Parashat D’varim

Devarim: The Words that Moses Spoke

1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan—in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Di-Zahab. ² It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

³ Now Moses spoke to Bnei-Yisrael, according to all Adonai had commanded him for them—in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, ⁴ after he had struck down Sihon king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og king of the Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

⁵ Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this Torah saying, ⁶ “Adonai our God spoke to us at Horeb saying: ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. ⁷ Turn, journey on, and enter the hill country of the Amorites and all their neighbors, in the Arabah, the hill country, the lowland, the Negev, and by the seashore—the land of the Canaanites and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates. ⁸ See, I have set the land before you. Enter and possess the land that Adonai swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give to them and to their descendants after them.’^[a]

Bad Report and Poor Response

⁹ “I spoke to you at that time saying: ‘I am not able to bear the burden of you by myself. ¹⁰ Adonai your God has multiplied you—and here you are today, like the stars of the heavens in number.

¹¹ “‘May Adonai, God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times as many as you are, and may He bless you just as He has promised you!