 10. YE ARE THIS DAY AS THE STARS ... FOR MULTITUDE. This was neither an Oriental hyperbole nor a mere empty boast; because Abraham was told ...

13._Take you wise men. _Hence it more plainly appears that those who were to preside in judgment were not appointed only by the will of Moses, but. elected by the votes of the people. And this is the most desirable kind c f liberty, that we should not be compelled to obey every’ person who may be tyrannically put over our heads; but which allows of election, so that no one should rule except he be approved of by us. And this is further confirmed in the next verse, wherein Moses recounts that he awaited the consent of the people, and that nothing was attempted which did not please them all. Again, he does not here mention the same virtues as in Exodus 18:0; but only distinguishes the judges by three qualifications, viz., that they should be wise, and understanding, and experienced, all of which are comprised under one head, that they should possess acuteness of intellect and prudence,

9-18 Moses reminds the people of the happy constitution of their government, which might make them all safe and easy, if it was not their own fault. He owns the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, and prays for the further accomplishment of it. We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God; why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope? Good laws were given to the Israelites, and good men were to see to the execution of them, which showed God's goodness to them, and the care of Moses....

Verse Deuteronomy 1:13. _TAKE YOU WISE MEN_] חכמים _chachamim_, such as had gained knowledge by great labour and study. _Understanding_ נבנים nebonim, persons of discernment, judicious men. _Known_, ידעים yeduim, persons practised in the operations of nature, capable of performing curious and important works....

This appointment of the “captains” (compare Exodus 18:21 ff) must not be confounded with that of the elders in Numbers 11:16 ff. The former would number 78,600; the latter were 70 only. A comparison between this passage and that in Exodus makes it obvious that Moses is only touching on certain parts of the whole history, without regard to order of time, but with a special purpose. This important arrangement for the good government of the people took place before they left Horeb to march direct to the promised land. This fact sets more clearly before us the perverseness and ingratitude of the people, to which the orator next passes; and shows, what he was anxious to impress, that the fault of the 40 years’ delay rested only with themselves!...

TITLE AND INTRODUCTION Deuteronomy 1:1. EXPOSITION DEUTERONOMY 1:1 In these verses we have the inscription and general introduction to the book, announcing the contents of the book, the author of it, the parties whom he addressed, and the time and place of his addresses. DEUTERONOMY 1:1 THESE BE THE WORDS. Some would render here "Such are the words," and understand the expression as referring to the preceding books. But it seems more natural to refer it to what follows—to the addresses in this book. The pronoun these (אֵלֶּה) may be used with a prospective reference, as

TAKE YE WISE MEN, AND UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWN AMONG YOUR TRIBES,.... Not only whose persons were well known, but their characters and qualifications, for their probity and integrity, for their wisdom and prudence in the management of affairs, for their skill and knowledge in things divine and human, civil and religious, and for their capacity in judging and determining matters in difference; see Exodus 18:21 AND I WILL MAKE THEM RULERS OVER YOU; the people were allowed to choose their own officers, whom they were to bring to Moses, and present before him, to be invested with their office. A like method was taken in the choice and constitution of deacons in the Christian church, when the secular affairs of it lay too heavy upon the apostles, Acts 6:3....

_2. FROM HOREB TO KADESH_ _ 1. The command to go in and to possess the land (Deuteronomy 1:6)_ 2. The appointment of judges reviewed (Deuteronomy 1:9) 3. The failure to possess the land (Deuteronomy 1:19) 4. The judgment of God (Deuteronomy 1:34) In the beginning of our annotations we must guard once more against the misleading conception, that the book of Deuteronomy is nothing but a rehearsal of previous history. On account of this wrong estimate, the book has not received the close study it deserves and God's people have missed the blessing, which results from such

DEUTERONOMY 1:9_ cf._ Exodus 18:13 * (_E_))_._ The idea of appointing judges to assist Moses is in Exodus 18:17 suggested by Jethro not, as here, by Moses himself. The parallel passage differs also as to the time. See Deuteronomy 16:18 * and Deuteronomy 17:8 *, where further provision is made for the administration of justice. Deuteronomy 1:15. officers:...

MEN. Hebrew, plural of _'ish_ or _'enosh_...