Question 1

What is the “great and terrible wilderness” mentioned in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The “great and terrible wilderness” is the dry, harsh desert area the Israelites had to cross after leaving Horeb on their way toward the land of Canaan. It was “great” because it stretched a long distance, and “terrible” because it was hot, dry, and dangerous. The land was hard and not fit for farming, and it was a place that included deadly creatures like fiery serpents and scorpions. Remembering this wilderness was meant to remind Israel how God protected and carried them through a place that looked like death to bring them near the promised land.

Question 2

What is the mountain of the Amorites that Moses mentions?

Accepted Answer

The mountain of the Amorites refers to the hill country in the southern part of the land that was then occupied by the Amorites, one of the peoples living in Canaan. When Moses says, “Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us,” he is reminding them that God had given not only that mountain, but the whole land, into their hands. Standing there, they were right on the border, close enough to go up, enter, and possess the land as God had promised to their fathers.

Question 3

Why does Moses tell the people, “fear not, neither be discouraged”?

Accepted Answer

Moses says “fear not, neither be discouraged” because the people were about to face strong nations and walled cities, and their hearts were tempted to shrink back. God had already “set the land before” them and told them to go up and possess it. Moses is calling them to look more at God’s promise and power than at the danger. They had already seen God bring them through the wilderness, so they had every reason to trust that he would keep leading them and fighting for them if they obeyed his command.

Question 4

Why did the Israelites ask to send men to search out the land?

Accepted Answer

The people came near to Moses and said, “We will send men before us.” They wanted the men to check the land, bring back word about the way they should go, and which cities they should enter first. On the surface, this sounded like a wise and careful plan, and Moses says it seemed good to him at the time. But underneath, it showed they were leaning on human scouting instead of resting fully in what God had already said about the land and his promise to give it to them.

Question 5

Who were the twelve men Moses chose, and what did they do?

Accepted Answer

Moses chose twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, to act as spies. They went up into the hill country and came to the valley of Eshcol. There they searched the land, looking at its fruitfulness and its cities. They cut down some of the fruit, including heavy clusters of grapes, along with pomegranates and figs, and carried it back to the camp. Their journey showed that the land was real, rich, and ready, just as God had said, and they could speak from what they had actually seen.

Question 6

What is the valley of Eshcol, and why is it important here?

Accepted Answer

The valley of Eshcol is a fertile valley in the land of Canaan. It is called Eshcol because of the notable cluster of grapes the men cut down there and brought back. In this passage, it matters because the men did not just return with words, but with actual fruit in their hands. The grapes, pomegranates, and figs were a visible sign that the land truly flowed with good things. Their report, “It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us,” was backed up by what they carried from Eshcol.

Question 7

What does it mean that “the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee”?

Accepted Answer

When Moses says, “Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee,” he means that God had already prepared and offered the land of Canaan to them. They were standing at the edge, with the way open before them. Their part was to trust, “go up,” and take possession as God had promised to their fathers. The land being “set before” them shows that God had done the hard part of planning and giving. Their fear, not God’s lack of power, was the only thing holding them back.

Question 8

Why did the spies say, “It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us”?

Accepted Answer

The spies had walked through the land and seen it with their own eyes. They had tasted its fruit and seen its richness. So when they came back and said, “It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us,” they were agreeing with what God had already said about the land. At first, all of them could see and admit that it was good and God was the giver. This makes it clear that any later refusal to go in was not because the land was poor, but because of unbelief and fear in the hearts of the people.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about faith and obedience to God?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God had guided Israel through a harsh wilderness, brought them to the edge of a good land, and clearly told them to go in and possess it. He even allowed them to send men to see the land, who came back agreeing that it was good. Faith would have taken God at his word, remembered his help in the wilderness, and moved forward without fear. Their delay and demand for scouts show how easily people look for extra signs when God’s promise should be enough. It warns us not to let fear drown out trust and obedience.

Deuteronomy 1:19

¶ 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.

Twelve Spies Sent Out

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Deuteronomy 1:19

¶ 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.

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