Deuteronomy 1

Here in this chapter we read of Moses speech which took place forty years after they left Mount Horeb.

Here he reminded them how God told Israel to possess the land which the Lord promised to their fathers. He further recounted how he appointed leaders from the tribes of Israel to help him as judges over the people.

He furthermore described how Israel requested for spies to spy out the land of promise when they were at its borders. Moses thought that it was a good idea and so they were sent. But they gave an exaggerated and unbelieving report about the inhabitants of the land which totally frightened and discouraged Israel. In unbelief, Israel forgot about the care and protection which the Lord did for them in their journey. They murmured and complained against the Lord.

Moses then told about how God responded by saying that only Caleb and Joshua of the unbelieving generation will enter the land. Not even Moses, for some wrong he did, would be able to enter. The land would be given to the children of the unbelieving older generation of Israelites.

Then Moses rehashed how God, in anger, told Israel to retreat from the land of promise. But the Israelites after realizing their sin disobeyed God's directive. They went and attempted to possess the land. But they were soundly repulsed and defeated.