Parashat Devarim
Devarim Reading – PShat Level – literal meaning:
Deut Chapter 1
Moses is addressing Israel on the “other side” of the Jordan. Meaning the Children of Israel had not crossed over. Concerning what happened to them as they journeyed for the last 40 years in the Wikderness and plain opposite the Sea of Reeds (KJV Red Sea). Moses then gives coordinates for where they are listing the names of cities/regions Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. They are an 11 days journey away from Horeb, via Mt Seir to Kadesh-barnea. They are in the 40th year, 11 month, on the 1 day of the month into the 40 years of wandering. Moses spoke to the Children of Israel everything that YHVH told him to speak to them. Note: these are the children of those who left in the exodus as their entire generation perished in the Wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb. After they killed Simon king of the Ammorite and Og king of Bashan who dwelt in Ashtaroth in Edrei. On the other side of the Jordan in the land of Moab Moses explained the Torah.
YHVH, God, spoke to the Children of Israel saying enough of dwelling by this mountain. Turn around and journey and come to the Amorite mountain and all its neighbors in the plain (Arabah) on the mountain and in the lowland and in the south and at the sea coast. The land of the Canaanite and Lebanon until the great, Euphrates river. See, YHVH has given the land before you. Come possess the Land that YHVH swore to your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give to them and their children after them.
Devarim – literally means Words in Hebrew.
Word meanings:
Moses – Drawn from water
Jordan – descender
Wilderness – Hebrew Word midbar – the actual book name for Numbers
Arabah – plain opposite the Sea of Reeds
Sea of Reeds – KJV “Red Sea”
Paran – place of caverns
Tophel – white
Laban – white
Hazeroth – settlement
Dizahab – enough gold, desert of Mt. Sinai
Horeb – desert, another name for Mt. Sinai
Mount Seir – hairy/shaggy a mountain range in Edom
Kadesh-barnea – Holy field of quiver?
Sihon – warrior
Amorite – a sayer
Heshbon – stronghold
Og – long necked
Bashan – fruitful
Ashtarot – star, false deity of Canaan
Edrei – goodly pasture
Moab – of my father
Lebanon – whiteness
Euphrates – fruitfulness
Abraham – father of nations
Isaac – laughter
Jacob – supplanter
Numbers Meanings
40 – testing, trial, and tribulation
11 – judgment
1 – Echad – oneness, unity