Deuteronomy 1:8

Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

Behold {H7200}, I have set {H5414} the land {H776} before {H6440} you: go {H935} in and possess {H3423} the land {H776} which the LORD {H3068} sware {H7650} unto your fathers {H1}, Abraham {H85}, Isaac {H3327}, and Jacob {H3290}, to give {H5414} unto them and to their seed {H2233} after {H310} them.

I have set the land before you! Go in, and take possession of the land ADONAI swore to give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov, and their descendants after them.'

See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:8 serves as a pivotal reminder of God's faithfulness and the Israelites' divine inheritance. Spoken by Moses to the new generation on the plains of Moab, just before they were to enter the Promised Land, this verse encapsulates the culmination of decades of wilderness wandering and the fulfillment of ancient promises.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' opening address in the book of Deuteronomy, which means "second law." After forty years of wandering in the wilderness due to the disobedience of the previous generation, a new generation stands poised to enter the land God had promised. Moses recounts their journey, God's commands, and His unwavering covenant, preparing them for the challenges and blessings ahead. The "land" refers to Canaan, the land of promise, which God had sworn to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise and Covenant: The verse powerfully reiterates God's solemn oath (the Hebrew shava, "sware") to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This highlights the enduring nature of the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing that the land was a gift based purely on God's fidelity, not on Israel's merit.
  • Inheritance and Possession: God declares, "I have set the land before you," signifying that the land is already theirs by divine decree. However, they are commanded to "go in and possess" it. This reveals a crucial dynamic: God's promise requires human action and faith to realize the blessing. It wasn't enough for the land to be promised; they had to actively claim it.
  • God's Faithfulness: Despite the previous generation's failures and the long delay, God's promise remained steadfast. This verse reassures the new generation that what God promised, He would surely deliver, demonstrating His unchangeable character and commitment to His people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "go in and possess" uses the Hebrew verb יָרַשׁ (yarash), which means to inherit, to take possession of, or to dispossess. It implies not just occupying but actively taking ownership and clearing out any existing inhabitants. This wasn't a passive inheritance but an active claiming of what was rightfully theirs by divine grant, requiring courage and trust.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 1:8 offers profound insights:

  • Trusting God's Promises: Just as God was faithful to Israel, He remains faithful to His promises to us. We can stand on His Word, knowing that what He has promised, He will perform, regardless of past failures or current challenges.
  • Active Faith: While God has already given us spiritual blessings and an inheritance in Christ, we are called to actively "possess" these through faith, obedience, and spiritual warfare. This means living out our faith, applying biblical principles, and walking in the new life Christ has given us.
  • Overcoming Obstacles: The Israelites faced giants and fortified cities, yet God commanded them to go in. Similarly, we may face personal or spiritual challenges, but with God's promise and presence, we are empowered to overcome and claim the spiritual ground He has given us.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 15:18 (7 votes)

    In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

  • Genesis 12:7 (7 votes)

    And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

  • Genesis 26:3 (6 votes)

    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

  • Genesis 26:4 (6 votes)

    And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

  • Genesis 17:7 (6 votes)

    ΒΆ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

  • Genesis 17:8 (6 votes)

    And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

  • Genesis 13:14 (5 votes)

    ΒΆ And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: