Deuteronomy 1:17

_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 ...

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 1:17. _YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS_] Heb. _faces_. Let not the bold, daring countenance of the rich or mighty induce you to give an unrighteous decision; and let not the abject look of the poor man induce you either to favour him in an unrighteous cause, or to give judgment against him at the demand of the oppressor. Be uncorrupt and incorruptible, for _the judgment is God's_; ye minister in the place of God, act like HIM....

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

YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS IN JUDGMENT,.... Or pass judgment, and give sentence according to the outward appearances, circumstances, and relations of men; as whether they be friends or foes, rich or poor, old or young, men or women, learned or unlearned; truth and justice should always take place, without any regard to what persons are: BUT YOU SHALL HEAR THE SMALL AS WELL AS THE GREAT; persons in low, life, and in mean circumstances, as well as great and noble personages; or little causes and of no great moment, as well as those of the utmost importance; all must be attended to, a cause about a "prutah" or a farthing, as well as one about a hundred pounds, in which Jarchi instances, and if that came first it was not to be postponed: YE SHALL NOT BE AFRAID OF THE FACE OF MAN; of the frowns and threatenings of rich men, and of such as are in power and authority; not be awed or intimid...

_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:...

RESPECT. recognise. PERSONS. Hebrew faces. Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Part), App-6, put for persons. Compare Leviticus 19:15. JUDGMENT. Hebrew the judgment: i.e. suited to each case. Compare Exodus 18:26. IS GOD'S. it [is] God's....

Duet Deuteronomy 1:6 to Deuteronomy 3:29. Historical Part of the First Introductory Discourse Spoken in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 1:5) in _the gai_or _glen, over against Beth Pe-or_(Deuteronomy 3:29), a review of Israel's experiences since they left Ḥoreb. In the Plur. form of address except for the following fragments Deuteronomy 1:8; Deuteronomy 1:21;...

_VER._ 16, 17. _I CHARGED YOUR JUDGES,_ &C.— It was ordered by Solon, that all the Athenian judges should take this oath, "I will hear the plaintiff and defendant both alike." The Jews understand the words in the 16th verse as enjoining, that a judge was not to hear any man when the adversary was absent; but both parties were to be there present. Respecting the _stranger,_ see Leviticus 24:22 and against partiality in judgment, Leviticus 19:15. Plutarch tells us, in his treatise of Isis and Osiris, that at Thebes were placed the statues of their judges, without hands, with their chief or president at their head, having his eyes turned downward; signifying thereby, that justice ought neither to be accessible to bribes, nor guided by favour or affection. See...