Deuteronomy 1:3
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 19
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עָשָׂ֥ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֥ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
5 of 19
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
בְּאֶחָ֣ד
on the first
H259
בְּאֶחָ֣ד
on the first
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
דִּבֶּ֤ר
spake
H1696
דִּבֶּ֤ר
spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
9 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
בְּנֵ֣י
unto the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
unto the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
12 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
13 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כְּ֠כֹל
H3605
כְּ֠כֹל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
צִוָּ֧ה
had given him in commandment
H6680
צִוָּ֧ה
had given him in commandment
Strong's:
H6680
Word #:
16 of 19
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
יְהוָ֛ה
according unto all that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
according unto all that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
17 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
Forty years of wilderness wandering fulfilled God's judgment that the rebellious generation would die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:26-35). Moses himself would also die before entering Canaan due to his sin at Meribah (Numbers 20:12). The eleventh month timing suggests this address occurred shortly before Moses' death and Israel's Jordan crossing in the first month of the following year (Joshua 4:19).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's faithfulness to fulfill both His promises and His warnings demonstrate His character?
- What does Moses' faithful transmission of God's commands teach about the responsibility of spiritual leaders?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The fortieth year marks the completion of judgment on the exodus generation who refused to trust God at Kadesh-barnea. The eleventh month (Shebat, January-February) sets the time just weeks before Israel would cross the Jordan into Canaan. Moses speaks 'according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment'—he is not innovating but faithfully transmitting divine revelation. This establishes the authoritative nature of Deuteronomy as God's word through Moses, not merely Moses' reflections.