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DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 1
A rehearsal of what had befallen Israel in their forty years' march; as, God's command to depart, Deu_1:1-8. Moses's inability to judge alone, Deu_1:9-12. Other judges and officers appointed, Deu_1:13-16. Charge given the judges, Deu_1:17,18. Their passage to Kadesh-barnea, Deu_1:19-21. Spies sent to search the land of the Amorites, Deu_1:22-24. Their return and report, Deu_1:25. The disobedience of the people, Deu_1:26-33. God's wrath, Deu_1:34-40. They smitten by the Amorites, Deu_1:44. Their complaint to God, which the Lord regards not, Deu_1:45.
These are the laws, counsels, and admonitions delivered by Moses from God to Israel, which are here repeated for the instruction and obligation of those who by reason of their tender years were uncapable either of understanding them, or of entering into covenant with God.
Unto all Israel, to wit, by the heads or elders of the several tribes, or others, who were to communicate these discourses to all the people in several assemblies.
In the plain; either.
1. In the vast desert of Arabia. But that is no where called a plain. Or rather,
2. In the plain of Moab, as may appear by comparing this with Deu_1:5 Num_22:1 Deu_34:8.
Object. That was far from the Red Sea here mentioned.
Answ. The word suph here used doth not signify the Red Sea, which is commonly called jam suph, and which was at too great a distance; but some other place now unknown to us, (as also most of the following places are,) so called from the reeds, or flags, or rushes (which that word signifies) that grew in or near it; which reason of the name being common to other places with the Red Sea, it is not strange if they got the same name. Compare Num_21:14. Paran; not that Num_10:12, which there and elsewhere is called the wilderness of Paran, and which was too remote; but some other place called by the same name, than which nothing more usual. Tophel and Laban; places not mentioned elsewhere.
Hazeroth; of which see Num_11:35 33:17,18. And these places seem to be the several bounds and limits not of the whole country of Moab, but of the plain of Moab, where Moses now was, and spoke these words.