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Commentary on Deuteronomy 1 verses 9–18
Moses here reminds them of the happy constitution of their government, which was such as might make them all safe and easy if it was not their own fault. When good laws were given them good men were entrusted with the execution of them, which, as it was an instance of God's goodness to them, so it was of the care of Moses concerning them; and, it should seem, he mentions it here to recommend himself to them as a man that sincerely sought their welfare, and so to make way for what he was about to say to them, wherein he aimed at nothing but their good. In this part of his narrative he insinuates to them,
I. That he greatly rejoiced in the increase of their numbers. He owns the accomplishment of God's promise to Abraham (Deu 1:10): You are as the stars of heaven for multitude; and prays for the further accomplishment of it (Deu 1:11): God make you a thousand times more. This prayer comes in in a parenthesis, and a good prayer prudently put in cannot be impertinent in any discourse of divine things, nor will a pious ejaculation break the coherence, but rather strengthen and adorn it. But how greatly are his desires enlarged when he prays that they might be made a thousand times more than they were! We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God, why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope, which ought to be as large as the promise? larger they need not be. It is from the promise that Moses here takes the measures of his prayer: The Lord bless you as he hath promised you. And why might he not hope that they might become a thousand times more than they were now when they were now ten thousand times more than they were when they went down into Egypt, about 250 years ago? Observe, When they were under the government of Pharaoh the increase of their numbers was envied, and complained of as a grievance (Exo 1:9); but now, under the government of Moses, it was rejoiced in, and prayed for as a blessing. The consideration of this might give them occasion to reflect with shame upon their own folly when they had talked of making a captain and returning to Egypt.
II. That he was not ambitious of monopolizing the honour of the government, and ruling them himself alone, as an absolute monarch, Deu 1:9. Though he was a man as well worthy of that honour, and as well qualified for the business, as ever any man was, yet he was desirous that others might be taken in as assistants to him in the business and consequently sharers with him in the honour: I cannot myself alone bear the burden, Deu 1:12. Magistracy is a burden. Moses himself, though eminently gifted for it, found it lay heavily on his shoulders; nay, the best magistrates complain most of the burden, and are most desirous of help, and most afraid of undertaking more than they can perform.
III. That he was not desirous to prefer his own creatures, or such as should underhand have a dependence upon him; for he leaves it to the people to choose their own judges, to whom he would grant commissions, not durant bene placito - to be turned out when he pleased; but quam diu se bene gesserint - to continue so long as they approved themselves faithful. Take you wise men, that are known to be so among your tribes, and I will make them rulers, Deu 1:13. Thus the apostles directed the multitude to choose overseers of the poor, and then they ordained them,. Act 6:3, Act 6:6. He directs them to take wise men and understanding, whose personal merit would recommend them. The rise and origin of this nation were so late that none of them could pretend to antiquity of race, and nobility of birth, above their brethren; and, having all lately come out of slavery in Egypt, it is probable that one family was not much richer than another; so that their choice must be directed purely by the qualifications of wisdom, experience, and integrity. "Choose those," says Moses, "whose praise is in your tribes, and with all my heart I will make them rulers." We must not grudge that God's work be done by other hands than ours, provided it be done by good hands.
IV. That he was in this matter very willing to please the people; and, though he did not in any thing aim at their applause, yet in a thing of this nature he would not act without their approbation. And they agreed to the proposal: The thing which thou hast spoken is good, Deu 1:14. This he mentions to aggravate the sin of their mutinies and discontents after this, that the government they quarrelled with was what they themselves had consented to; Moses would have pleased them if they would have been pleased.
V. That he aimed to edify them as well as to gratify them; for,
1.He appointed men of good characters (Deu 1:15), wise men and men known, men that would be faithful to their trust and to the public interest.
2.He gave them a good charge, Deu 1:16, Deu 1:17. Those that are advanced to honour must know that they are charged with business, and must give account another day of their charge. (1.) He charges them to be diligent and patient: Hear the causes. Hear both sides, hear them fully, hear them carefully; for nature has provided us with two ears, and he that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him. The ear of the learner is necessary to the tongue of the learned, Isa 50:4. (2.) To be just and impartial: Judge righteously. Judgment must be given according to the merits of the cause, without regard to the quality of the parties. The natives must not be suffered to abuse the strangers any more that the strangers to insult the natives or to encroach upon them; the great must not be suffered to oppress the small, nor to crush them, any more than the small, to rob the great, or to affront them. No faces must be known in judgment, but unbribed unbiased equity must always pass sentence. (3.) To be resolute and courageous: "You shall not be afraid of the face of man; be not overawed to do an ill thing, either by the clamours of the crowd or by the menaces of those that have power in their hands." And he gave them a good reason to enforce this charge: "For the judgment is God's. You are God's viceregents, you act for him, and therefore must act like him; you are his representatives, but if you judge unrighteously, you misrepresent him. The judgment is his, and therefore he will protect you in doing right, and will certainly call you to account if you do wrong."
3.He allowed them to bring all difficult cases to him, and he would always be ready to hear and determine, and to make both the judges and the people easy. Happy art thou. O Israel! in such praise as Moses was.
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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 1:11 presents Moses' heartfelt intercessory prayer and benediction for the new generation of Israelites on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. It is a fervent appeal for the LORD God of their fathers to exponentially multiply their numbers and to bestow upon them comprehensive blessings, all in faithful fulfillment of the solemn promises He had previously made to their patriarchs. This verse powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, His boundless generosity, and the enduring continuity of His relationship with His people across generations, setting a hopeful tone for their future inheritance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 1:11 is rich with significant literary devices. The most prominent is Hyperbole, evident in the phrase "a thousand times so many more." This exaggeration is not intended for literal mathematical interpretation but serves to convey the immense, overwhelming, and boundless nature of God's potential blessing. It elevates the prayer from a simple request for increase to a powerful expression of faith in God's limitless generosity and capacity to bless beyond human comprehension. The verse also functions as a profound Intercession, showcasing Moses' role as a mediator between God and Israel and revealing his deep pastoral heart for the people. His prayer is a model of advocating for God's people, grounded in God's own character and promises. Furthermore, the deliberate use of Covenantal Language ("The LORD God of your fathers," "as he hath promised you") strongly emphasizes the historical and theological continuity of God's relationship with Israel. This language serves as a constant reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness to His ancestral pledges, reinforcing the very foundation of Israel's identity, hope, and future. Finally, the verse itself is a form of Benediction, a solemn blessing pronounced by a spiritual leader, invoking divine favor and prosperity upon the entire community.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 1:11 offers a profound theological statement about God's character and His dynamic relationship with humanity. It reveals a God who is not merely faithful to His word but who actively desires to bless His people abundantly, often far beyond their current state or even their imagination. This divine desire for multiplication and flourishing is deeply rooted in His covenant promises, establishing a timeless pattern where divine blessing flows from divine initiative and unwavering faithfulness, rather than from human merit or performance. Moses' intercessory prayer underscores the vital importance of prayer that aligns precisely with God's revealed will and His immutable promises, demonstrating the essential role of a leader's heart for the well-being and growth of the community. The verse encourages believers across all generations to cultivate a profound trust in God's past faithfulness as a solid guarantee for future blessings, understanding that His promises are steadfast and His power to bring them to fruition is limitless. It also highlights the holistic nature of God's blessing, encompassing both numerical growth and overall prosperity, ultimately for the purpose of enabling His people to fulfill their divine calling and bear witness to His goodness in the world.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 1:11 offers timeless encouragement and profound challenges for believers today. Just as God was unfailingly faithful to His promises to ancient Israel, He remains eternally faithful to His new covenant with us through Jesus Christ. This verse invites us to cultivate a profound and unwavering trust in God's character as a generous, promise-keeping God, believing that He genuinely desires our flourishing in all dimensions of life—spiritual, relational, emotional, and even physical. It calls us to bold, expansive, and audacious prayer, much like Moses, who prayed for an exponential blessing far beyond the current reality of his people. We are encouraged to pray not only for our personal needs but also for the multiplication and comprehensive blessing of our families, local churches, communities, and even nations, grounding our petitions firmly in God's revealed will and His demonstrated past faithfulness. Understanding that God desires our "thousand times so many more" reminds us that our God is a God of abundance, not scarcity, and that His blessings are designed to empower us to fulfill His purposes in the world, extending His kingdom and demonstrating His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is the "thousand times" a literal number that God was expected to achieve for Israel?
Answer: No, the "thousand times" in Deuteronomy 1:11 is not meant to be a literal, mathematical calculation. It is a powerful example of hyperbole, a common literary device used in biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts to express an immeasurable, exponential, and overwhelming increase. In such contexts, large numbers like "thousand" or "ten thousand" often signify immense quantity, abundance, or completeness rather than a precise count. Moses' prayer is for a blessing so vast and abundant that it far exceeds their already numerous population, which was described just prior in Deuteronomy 1:10 as being "as the stars of heaven for multitude." This hyperbole emphasizes God's boundless generosity and His ability to bless beyond human comprehension, fulfilling His ancient promise to make Abraham's descendants countless (e.g., Genesis 15:5).
What specific promises is Moses referring to when he says, "as he hath promised you!"?
Answer: Moses is primarily referring to the foundational Abrahamic Covenant and its subsequent reaffirmations to Isaac and Jacob. The core of this covenant included solemn promises of numerous descendants (a great nation) and the inheritance of the land of Canaan. Key passages that Moses would have had in mind include:
These profound promises were reiterated to Isaac in Genesis 26:3-4 and to Jacob in Genesis 28:14. Moses' statement underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His word across generations, assuring the new generation that the blessings they are about to receive are a direct and certain fulfillment of these ancient, divine commitments.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 1:11, with its profound emphasis on divine blessing, exponential multiplication, and the faithful fulfillment of covenant promises, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "thousand times so many more" blessing, initially understood in terms of physical descendants and national prosperity for Israel, is transcended and spiritualized in the New Covenant. Through Christ, who is the true "seed" of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), God's ancient promise to bless "all the families of the earth" is realized not through physical lineage alone, but through spiritual adoption into God's vast and diverse family (Galatians 3:29). The multiplication envisioned by Moses is no longer merely demographic but profoundly spiritual, as the church grows exponentially through the power of the Holy Spirit and the global reach of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The comprehensive blessing Moses prayed for is found in its fullness in Christ, in whom believers are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). Furthermore, Moses' role as a faithful intercessor, praying for the prosperity of his people, powerfully foreshadows Christ's ultimate and eternal intercession for His people before the Father (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). The inheritance promised to Israel in the land of Canaan finds its spiritual reality in the eternal inheritance believers have in Christ, who is our true "Promised Land" and the ultimate fulfillment of all God's promises, for "all the promises of God find their Yes in Him" (2 Corinthians 1:20).