The Israelites are in a camp on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Canaan is on the western side of the river. They will cross the river soon and live in Canaan.
[1] These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

It took the Israelites 40 years to travel from Mt. Sinai to Canaan. It was about 150 miles. It usually only took other people 11 days. (God had punished the Israelites because they didn’t trust Him enough to enter Canaan 38 year ago. God made them travel in the wilderness desert for 40 years.)
[2] (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)

In the 40^th year, on the 1^st day of the 11^th month, Moses talked to the Israelites about the rules that God had given them.
[3] And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

This was after the Israelites defeated King Sihon and King Og. King Sihon was the king of the Amorites, and he lived in Heshbon. King Og was the king of Bashan, and he lived in Edrei.
[4] After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

Moses began his first speech. He talked about how God talked to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. After they were at Mt. Sinai, God told them it was time to move. Then they traveled around until they came to Canaan. God reminded the Israelites that He had promised Canaan to the descendants (children, grandchildren, great grandchildren) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
[5] On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,
[6] The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:
[7] Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
[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.


At that time, Moses said he needed help to lead the Israelites. There were too many people for one man to lead alone. Moses said there were as many Israelites as there were stars in the heaven. Moses said that he wished for the Israelites to continue to multiply. He wished there would someday be a thousand times more than there were then.
[9] And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
[10] The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
[11] (The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)
[12] How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

Moses told each tribe to pick leaders. The people agreed and picked people in their tribes to be leaders.
[13] Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
[14] And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.

Some of the leaders became military leaders for war. Some were leaders of 1000 men, some were leaders of 100 men, some were leaders of 50 men, and some were leaders of 10 men.
[15] So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

Some of the leaders became judges. When 2 Israelites did not agree or had trouble, a judge would listen to each person. Then the judge would give his opinion about who was right and who was wrong. The judges should always be fair and listen to all people. It didn’t matter if the people were weak or powerful. If any of the situations were too hard for the judges, they should ask Moses about them.
[16] And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
[17] Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

God gave Moses the laws at Mt. Sinai. Then they moved from there and traveled through the wilderness. They came to the mountains where the Amorite people lived. It was time for them to move into Canaan and live there. God had promised that they could live in the special place of Canaan. They could move into Canaan, and they should not be afraid.
[18] And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.
[19] And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
[20] And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.
[21] Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

The Israelites wanted to send men to look around Canaan before they moved in. Moses agreed to that, and he sent 12 spies. The spies traveled around Canaan and saw the cities and the land. The spies came back to the Israelites’ camp and brought fruit from Canaan. The spies said that Canaan was a good place.
[22] And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
[23] And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:
[24] And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.
[25] And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.


But the Israelites did not move into Canaan. They were afraid. They complained about God. Some of the spies talked about the big people who lived in Canaan. Some of the spies were afraid of the big people and the cities with walls around them.
[26] Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
[27] And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
[28] Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.


Moses told the Israelites they should not be afraid. God would help them. God had helped them leave Egypt and travel in the desert.
[29] Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
[30] The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;
[31] And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

The Israelites knew God had helped them in the desert. God led them with the cloud in the daytime and with fire at night. But they did not trust God enough. They were afraid to move into Canaan.
[32] Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
[33] Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

God heard the Israelites complaining. God was angry and punished the Israelites. God said that none of the adult Israelites would ever move into Canaan.
[34] And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,
[35] Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

Caleb was an adult, but God said that he would be allowed to move into Canaan. Caleb was one of the 12 spies. He encouraged the Israelites to move into Canaan now. He trusted God to help them.
[36] Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

God was also angry with Moses (because later, Moses did not obey God when he hit the rock for water). Moses would not be allowed to move into Canaan.
[37] Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

Joshua will be allowed to go into Canaan, too He will be the new leader of the Israelites.
[38] But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

In the past, the Israelites worried that their children would be kidnapped and killed. But their children will grow up and will go into Canaan. God told the Israelites to turn around. They could not enter Canaan that time. They must go back and camp in the desert.
[39] Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
[40] But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

Some of the Israelites changed their minds and said they would go into Canaan then. But it was too late. God said He would not help them . They didn’t go into Canaan when God told them to go. Now, if they fight, they will be killed.
[41] Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.
[42] And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

The group of Israelites went into Canaan anyway. God did not help them. The people in Canaan, the Amorites, chased them like bees chase people. The Amorites killed them.
[43] So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill.
[44] And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.

The Israelites cried, but God would not listen to them. Then the Israelites stayed in the area of Kadesh.
[45] And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.
[46] So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.
 

They would travel through the area where the Edomites lived. The Edomites were their cousins. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. God said the Edomites would be afraid of the Israelites.
[4] And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

The Israelites should not bother the Edomites. God gave the Edomites this area of land. So the Israelites should not try to live there permanently.
[5] Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

The Israelites will buy meat and water from the Edomites.
[6] Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

Moses said that God blessed the Israelites and helped them while they were traveling for 40 years in the wilderness. The Israelites were successful in everything they did. They always had everything they needed.
[7] For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

After they passed through the area of the Edomites, they traveled through the areas called Elath and Ezion-gaber. Then they traveled into the area of Moab. The people who lived in Moab were called the Moabites.
[8] And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

God told Moses that the Israelites should not bother the Moabites. The Moabites are descendants of Lot (Lot was Abraham’s brother). God gave the Moabites this area of land called Ar.
[9] And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

Before God gave the land of Ar to the Moabites, some very tall people lived there. The Moabites called these people Emims. The Emims were as big as the Anakims. The Anakims were very tall people, sometimes called giants.
[10] The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;
[11] Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.

God said that the Israelites should cross over the Zered brook (creek). 38 years had passed since the Israelites refused to move into Canaan. All of the Israelites who complained and did not trust God enough had died.
[13] Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.
[14] And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.

God punished them for not obeying Him. Now everyone who refused to enter Canaan 38 years ago was dead.
[15] For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

After all of the adults who complained died, God talked to Moses. He said the Israelites would pass through the land of Ar. They would see the people called the Ammonites. The Ammonites were also cousins of the Israelites. The Ammonites were also descendants of Abraham’s brother, Lot. The Israelites should not bother the Ammonites. God will not give the land of Ar to the Israelites. God gave Ar to the descendants of Lot’s sons Benammi (the Ammonites) and Moab (the Moabites).
[16] So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
[17] That the LORD spake unto me, saying,
[18] Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:
[19] And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

This was the same as when God helped the Edomites. Before the Edomites lived in the land of Seir, the people called the Horims live there. God helped the Edomites defeat tht Horims so they could have their land.
[22] As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:

At that time, God told the Israelites to pass over the Arnon River. The land on the other side would belong to the Israelites. When the Israelites first traveled there, the land belonged to King Sihon, an Amorite. But God said He would help the Israelites to defeat Sihon.
[24] Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

God would make all other groups of people afraid of the Israelites.
[25] This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

Moses sent messengers to King Sihon. Moses asked his permission for the Israelites to travel through his land. This is what the Israelites did when they passed through the other lands. Moses said they would buy meat from his people. Moses asked if his people could give them water.
[26] And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
[27] Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.
[28] Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;
[29] (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.

God made King Sihon’s heart hard so that he would not be nice to the Israelites. King Sihon said no. He would not give permission for the Israelites to pass through. God said it was time for the Israelites to take over King Sihon’s land.
[30] But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
[31] And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.

At the place called Jahaz, King Sihon and the Israelites had a war.
[32] Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.

God helped the Israelites in the war. The Israelites defeated King Sihon and his army.
[33] And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.

The Israelites took all of King Sihon’s cities and killed all of the people.
[34] And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:

The Israelites kept the cattle and things they found in King Sihon’s cities.
[35] Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.

God helped the Israelites take all of the cities in that area. Some places in that area were Aroer and Gilead. The Israelites were strong. They even took the cities that had walls around them.
[36] From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:

But the Israelites did not fight the people called the Ammonites. God told them not to bother the Ammonites.
[37] Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.

Then the Israelites went to the area called Bashan. The king of Bashan was King Og. King Og and his army fought with the Israelites. They fought at a place called Edrei.
[1] Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

God told Moses not to be afraid of King Og. God would help the Israelites the same as he helped them when they fought King Sihon.
[2] And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

God helped the Israelites. They defeated King Og and his people. They took all of King Og’s cities. This area was called Argob. There were 60 cities in all. Some of the cities had high walls around them. They also had gates and metal bars. The other cities did not have walls around them.
[3] So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.
[4] And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
[5] All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

They killed all of King Og’s people the same as they did King Sihon’s people. They kept all of the animals and the things in the cities.
[6] And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
[7] But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.

After they defeated the two Amorite kings, Og and Sihon, the Israelites controlled the land on the east side of the Jordan River. Their land was from the Arnon River to Mt. Hermon.
[8] And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;

Mt. Hermon had different names. A group of people, the Sidonians, named it Sirion. The group of people, the Amorites, named it Shenir.
[9] (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)

The Israelites took these places from King Og: Gilead, Bashan, Salchah, and Edrei.
[10] All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

King Og was the last of the giants. After he died, he was put in a coffin. The coffin was made of stone. It was 6 feet wide and 14 feet long. It is still in the area of Rabbath.
[11] For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

God gave part of this land to the tribe of Reuben.
[12] And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

God gave land to the tribe of Manasseh. He gave them Bashan, the land that had belonged to King Og.
[13] And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.

The family of Jair (the son of Manasseh) took the land called Argob. He renamed the land Bashan-havoth-jair. This means "villages of Jair".
[14] Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day.

God gave Machir’s family the land of Gilead.
[15] And I gave Gilead unto Machir.

God gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the land near Gilead.
[16] And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
[17] The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward.

God told the men of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh that they must help the other tribes fight after they enter Canaan. They should leave their wives, children, and animals on the east side of the Jordan River. After the other tribes fight their battles and have their own land, the 3 tribes can go back home.
[18] And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.
[19] But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you;
[20] Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.

Moses told Joshua that God would help the Israelites defeat all of the kings who live in Canaan now. It would be the same as when God helped them defeat Kings Sihon and Og.
[21] And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest.

They should not be afraid because God would be fighting for them.
[22] Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

Moses prayed to God, "God, you have just begun to show your power. No other god can do the powerful things that you do. Please let me cross the Jordan River and see the land of Canaan."
[23] And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,
[24] O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
[25] I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.

But God was angry with Moses because of what happened with the rock. God told Moses not to talk about this anymore.
[26] But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

God told Moses that Joshua would be in charge. Moses should encourage him and make him strong. Joshua would be the leader of the Israelites. Joshua would lead them into Canaan and help them inherit the land.
[28] But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

The Israelites waited in the valley at Beth-peor.
[29] So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.