Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close BLPH

Deuteronomio 1
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)

I.— PRIMER DISCURSO DE MOISÉS (1,1—4,43)

Introducción histórica

1 Estas son las palabras que Moisés comunicó a todo Israel, al otro lado del Jordán, en el desierto, en la Arabá, frente a Suf, entre Parán, Tofel, Labán, Jaserot y Di Zahab. 2 Desde el monte Horeb hasta Cadés Barnea hay once jornadas de camino, por la ruta de la montaña de Seír. 3 El día primero del undécimo mes, en el año cuarenta, Moisés comunicó a los israelitas todo lo que el Señor le había encomendado que les dijese, 4 después de haber derrotado a Sijón, rey de los amorreos, que residía en Jesbón, y a Og, rey de Basán, que residía en Astarot y Edreí.

5 Al otro lado del Jordán, en tierra de Moab, comenzó Moisés a promulgar esta ley, diciendo:

Dios da la orden de partida

6 El Señor, nuestro Dios, nos dijo esto en el Horeb:

— ¡Ya llevan mucho tiempo en estas montañas! 7 Desmonten, pues, el campamento y pónganse en marcha; diríjanse a las montañas de los amorreos y a todas sus zonas vecinas: la Arabá, la Montaña, la Sefela, el Négueb y el litoral. Sigan por la tierra de los cananeos hasta llegar al Líbano y al río grande: el río Éufrates. 8 ¡Miren! Yo les he entregado el país; ahora entren y tomen posesión de la tierra que el Señor les prometió según juró a sus antepasados, Abrahán, Isaac y Jacob, y a sus descendientes.

Nombramiento de jueces (Ex 18,13-27)

9 En aquella ocasión les dije: “Yo solo no doy abasto con todos ustedes, 10 porque el Señor su Dios, los ha multiplicado de tal manera que son tan numerosos como las estrellas del cielo. 11 ¡Que el Señor, el Dios de sus antepasados, los haga mil veces más numerosos todavía y los bendiga como les ha prometido! 12 Pero, ¿cómo podré yo solo sobrellevar sus cargas, sus disputas y pleitos? 13 Elijan de cada tribu hombres experimentados, que sean conocidos por su sabiduría y prudencia y yo los pondré al frente de ustedes”.

14 Ustedes me respondieron: “Estamos de acuerdo con lo que nos propones”. 15 Entonces elegí de entre los jefes de las tribus a algunos hombres sabios y experimentados, y les di autoridad sobre ustedes. A unos los puse a cargo de grupos de mil hombres; a otros, a cargo de cien; a otros, de cincuenta; a otros, de diez, y a otros los nombré oficiales responsables de cada tribu. 16 Al mismo tiempo, di a los jueces estas normas: “Escuchen a sus hermanos y administren justicia cuando tengan pleitos entre ellos o con extranjeros. 17 No sean parciales en las sentencias; consideren de igual manera la causa de los débiles y la de los poderosos; no se dejen intimidar por nadie, porque el juicio es de Dios. Y si el asunto les sobrepasa, pásenmelo a mí para que yo lo atienda”.

18 Yo les indiqué entonces todo lo que debían hacer.

Misión de los doce espías (Nm 13,1—14,4)

19 Así, pues, dejamos el Horeb y recorrimos todo ese inmenso y espantoso desierto que ustedes han visto, camino de las montañas de los amorreos, hasta que llegamos a Cadés Barnea, como el Señor nuestro Dios nos había mandado. 20 Entonces les dije: “Ya han llegado a las montañas de los amorreos, que el Señor nuestro Dios nos da. 21 El Señor tu Dios te entrega esta tierra: ¡Adelante, pues!, toma posesión de ella tal como te ha dicho el Señor, el Dios de tus antepasados. No temas ni te acobardes”. 22 Pero todos ustedes vinieron a decirme: “¿Qué tal si primero enviamos algunos hombres para que inspeccionen esta tierra y averigüen qué rutas debemos seguir y las ciudades en las que podemos entrar?”.

23 Su propuesta me pareció buena, así que escogí a doce de ustedes, uno por cada tribu. 24 Ellos partieron y subieron por la montaña hasta llegar al valle de Escol y exploraron la zona. 25 Después tomaron algunos frutos de la tierra, nos los trajeron y nos dijeron: “La tierra que el Señor nuestro Dios nos da es realmente espléndida”.

26 Sin embargo, ustedes se rebelaron contra la orden del Señor su Dios, se negaron a subir, 27 y se pusieron a murmurar dentro de sus tiendas diciendo: “El Señor debe odiarnos; nos sacó de Egipto para entregarnos en manos de los amorreos y destruirnos”. 28 ¡A dónde vamos a ir! Nuestros hermanos nos han metido el miedo en el cuerpo al decirnos que la gente de allí es más fuerte y más alta que nosotros, que las ciudades son enormes y están provistas de murallas que tocan el cielo. ¡Para colmo, nos dicen que vieron anaquitas por allí!

29 Entonces les respondí: “No se asusten ni les tengan miedo. 30 El Señor su Dios va delante de ustedes y combatirá por ustedes, como ya vieron que lo hizo en Egipto. 31 Y también has visto cómo el Señor tu Dios te conducía a lo largo de todo el camino que han recorrido por el desierto hasta llegar aquí, con el cuidado con que un padre lleva a su hijo”. 32 A pesar de eso, ninguno de ustedes confió en el Señor su Dios, 33 que iba delante de ustedes para buscarles dónde acampar. De noche lo hacía en forma de fuego, para que vieran el camino a seguir, y de día los acompañaba en forma de nube.

El Señor se enoja contra los israelitas y los castiga (Nm 14,20-35)

34 Cuando el Señor escuchó sus murmuraciones, se enojó e hizo este juramento: 35 “Nadie de esta generación perversa verá esta tierra fértil que juré dar a sus antepasados. 36 Solo la verá Caleb, hijo de Jefuné. A él y a sus hijos les daré la tierra que ha explorado, porque él sí ha confiado plenamente en el Señor”.

37 También el Señor se enojó conmigo, por culpa de ustedes, y me dijo: “Tampoco tú entrarás en esa tierra. 38 Quien sí entrará es tu ayudante, Josué hijo de Nun. Infúndele valor, porque él será quien haga que Israel posea la tierra. 39 En cuanto a sus niños, que aún no tienen uso de razón —y que ustedes pensaron que acabarían siendo botín de guerra—, ellos sí entrarán en la tierra y la poseerán, porque yo se la he dado. 40 En cuanto a ustedes, den media vuelta, regresen al desierto y encamínense de nuevo al mar de las Cañas”.

La derrota en Jormá (Nm 14,39-45)

41 Entonces me respondieron diciendo: “Hemos pecado contra el Señor, pero ahora iremos y lucharemos tal como el Señor nuestro Dios nos lo ha mandado”. Y se equiparon para la guerra, pensando que era fácil subir a la montaña. 42 Pero el Señor me dijo: “Adviérteles que no suban a pelear si no quieren ser derrotados por el enemigo, porque yo no estaré con ellos”.

43 Yo le advertí, pero no me escucharon; se rebelaron contra la orden del Señor y tuvieron la osadía de subir a la montaña. 44 Entonces los amorreos que habitaban las montañas salieron a su encuentro y los hicieron correr como si los persiguiese un enjambre de avispas, y los derrotaron desde Seír hasta Jormá. 45 De vuelta lloraron ante el Señor, pero no los escuchó ni les prestó atención. 46 Por eso tuvieron que permanecer tanto tiempo en Cadés Barnea.

Close TLA

Deuteronomio 1
Traducción en lenguaje actual

Discurso de Moisés

1 1-5 Moisés habló con los israelitas cuando ellos se encontraban en Cadés-barnea, pueblo moabita que estaba en el desierto de Arabá, frente a Suf. Cerca de allí estaban los pueblos de Parán, Tófel, Labán, Haserot y Dizahab. Para llegar a Cadés-barnea había que caminar once días desde el monte Horeb, siguiendo el camino del monte Seír. Moisés les habló cuarenta años después de que salieron de Egipto. Era el día primero del mes de Sebat[a] de ese año, cuando Moisés comunicó a los israelitas todas las leyes que Dios le había ordenado darles.

En el camino, Moisés había derrotado a varios reyes. En Hesbón derrotó a Sihón, rey de los amorreos, y en Astarot, que está en la región de Edrei, derrotó a Og, rey de Basán.

Moisés dirigió a los israelitas estas palabras mientras estaban al este del río Jordán:

6 «Cuando estábamos en el monte Horeb, nuestro Dios nos dijo lo siguiente: “Ustedes ya han pasado demasiado tiempo en este monte, 7 así que levanten el campamento y vayan hacia las montañas, que es donde viven los amorreos, y hacia las regiones de alrededor. Vayan al Arabá, a las montañas, a los valles y al desierto del sur, la costa, el territorio cananeo y el Líbano, hasta llegar al gran río Éufrates. 8 Vayan y conquisten ese territorio, pues yo les prometí a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob que se lo daría. También les prometí que se lo daría a ustedes, pues son sus descendientes”».

Los jefes de Israel

Moisés siguió diciendo:

9-12 «Para ese tiempo, Dios les había dado a ustedes tantos descendientes que llegaron a ser un pueblo muy grande. Yo mismo le pedí a Dios que los bendijera y los hiciera mil veces más grandes de lo que ya eran. Entonces me di cuenta de que yo solo no podría encargarme de todos los problemas de ustedes. 13 Por eso les aconsejé elegir de entre todas las tribus a hombres sabios, inteligentes y con experiencia, para que los pusieran como jefes del pueblo y así me ayudaran.

14 »Ustedes estuvieron de acuerdo con esta idea. 15 Por eso elegí a los hombres más sabios y de mayor experiencia, y los puse como jefes de ustedes. Unos tenían autoridad sobre mil hombres; otros, sobre cien; otros, sobre cincuenta; y otros, sobre diez. Hubo otros a quienes puse como jefes de toda una tribu.

16-18 »En ese momento les dije a ustedes todo lo que debían hacer. A los jueces les dije que fueran justos con todos por igual, sin importar que fueran pobres o ricos, israelitas o extranjeros, y sin tener miedo de nada ni de nadie, pues Dios respaldaría sus decisiones. También les dije que cuando algún caso les fuera muy difícil, me lo pasaran a mí, para que yo lo juzgara.

Los doce espías

19 »Luego de eso nuestro Dios nos ordenó partir del monte Horeb y trasladarnos a los montes donde vivían los amorreos. Con mucho miedo, atravesamos el gran desierto y llegamos a Cadés-barnea. 20-21 Allí les dije que nuestro Dios nos había dado la región montañosa de los amorreos; también los animé a conquistar ese territorio, tal y como Dios lo había ordenado. 22 Pero ustedes me pidieron que primero enviara espías, para que vieran cómo era el territorio, cuál era el mejor camino a seguir, y qué ciudades nos íbamos a encontrar.

23 »Yo estuve de acuerdo, y elegí a doce espías, uno por cada tribu. 24 Ellos fueron a explorar las montañas, y llegaron al valle de Escol. 25 Allí tomaron algunos de los frutos de esa región, y nos informaron que el territorio que nuestro Dios nos iba a dar era de lo mejor.

26 »Sin embargo, ustedes desobedecieron las órdenes de Dios y no quisieron ir. 27 Al contrario, regresaron a sus casas y se quejaron de Dios. Pensaron que Dios no los quería, y que los había sacado de Egipto sólo para que los amorreos los destruyeran. 28 Cuando supieron que en ese territorio vivía gente muy fuerte y de gran estatura, y que sus ciudades estaban rodeadas de grandes murallas, les dio mucho miedo. Y más se desanimaron cuando supieron que allí vivían también los descendientes del gigante Anac.

29 »Yo recuerdo que les dije: “¡Cálmense! ¡No tengan miedo! 30 Nuestro Dios nos guiará y luchará por nosotros, así como luchó por nosotros contra Egipto y nos guió por el desierto. 31 Él nos ha traído hasta aquí, como si nos llevara en brazos, y hasta ahora nada nos ha pasado. Ha sido un padre para nosotros”.

32 »A pesar de eso, ustedes no han querido confiar en él, 33 aun cuando él ya se ha adelantado a elegir el lugar que va a darles. Para llevarlos allá, ha venido guiándolos; de noche los ha alumbrado con fuego, y de día los ha protegido con una nube.

Dios castiga a Israel

34-35 »Cuando Dios escuchó sus quejas, se enojó, pues ustedes son gente muy mala. Por eso juró que no disfrutarían de la tierra que había prometido a sus antepasados. 36 Y como Caleb fue el único obediente, Dios dijo que él sería el único que disfrutaría de ella. Por eso también sus descendientes recibirían toda la tierra que tocaran con la planta de sus pies.

37 »Por culpa de ustedes, Dios se enojó conmigo y me dijo: “Tampoco tú entrarás a esta tierra. 38 Será Josué quien guiará al pueblo y les entregará la tierra a los israelitas. Él es tu ayudante, así que anímalo”.

39 »Dios también me dijo: “Los israelitas pensaron que el enemigo les quitaría a sus niños y a sus esposas. Sin embargo, serán sus hijos los que entrarán a la tierra y se harán dueños de ella, aun cuando ahora son apenas unos niños. Diles eso a los israelitas, 40 y diles además que regresen al desierto, por el camino que lleva al Mar de los Juncos”.

41 »Yo les comuniqué todo esto, y ustedes reconocieron que habían pecado contra Dios. Entonces decidieron salir a conquistar la tierra, tal como Dios les había ordenado. Tomaron sus armas, confiados en que les sería fácil subir las montañas; 42 pero Dios me pidió advertirles que serían derrotados, pues él no les daría la victoria.

43-44 »Sin embargo, ustedes se sintieron muy valientes y no hicieron caso de la orden de Dios. Subieron a las montañas para pelear contra los amorreos, pero ellos les hicieron frente y los derrotaron. ¡Como si fueran avispas, los persiguieron por todo Seír y hasta Hormá! 45 Luego, al regresar, ustedes lloraron y se quejaron ante Dios, pero él no les hizo caso, 46 y ustedes tuvieron que quedarse a vivir en Cadés por mucho tiempo más.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomio 1:1 Sebat: Decimoprimer mes del calendario lunar judío. En nuestro calendario solar corresponde al período que va de mediados de enero a mediados de febrero.
Close NET

Deuteronomy 1
New English Translation

The Covenant Setting

1 This is what[a] Moses said to all of Israel in the Transjordanian[b] wilderness, the arid rift valley opposite[c] Suph,[d] between[e] Paran[f] and Tophel,[g] Laban,[h] Hazeroth,[i] and Di Zahab.[j] 2 Now it is ordinarily an eleven-day journey[k] from Horeb[l] to Kadesh Barnea[m] by way of Mount Seir.[n] 3 However, it was not until[o] the first day of the eleventh month[p] of the fortieth year[q] that Moses addressed the Israelites just as[r] the Lord had instructed him to do. 4 This took place after the defeat[s] of King Sihon[t] of the Amorites, whose capital was[u] in Heshbon,[v] and King Og of Bashan, whose capital was[w] in Ashtaroth,[x] specifically in Edrei.[y] 5 So it was in the Transjordan, in Moab, that Moses began to deliver these words:[z]

Events at Horeb

6 The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb and said, “You have stayed[aa] in the area of this mountain long enough. 7 Head out[ab] and resume your journey. Enter the Amorite hill country, and all its neighboring areas, including the rift valley,[ac] the hill country, the foothills,[ad] the Negev,[ae] and the coastal plain—all of Canaan and Lebanon as far as the Great River, that is, the Euphrates. 8 Look! I have already given the land to you.[af] Go, occupy the territory that I,[ag] the Lord, promised[ah] to give to your ancestors[ai] Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants.”[aj] 9 I also said to you at that time, “I am no longer able to sustain you by myself. 10 The Lord your God has increased your population[ak] to the point that you are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky.[al] 11 Indeed, may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you[am] just as he said he would! 12 But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife? 13 Select wise and practical[an] men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.” 14 You replied to me that what I had said to you was good. 15 So I chose[ao] as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials. 16 I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they[ap] should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens[aq] and judge fairly,[ar] whether between one person and a native Israelite[as] or a resident foreigner.[at] 17 They[au] must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly[av] and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.

Instructions at Kadesh Barnea

18 So I instructed you at that time regarding everything you should do. 19 Then we left Horeb and passed through all that immense, forbidding wilderness that you saw on the way to the Amorite hill country as the Lord our God had commanded us to do, finally arriving at Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, “You have come to the Amorite hill country, which the Lord our God is about to give[aw] us. 21 Look, he[ax] has placed the land in front of you![ay] Go up, take possession of it, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to do. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” 22 So all of you approached me and said, “Let’s send some men ahead of us to scout out the land and bring us back word as to how we should attack it and what the cities are like there.” 23 I thought this was a good idea,[az] so I sent[ba] twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. 24 They left and went up to the hill country, coming to the Eshcol Valley,[bb] which they scouted out. 25 Then they took[bc] some of the produce of the land and carried it back down to us. They also brought a report to us, saying, “The land that the Lord our God is about to give us is good.”

Disobedience at Kadesh Barnea

26 You were not willing to go up, however, but instead rebelled against the Lord your God.[bd] 27 You complained among yourselves privately[be] and said, “Because the Lord hates us he brought us from Egypt to deliver us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us! 28 What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage[bf] by describing people who are more numerous[bg] and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven[bh] itself! Moreover, they said they saw[bi] Anakites[bj] there.” 29 So I responded to you, “Do not be terrified[bk] of them! 30 The Lord your God is about to go[bl] ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt[bm] 31 and in the wilderness, where you saw him[bn] carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.” 32 However, through all this you did not have confidence in the Lord your God, 33 who would go before you on the way to find places for you to camp, appearing in a fire at night and in a cloud by day to show you the way you ought to go.

Judgment at Kadesh Barnea

34 When the Lord heard you, he became angry and made this vow:[bo] 35 “Not a single person[bp] of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors! 36 The exception is Caleb son of Jephunneh;[bq] he will see it and I will give him and his descendants the territory on which he has walked, because he has wholeheartedly followed me.”[br] 37 As for me, the Lord was also angry with me on your account. He said, “You also will not be able to go there. 38 However, Joshua son of Nun, your assistant,[bs] will go. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit the land.[bt] 39 Also, your infants, who you thought would die on the way,[bu] and your children, who as yet do not know good from bad,[bv] will go there; I will give them the land and they will possess it. 40 But as for you,[bw] turn back and head for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”[bx]

Unsuccessful Conquest of Canaan

41 Then you responded to me and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will now go up and fight as the Lord our God has told us to do.” So you each put on your battle gear and prepared to go up to the hill country. 42 But the Lord told me: “Tell them this: ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you and you will be defeated by your enemies.’” 43 I spoke to you, but you did not listen. Instead you rebelled against the Lord[by] and recklessly went up to the hill country. 44 The Amorite inhabitants of that area[bz] confronted[ca] you and chased you like a swarm of bees, striking you down from Seir as far as Hormah.[cb] 45 Then you came back and wept before the Lord, but he[cc] paid no attention to you whatsoever.[cd] 46 Therefore, you remained at Kadesh for a long time—indeed, for the full time.[ce]

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 1:1 tn Heb “These are the words.”
  2. Deuteronomy 1:1 tn Heb “on the other side of the Jordan.” This would appear to favor authorship by someone living on the west side of the Jordan, that is, in Canaan, whereas the biblical tradition locates Moses on the east side (cf. v. 5). However the Hebrew phrase בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן (beʿever hayyarden) is a frozen form meaning “Transjordan,” a name appropriate from any geographical vantage point. To this day, one standing east of the Jordan can describe himself as being in Transjordan.
  3. Deuteronomy 1:1 tn The Hebrew term מוֹל (mol) may also mean “in front of” or “near” (cf. NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
  4. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn This place is otherwise unattested and its location is unknown. Perhaps it is Khirbet Sufah, 4 mi (6 km) SSE of Madaba, Jordan.
  5. Deuteronomy 1:1 tn The Hebrew term בֵּין (ben) may suggest “in the area of.”
  6. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn Paran is the well-known desert area between Mount Sinai and Kadesh Barnea (cf. Num 10:12; 12:16).
  7. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn Tophel refers possibly to eṭ-Ṭafîleh, 15 mi (25 km) SE of the Dead Sea, or to Dâbîlu, another name for Paran. See H. Cazelles, “Tophel (Deut. 1:1),” VT 9 (1959): 412-15.
  8. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn Laban. Perhaps this refers to Libnah (Num 33:20).
  9. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn Hazeroth. This probably refers to ʿAin Khadra. See Y. Aharoni, The Land of the Bible, 199-200.
  10. Deuteronomy 1:1 sn Di Zahab. Perhaps this refers to Mina al-Dhahab on the eastern Sinai coast.
  11. Deuteronomy 1:2 sn An eleven-day journey was about 140 mi (233 km).
  12. Deuteronomy 1:2 sn Horeb is another name for Sinai. “Horeb” occurs 9 times in the Book of Deuteronomy and “Sinai” only once (33:2). “Sinai” occurs 13 times in the Book of Exodus and “Horeb” only 3 times.
  13. Deuteronomy 1:2 sn Kadesh Barnea. Possibly this refers to ʿAin Qudeis, about 50 mi (80 km) southwest of Beer Sheba, but more likely to ʿAin Qudeirat, 5 mi (8 km) NW of ʿAin Qudeis. See R. Cohen, “Did I Excavate Kadesh Barnea?” BAR 7 (1981): 20-33.
  14. Deuteronomy 1:2 sn Mount Seir is synonymous with Edom. “By way of Mount Seir” refers to the route from Horeb that ended up in Edom Cf. CEV “by way of the Mount Seir Road”; TEV “by way of the hill country of Edom.”
  15. Deuteronomy 1:3 tn Heb “in” or “on.” Here there is a contrast between the ordinary time of eleven days (v. 2) and the actual time of forty years, so “not until” brings out that vast disparity.
  16. Deuteronomy 1:3 sn The eleventh month is Shebat in the Hebrew calendar, January/February in the modern (Gregorian) calendar.
  17. Deuteronomy 1:3 sn The fortieth year would be 1406 b.c. according to the “early” date of the exodus. See E. H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests, 66-75.
  18. Deuteronomy 1:3 tn Heb “according to all which.”
  19. Deuteronomy 1:4 tn Heb “when he struck [or “smote”].”
  20. Deuteronomy 1:4 sn See Deut 2:26-3:22.
  21. Deuteronomy 1:4 tn Heb “who lived.”
  22. Deuteronomy 1:4 sn Heshbon is probably modern Tell Hesban, about 7.5 mi (12 km) south southwest of Amman, Jordan.
  23. Deuteronomy 1:4 tn Heb “who lived.”
  24. Deuteronomy 1:4 sn Ashtaroth is probably Tell ʿAshtarah, about 22 mi (35 km) due east of the Sea of Galilee.
  25. Deuteronomy 1:4 sn Edrei is probably modern Derʿa, 60 mi (95 km) south of Damascus (see Num 21:33; Josh 12:4; 13:12, 31).
  26. Deuteronomy 1:5 tn Heb “this instruction”; KJV, NIV, NRSV “this law”; TEV “God’s laws and teachings.” The Hebrew noun תּוֹרָה (torah) is derived from the verb יָרָה (yarah, “to teach”) and here it refers to the Book of Deuteronomy, not the Pentateuch as a whole.
  27. Deuteronomy 1:6 tn Heb “lived”; “dwelled.”
  28. Deuteronomy 1:7 tn Heb “turn”; NAB “Leave here”; NIV, TEV “Break camp.”
  29. Deuteronomy 1:7 sn As a geographic feature the rift valley (עֲרָבָה, ʿaravah) extends from Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba. The reference here probably includes the Jordan Valley and continues to the wider part of the rift valley below the Dead Sea. Some versions transliterate the name as Arabah (ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV).
  30. Deuteronomy 1:7 tn The שְׁפֵלָה (shephelah) is the geographical region between the Mediterranean coastal plain and the hill country, sometimes called the “western foothills” (NIV, CEV, NLT), “Judean foothills” (Holman), “lowland” (NASB, ESV), or by the Hebrew “Shephelah” (NRSV).
  31. Deuteronomy 1:7 sn The Negev is the area of central, southern Judah, south of the hill country and Beer Sheba and west of the rift valley. As a geographic feature it is a depression extending south to the gulf of Aqaba, but the reference here is probably to the northern portion of the region.
  32. Deuteronomy 1:8 tn Heb “I have placed before you the land.”
  33. Deuteronomy 1:8 tn Heb “the Lord.” Since the Lord is speaking, it is preferable for clarity to supply the first person pronoun in the translation.
  34. Deuteronomy 1:8 tn Heb “swore” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). This refers to God’s promise, made by solemn oath, to give the patriarchs the land.
  35. Deuteronomy 1:8 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 11, 21, 35).
  36. Deuteronomy 1:8 tn Heb “their seed after them.”
  37. Deuteronomy 1:10 tn Heb “multiplied you.”
  38. Deuteronomy 1:10 tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
  39. Deuteronomy 1:11 tn Heb “may he bless you.”
  40. Deuteronomy 1:13 tn The Hebrew verb נְבֹנִים (nevonim, from בִּין [bin]) is a Niphal referring to skill or intelligence (see T. Fretheim, NIDOTTE 1:652-53).
  41. Deuteronomy 1:15 tn Or “selected”; Heb “took.”
  42. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Or “you.” A number of English versions treat the remainder of this verse and v. 17 as direct discourse rather than indirect discourse (cf. KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
  43. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Heb “brothers.” The term “brothers” could, in English, be understood to refer to siblings, so “fellow citizens” has been used in the translation.
  44. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn The Hebrew word צֶדֶק (tsedeq, “fairly”) carries the basic idea of conformity to a norm of expected behavior or character, one established by God himself. Fair judgment adheres strictly to that norm or standard (see D. Reimer, NIDOTTE 3:750).
  45. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Heb “between a man and his brother.” The first use of “brother” in this verse refers broadly to fellow citizens. This second use is narrower, being in opposition to the “resident foreigner.” The גֵּר (ger) “resident foreigner” was not simply a foreigner (Hebrew נֵכָר; nekar) but was essentially a naturalized citizen and had equal protection under the law. This is one of the verses designed to ensure that equal treatment (see also Deut 10:16-19; 16:18-20; Exod 12:49; Num 15:16, 29).
  46. Deuteronomy 1:16 sn On the Hebrew ger (גֵּר) “resident foreigner,” see notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11.
  47. Deuteronomy 1:17 tn Heb “you,” and throughout the verse (cf. NASB, NRSV).
  48. Deuteronomy 1:17 tn Heb “the small,” but referring to social status, not physical stature.
  49. Deuteronomy 1:20 tn The Hebrew participle has an imminent future sense here, although many English versions treat it as a present tense (“is giving us,” NAB, NIV, NRSV) or a predictive future (“will give us,” NCV).
  50. Deuteronomy 1:21 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” The pronoun (“he”) has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons, to avoid repetition.
  51. Deuteronomy 1:21 tn Or “has given you the land” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV).
  52. Deuteronomy 1:23 tn Heb “the thing was good in my eyes.”
  53. Deuteronomy 1:23 tn Or “selected” (so NIV, NRSV, TEV); Heb “took.”
  54. Deuteronomy 1:24 tn Or “the Wadi Eshcol” (so NAB).sn The Eshcol Valley is a verdant valley near Hebron, still famous for its viticulture (cf. Num 13:22-23). The Hebrew name “Eshcol” means “trestle,” that is, the frame on which grape vines grow.
  55. Deuteronomy 1:25 tn The Hebrew text includes “in their hand,” which is unnecessary and somewhat redundant in English style.
  56. Deuteronomy 1:26 tn Heb “the mouth of the Lord your God.” To include “the mouth” would make for odd English style. The mouth stands by metonymy for the Lord’s command, which in turn represents the Lord himself.
  57. Deuteronomy 1:27 tn Heb “in your tents,” that is, privately.
  58. Deuteronomy 1:28 tn Heb “have caused our hearts to melt.”
  59. Deuteronomy 1:28 tn Heb “greater.” Many English versions understand this to refer to physical size or strength rather than numbers (cf. “stronger,” NAB, NIV, NRSV; “bigger,” NASB).
  60. Deuteronomy 1:28 tn Or “as the sky.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
  61. Deuteronomy 1:28 tn Heb “we have seen.”
  62. Deuteronomy 1:28 tn Heb “the sons of the Anakim.”sn Anakites were giant people (Num 13:33; Deut 2:10, 21; 9:2) descended from a certain Anak whose own forefather Arba founded the city of Kiriath Arba, i.e., Hebron (Josh 21:11).
  63. Deuteronomy 1:29 tn Heb “do not tremble and do not be afraid.” Two synonymous commands are combined for emphasis.
  64. Deuteronomy 1:30 tn The Hebrew participle indicates imminent future action here, though some English versions treat it as a predictive future (“will go ahead of you,” NCV; cf. also TEV, CEV).
  65. Deuteronomy 1:30 tn Heb “according to all which he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.”
  66. Deuteronomy 1:31 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” The pronoun (“him”) has been employed in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  67. Deuteronomy 1:34 tn Heb “and swore,” i.e., made an oath or vow.
  68. Deuteronomy 1:35 tn Heb “Not a man among these men.”
  69. Deuteronomy 1:36 sn Caleb had, with Joshua, brought back to Israel a minority report from Canaan urging a conquest of the land, for he was confident of the Lord’s power (Num 13:6, 8, 16, 30; 14:30, 38).
  70. Deuteronomy 1:36 tn Heb “the Lord.” The pronoun (“me”) has been employed in the translation, since it sounds strange to an English reader for the Lord to speak about himself in third person.
  71. Deuteronomy 1:38 tn Heb “the one who stands before you”; NAB “your aide”; TEV “your helper.”
  72. Deuteronomy 1:38 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the land) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  73. Deuteronomy 1:39 tn Heb “would be a prey.”
  74. Deuteronomy 1:39 sn Do not know good from bad. This is a figure of speech called a merism (suggesting a whole by referring to its extreme opposites). Other examples are the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:9), the boy who knows enough “to reject the wrong and choose the right” (Isa 7:16; 8:4), and those who “cannot tell their right hand from their left” (Jonah 4:11). A young child is characterized by lack of knowledge.
  75. Deuteronomy 1:40 tn The Hebrew pronoun is plural, as are the following verbs, indicating that Moses and the people are addressed (note v. 41).
  76. Deuteronomy 1:40 tn Heb “the Reed Sea.” “Reed” is a better translation of the Hebrew סוּף (suf), traditionally rendered “red.” The name “Red Sea” is based on the LXX which referred to it as ἐρυθρᾶς θαλάσσης (eruthras thalassēs, “red sea”). Nevertheless, because the body of water in question is known in modern times as the Red Sea, this term was used in the translation. The part of the Red Sea in view here is not the one crossed in the exodus but its eastern arm, now known as the Gulf of Eilat or Gulf of Aqaba.
  77. Deuteronomy 1:43 tn Heb “the mouth of the Lord.” See note at 1:26.
  78. Deuteronomy 1:44 tn Heb “in that hill country,” repeating the end of v. 43.
  79. Deuteronomy 1:44 tn Heb “came out to meet.”
  80. Deuteronomy 1:44 sn Hormah is probably Khirbet el-Meshash, 5.5 mi (9 km) west of Arad and 7.5 mi (12 km) SE of Beer Sheba. Its name is a derivative of the verb חָרָם (kharam, “to ban; to exterminate”). See Num 21:3.
  81. Deuteronomy 1:45 tn Heb “the Lord.” The pronoun (“he”) has been employed in the translation here for stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy.
  82. Deuteronomy 1:45 tn Heb “did not hear your voice and did not turn an ear to you.”
  83. Deuteronomy 1:46 tn Heb “like the days which you lived.” This refers to the rest of the forty-year period in the desert before Israel arrived in Moab.
Listen to Deuteronomy 1
Close NIV

Deuteronomy 1
New International Version

The Command to Leave Horeb

1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan(A)—that is, in the Arabah(B)—opposite Suph, between Paran(C) and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb(D) to Kadesh Barnea(E) by the Mount Seir(F) road.)(G)

3 In the fortieth year,(H) on the first day of the eleventh month,(I) Moses proclaimed(J) to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4 This was after he had defeated Sihon(K) king of the Amorites,(L) who reigned in Heshbon,(M) and at Edrei had defeated Og(N) king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.(O)

5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab,(P) Moses began to expound this law, saying:

6 The Lord our God said to us(Q) at Horeb,(R) “You have stayed long enough(S) at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites;(T) go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah,(U) in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev(V) and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites(W) and to Lebanon,(X) as far as the great river, the Euphrates.(Y) 8 See, I have given you this land(Z).(AA) Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore(AB) he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

The Appointment of Leaders

9 At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden(AC) for me to carry alone.(AD) 10 The Lord your God has increased(AE) your numbers(AF) so that today you are as numerous(AG) as the stars in the sky.(AH) 11 May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase(AI) you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!(AJ) 12 But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?(AK) 13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men(AL) from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

14 You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”

15 So I took(AM) the leading men of your tribes,(AN) wise and respected men,(AO) and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders(AP) of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.(AQ) 16 And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge(AR) fairly,(AS) whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.(AT) 17 Do not show partiality(AU) in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone,(AV) for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”(AW) 18 And at that time I told you everything you were to do.(AX)

Spies Sent Out

19 Then, as the Lord our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites(AY) through all that vast and dreadful wilderness(AZ) that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea.(BA) 20 Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. 21 See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession(BB) of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid;(BC) do not be discouraged.”(BD)

22 Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy(BE) out the land(BF) for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.”

23 The idea seemed good to me; so I selected(BG) twelve of you, one man from each tribe. 24 They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshkol(BH) and explored it. 25 Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported,(BI) “It is a good land(BJ) that the Lord our God is giving us.”(BK)

Rebellion Against the Lord

26 But you were unwilling to go up;(BL) you rebelled(BM) against the command of the Lord your God. 27 You grumbled(BN) in your tents and said, “The Lord hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller(BO) than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites(BP) there.’”

29 Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid(BQ) of them.(BR) 30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight(BS) for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried(BT) you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”(BU)

32 In spite of this,(BV) you did not trust(BW) in the Lord your God, 33 who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day,(BX) to search(BY) out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.

34 When the Lord heard(BZ) what you said, he was angry(CA) and solemnly swore:(CB) 35 “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land(CC) I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb(CD) son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.(CE)”

37 Because of you the Lord became angry(CF) with me also and said, “You shall not enter(CG) it, either. 38 But your assistant, Joshua(CH) son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage(CI) him, because he will lead(CJ) Israel to inherit(CK) it. 39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive,(CL) your children who do not yet know(CM) good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. 40 But as for you, turn around and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[a](CN)”

41 Then you replied, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

42 But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’”(CO)

43 So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. 44 The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees(CP) and beat you down from Seir(CQ) all the way to Hormah.(CR) 45 You came back and wept before the Lord,(CS) but he paid no attention(CT) to your weeping and turned a deaf ear(CU) to you. 46 And so you stayed in Kadesh(CV) many days—all the time you spent there.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 1:40 Or the Sea of Reeds
Next
Números 36
Deuteronomio 2
Next
dropdown
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica) (BLPH)

La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España

Traducción en lenguaje actual (TLA)

Copyright © 2000 by United Bible Societies

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV