Deuteronomy 1 Summary

In the fortieth year, on the east side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses begins to declare the law to all Israel, recounting God's command at Horeb to depart and possess the promised land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He recalls appointing wise and capable leaders to help judge the people justly, and the subsequent journey through the wilderness to Kadesh-barnea. Moses then rehearses the episode of the twelve spies sent into Canaan: though the spies confirmed it was a good land, the people rebelled in fear, murmured against the LORD, and refused to go up, prompting God's sworn judgment that the entire evil generation—except Caleb and Joshua—would not enter the land, and that Moses himself would also be excluded. When the people then presumptuously attempted to enter the land without God's blessing, they were routed by the Amorites and driven back to Kadesh, where they remained.