Deuteronomy 11:5
And what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place;
Original Language Analysis
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 9
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשָׂ֛ה
And what he did
H6213
עָשָׂ֛ה
And what he did
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
2 of 9
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
unto you in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
unto you in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
4 of 9
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
5 of 9
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בֹּֽאֲכֶ֖ם
until ye came
H935
בֹּֽאֲכֶ֖ם
until ye came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
6 of 9
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
7 of 9
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Historical Context
The forty-year wilderness period (c. 1446-1406 BC or 1260-1220 BC depending on Exodus dating) transformed a slave rabble into a covenant nation. They received the Law at Sinai, experienced God's holy presence in the Tabernacle, learned warfare, developed tribal organization, and saw the faithless generation die off. The wilderness was classroom, training ground, and purifying fire. Deuteronomy 8:2-5 interprets this period as God 'humbling and testing' Israel to reveal what was in their hearts.
Questions for Reflection
- How has God used 'wilderness' seasons in your life for spiritual formation and preparation?
- What is the relationship between God's discipline and His love in the wilderness experience?
- How do periods of dependence and testing reveal the true condition of our hearts?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses recounts God's providential care during the wilderness wandering—a period of divine discipline yet also divine provision. The phrase 'what he did unto you in the wilderness' encompasses both judgment (Numbers 14-25) and grace (manna, water, cloud, fire, preserved clothing). The wilderness served as Israel's crucible, where God tested, purified, and prepared them for Canaan. The phrase 'until ye came into this place' indicates the journey's completion—forty years of daily dependence on divine provision. This reinforces the dual nature of divine chastisement: corrective yet caring, severe yet sustaining.