The Final Speeches of Moses
1-5 This book contains the speeches that Moses made while Israel was in the land of Moab, camped near the town of Suph in the desert east of the Jordan River. The town of Paran was in one direction from their camp, and the towns of Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab were in the opposite direction.
Earlier, Moses had defeated the Amorite King Sihon of Heshbon. Moses had also defeated King Og of Bashan, who used to live in Ashtaroth for part of the year and in Edrei for the rest of the year.
Although it takes only eleven days to walk from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea by way of the Mount Seir Road, these speeches were not made until 40 years after Israel left Egypt.
The First Speech: Moses Reviews the Past
The Lord's Command at Mount Sinai
The Lord had given Moses his laws for the people of Israel. And on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses began explaining those laws by saying:
6 People of Israel, when we were in our camp at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God told us:
You have stayed here long enough. 7 Leave this place and go into the land that belongs to the Amorites and their neighbors the Canaanites. This land includes the Jordan River valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Southern Desert, the Mediterranean seacoast, the Lebanon Mountains, and all the territory as far as the Euphrates River. 8 I give you this land, just as I promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now you must go and take the land.
Leaders Were Appointed
(Exodus 18.13-27)Moses said:
9 Right after the Lord commanded us to leave Mount Sinai, I told you:
Israel, being your leader is too big a job for one person. 10 The Lord our God has blessed us, and so now there are as many of us as there are stars in the sky. 11 God has even promised to bless us a thousand times more, and I pray that he will. 12 But I cannot take care of all your problems and settle all your arguments alone. 13 Each tribe must choose some experienced men who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will make those men the official leaders of their tribes.
14 You answered, “That's a good idea!” 15 Then I took these men, who were already wise and respected leaders, and I appointed them as your official leaders. Some of them became military officers in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10, 16 and others became judges. I gave these judges the following instructions:
When you settle legal cases, your decisions must be fair. It doesn't matter if the case is between two Israelites, or between an Israelite and a foreigner living in your community. 17 And it doesn't matter if one is helpless and the other is powerful. Don't be afraid of anyone! No matter who shows up in your court, God will help you make a fair decision.
If any case is too hard for you, bring the people to me, and I will make the decision.
18 After I gave these instructions to the judges, I taught you the Lord's commands.
Men Were Sent To Explore the Hill Country
(Numbers 13.1-33)Moses said to Israel:
19 The Lord had commanded us to leave Mount Sinai and go to the hill country that belonged to the Amorites, so we started out into the huge desert. You remember how frightening it was, but soon we were at Kadesh-Barnea, 20-21 and I told you, “We have reached the hill country. It belongs to the Amorites now, but the Lord our God is giving it to us. He is the same God our ancestors worshiped, and he has told us to go in and take this land, so don't hesitate and be afraid.”
22 Then all of you came to me and said, “Before we go into the land, let's send some men to explore it. When they come back, they can tell us about the towns we will find and what roads we should take to get there.”
23 It seemed like a good idea, so I chose twelve men, one from each tribe. 24 They explored the hill country as far as Bunch Valley 25 and even brought back some of the fruit. They said, “The Lord our God is giving us good land.”
Israel Refused To Obey the Lord
(Numbers 14.1-45)Moses said to Israel:
26 You did not want to go into the land, and you refused to obey the Lord your God. 27 You stayed in your tents and grumbled, “The Lord must hate us—he brought us out of Egypt, just so he could hand us over to the Amorites and get rid of us. 28 We are afraid, because the men who explored the land told us that the cities are large, with walls that reach to the sky. The people who live there are taller and stronger than we are, and some of them are Anakim. We have nowhere to go.”
29 Then I said, “Don't worry! 30 The Lord our God will lead the way. He will fight on our side, just as he did when we saw him do all those things to the Egyptians. 31 And you know that the Lord has taken care of us the whole time we've been in the desert, just as you might carry one of your children.”
32 But you still would not trust the Lord, 33 even though he had always been with us in the desert. During the daytime, the Lord was in the cloud, leading us in the right direction and showing us where to camp. And at night, he was there in the fire.
34 You had made the Lord angry, and he said:
35 You people of this generation are evil, and I refuse to let you go into the good land that I promised your ancestors. 36 Caleb son of Jephunneh is the only one of your generation that I will allow to go in. He obeyed me completely, so I will give him and his descendants the land he explored.
37 The Lord was even angry with me because of you people, and he said, “Moses, I won't let you go into the land either. 38 Instead, I will let Joshua your assistant lead Israel to conquer the land. So encourage him.”
39 Then the Lord spoke to you again:
People of Israel, you said that your innocent young children would be taken prisoner in the battle for the land. But someday I will let them go into the land, and with my help they will conquer it and live there.
40 Now, turn around and go back into the desert by way of Red Sea Road.
41 Then you told me, “We disobeyed the Lord our God, but now we want to obey him. We will go into the hill country and fight, just as he told us to do.” So you picked up your weapons, thinking it would be easy to take over the hill country.
42 But the Lord said, “Moses, warn them not to go into the hill country. I won't help them fight, and their enemies will defeat them.”
43 I told you what the Lord had said, but you paid no attention. You disobeyed him and went into the hill country anyway. You thought you were so great! 44 But when the Amorites in the hill country attacked from their towns, you ran from them as you would run from a swarm of bees. The Amorites chased your troops into Seir as far as Hormah, killing them as they went. 45 Then you came back to the place of worship at Kadesh-Barnea and wept, but the Lord would not listen to your prayers.
Israel Spent Years in the Desert
Moses said to Israel:
46 After we had been in Kadesh for a few months, we obeyed the Lord and headed back into the desert by way of Red Sea Road.
1 Šie ir tie vārdi, ko Mozus runāja visam Israēlam viņpus Jardānas tuksnesī, Arābas klajumā, iepretim Sūfai starp Pāranu un Topelu, Lābanu, Hacerotu un Di-Zahabu,
2 Vienpadsmit dienu gājumā no Horeba pa Seīra kalnu ceļu līdz Kadeš-Barneai.
3 Un notika tas četrdesmitā gada vienpadsmitā mēneša pirmajā dienā, tad Mozus runāja uz Israēla bērniem, sacīdams visu to, ko tas Kungs viņam par tiem bija pavēlējis,
4 Pēc tam kad viņš bija uzvarējis amoriešu ķēniņu Sichonu, kas dzīvoja Hešbonā, un Basanas ķēniņu Ogu, kas dzīvoja Aštarotā un Edrejā.
5 Viņpus Jardānas, Moāba zemē, Mozus sāka šo bauslību izskaidrot, sacīdams:
6 „Tas Kungs, mūsu Dievs, runāja ar mums pie Horeba, teikdams: „Jūs pietiekami ilgi esat mituši pie šā kalna.
7 Tādēļ griezieties un dodieties ceļā un ejiet pret amoriešu kalniem un pret visiem viņu kaimiņiem Arābā, Jardānas līdzenumā, kalnos un lejās, un Negebā un jūras krastā uz Kānaāna zemi un uz Libanonu līdz lielajai upei, līdz Eifratas upei.
8 Redzi, Es esmu nodevis šo zemi jūsu rokās, ejiet un iegūstiet sev par īpašumu šo zemi, ko tas Kungs ir apsolījis ar zvērestu dot jūsu tēviem Ābrahāmam, īzākam un Jēkabam līdz ar viņu pēcnācējiem pēc viņiem.“
9 Tanī laikā es jums sacīju, teikdams: Es viens pats nespēju panest visas rūpes jūsu dēļ.
10 Tas Kungs, jūsu Dievs, ir licis jums vairoties, un, redzi, jūs esat šodien jau tik daudz, cik zvaigžņu pie debesīm.
11 Tas Kungs, jūsu tēvu Dievs, lai liek jums vēl tūkstoškārt vairoties, salīdzinot ar skaitu, cik pašlaik esat, un Viņš lai jūs svēti, kā Viņš jums to solījis!
12 Kā gan lai es viens panesu jūsu smagās nesaskaņas un jūsu darīšanu nastu?
13 Izraugiet no savām ciltīm sev gudrus vīrus, kas ir sapratīgi un piedzī-vojuši, un es jums tos iecelšu par priekšniekiem!
14 Un jūs man atbildējāt un sacījāt: Tavs priekšlikums, ko tu mini, ir teicams un izpildāms.
15 Tad es izraudzīju jūsu cilšu vadītājus, gudrus un piedzīvojušus vīrus, un es tos iecēlu jums par priekšniekiem un virsniekiem pār tūkstošiem, pār simtiem, pār piecdesmitiem un pār desmitiem, kā arī par uzraugiem jūsu ciltīm.
16 Un jūsu tiesnešiem tai laikā es pavēlēju un sacīju: Izklaušiniet lietas jūsu brāļu starpā un spriediet taisnu tiesu starp ikvienu cilvēku un tā cilts—brāli, kā arī kāda cilts piederīgā un svešinieka starpā, kas pie viņa piemīt!
17 Tiesā neuzlūkojiet neviena vaigu, kā mazo, tā lielo, uzklausiet, nebīstieties ne no viena, jo tiesa pieder Dievam; bet to lietu, kas jums par grūtu, to nesiet man, es to uzklausīšu.
18 Tā es jums tai laikā devu norādījumus visās lietās, kas jums bija jādara.“
19 Un tad mēs cēlāmies no Horeba un gājām cauri visam lielajam un briesmīgajam tuksnesim, ko jūs esat redzējuši, pa ceļu pāri amoriešu kalniem, kā tas Kungs, mūsu Dievs, mums bija pavēlējis, un mēs nonācām Kadeš-Barneā.
20 Tad es jums sacīju: Jūs esat atnākuši līdz amoriešu kalniem, ko tas Kungs, mūsu Dievs, mums dos.
21 Redzi, tas Kungs, tavs Dievs, tev ir devis zemi tavā priekšā, celies, ņem to sev, kā tas Kungs, tavu tēvu Dievs, tev ir solījis; nebīsties un neiztrūcinies!
22 Tad jūs visi nācāt pie manis un sacījāt: Sūtīsim vīrus sev pa priekšu, lai tie mums to zemi izlūko un atnes atbildi, pa kupu ceļu mums ir jādodas tu turieni, un par pilsētām, kur mums ir jānonāk.
23 Tā kā man šī atbilde labi patika, es no jums izraudzīju divpadsmit vīrus, pa vienam vīram no ikkatras cilts.
24 Un tie pagriezās, un devās kalnup, un nonāca pie Eškolas upes, un izlūkoja to apgabalu.
25 Un tie savās rokās ņēma dažus zemes augļus un tos atnesa mums, pārnesdami mums atbildi, un sacīja: Tā zeme, ko tas Kungs, mūsu Dievs, grib mums dot, ir laba.
26 Bet jūs paši negribējāt iet kalnup un pretojāties tā Kunga, mūsu Dieva, pavēlei,
27 Un jūs kurnējāt savās teltīs un sacījāt: Tas Kungs ir uz mums dusmīgs, Viņš ir mūs izvedis no Ēģiptes zemes, lai mūs nodotu amoriešu rokās, lai tie mūs iznīcinātu.
28 Kurp lai mēs ejam? Mūsu brāļi ir darījuši mūsu sirdis bailīgas, sacīdami: Tur ļaudis ir lielāki un gapāki nekā mēs, lielas pilsētas ar nocietinājumiem līdz pat debesīm, un arī Ēnaka bērnus mēs tur esam redzējuši.
29 Tad es jums sacīju: Nebīstieties un neesiet to priekšā bailīgi!
30 Tas Kungs, jūsu Dievs, kas iet jums pa priekšu, Viņš par jums kapos tāpat, kā Viņš, jums to pašiem redzot, ir jums palīdzējis Ēģiptē.
31 Un arī tuksnesī, kā jūs to ar savām acīm esat redzējuši, tas Kungs, jūsu Dievs, jūs ir nesis, kā vīrs nes savu dēlu, visos ceļos, kur vien jūs esat gājuši, tiekāms jūs nonācāt šai zemē.
32 Bet arī šai lietā jūs nepaļāvāties uz to Kungu, savu Dievu,
33 Kas jums pa priekšu gāja pa ceļu, lai jums vietu izlūkotu, kur jums iespraust savus telšu mietus, lai apmestos, pa nakti ugunī jums rādīdams un gaismu ceļam, kas jums bija jāstaigā, un pa dienu—mākonī.
34 Kad nu tas Kungs dzirdēja jūsu skaļo runu, tad Viņš apskaitās un zvērēja, sacīdams:
35 „Patiesi, nevienam vīram no šīs ļaunās cilts nebūs redzēt to labo zemi, ko Es esmu ar zvērestu apsolījis dot jūsu tēviem,
36 Izņemot vienīgi Kālebu, Jefunnas dēlu, viņam gan Es rādīšu šo zemi, un viņam un tā bērniem Es to zemi došu, kupi viņš ir pārstaigājis, tāpēc ka viņš ir uzticīgi sekojis tam Kungam.
37 Arī pret mani jūsu dēļ tas Kungs sadusmojās, teikdams: „Arī tu tur nenokļūsi,
38 Bet gan Jozua, Nūna dēls, kas stāv tavā priekšā, tas tur noies; stiprini viņu, jo viņam ir jāpaveic zemes sadalī-šana Israēlā.
39 Un jūsu mazie bērniņi, par kuriem jūs sacījāt, ka tie kļūšot par laupījumu, un jūsu jaunie dēli, kas tolaik nemācēja atšķirt labu no ļauna, tie tur nonāks tanī vietā: Es viņiem šo zemi došu un viņi to iegūs sev par īpašumu.
40 Bet jūs pagriezieties un dodieties uz tuksnesi pa Niedru jūpas ceļu!“
41 Tad jūs, man atbildēdami, sacījāt: Mēs esam apgrēkojušies pret to Kungu, mēs dosimies kalnup, cīnīsimies, kā tas Kungs, mūsu Dievs, mums ir pavēlējis! Un kad nu jūs ikviens jozāties ar saviem ieročiem un gatavojāties doties augšup kalnos,
42 Tad tas Kungs man sacīja: „Saki viņiem, necelieties un arī nekarojiet, jo Es vairs neesmu jūsu vidū, lai jūs netiktu savu ienaidnieku sakauti!“
43 Bet kad es jūs brīdināju un jums to sacīju, tad jūs neklausījāt un pretojāties tā Kunga pavēlei, jūs kļuvāt pārgalvīgi un devāties kalnos.
44 Tad amorieši, kas kalnos dzīvoja, izlaidās kā bites jums pretī un dzinās jums pakaļ, jūs sakāvuši Seīrā, līdz Hormai.
45 Un kad nu jūs atgriezāties atpakaļ, tad jūs raudājāt tā Kunga priekšā, bet tas Kungs nepaklausīja jūsu vaimanu balsi un nepagrieza pret jums savas ausis.
46 Un tā jūs arī palikāt Kadešā ilgu laiku, tik ilgi, cik ilgi jūs tur dzīvojāt.“
