In this week’s reading from Parashat Devarim (Devarim / Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22) Moshe retells the history of what has happened to Yisrael that led the people to remain in the wilderness. The name of the fifth book of Devarim comes from the opening words אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים “Eleh ha’devarim” meaning “These are the words.” The English translation “Deuteronomy” is derived from the Greek translation Δευτερονμιον, Deuteronomion meaning “second law.” Here the phrase אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים translated as Δευτερονμιον show a movement from the traditional name of the book derived from the Hebrew text. Sefer Devarim can be divided into 3 major sections; Section 1 restates the journey from Mitzrayim (Egypt) to the Promised Land leading to this moment the people are not being allowed to enter the Land. Section 2 reminds the people of the absolute necessity to obey God and His ways. Section 3 discusses the topic of the unfaithfulness of Yisrael; unfaithfulness will cause the people to lose the land. However, if the people repent their place in the land will remain secure (the land will not be taken from them). Devarim 1:7 says פְּנוּ | וּסְעוּ לָכֶם וּבֹאוּ הַר הָאֱמֹרִי וְאֶל-כָּל-שְׁכֵנָיו בָּעֲרָבָה בָהָר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָה וּבַנֶּגֶב וּבְחוֹף הַיָּם אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַלְּבָנוֹן עַד-הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל נְהַר-פְּרָת to “Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” Yisrael received God’s Torah and are commanded to turn and go to the Promised Land. As we place our faith and trust in Yeshua the Messiah, our lives “turn” in repentance and we are set on a journey of living for God and to glorify His Name. Read more here.
