Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 1:9-18
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…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 1:10
ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude--This was neither an Oriental hyperbole nor a mere empty boast. Abraham was told (Gen 15:5-6) to look to the stars, and though they "appear" innumerable, yet those seen by the naked eye amount, in reality, to no more than three thousand ten in both hemispheres. The Israelites already far exceeded that number, being at the last census above six hundred thousand [Num 26:51]. It was a seasonable memento, calculated to animate their faith in the accomplishment of other parts of the divine promise.
John Gill on Deuteronomy 1:14
And ye answered me and said,.... As the speech of Moses to the people is not expressed before, so neither this answer of theirs to him:
the thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do; to look out for and present persons to him as before described; this they saw was for their own good and profit, as well as for the ease of Moses, and therefore readily agreed to it.
John Calvin on Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Deuteronomy 1:9-18
9. And I spoke unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
9. Dixi vobis in tempore illo, dicendo, Non possum solus ferre vos.
10. The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
10. Jehova Deus vester multiplicavit vos, ita ut sitis hodie sicut stellae coeli in multitudine.
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!)
11. Jehova Deus patrum vestrorum addat super vos sicut estis, mille vicibus, et benedicat vobis quemadmodum loquutus est vobis.
12. How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your bu…
