The first part of Deuteronomy gives us an incredible amount of background material. In just the first five verses alone, we find out who’s speaking (Moses), where he’s speaking (“across the Jordan”), and when he’s speaking (eleventh month of the fortieth year).
We also find out that the trip that took forty years should’ve only taken eleven days, at most.
I find it absolutely hilarious that the Text makes pains to point this out in literally the second verse, mostly because the information really doesn’t fit with the surrounding verses. After Moses says where they are now (Deuteronomy 1:1), he then points out that “Yeah, this should’ve only taken two weeks. Come on, guys.”
But we know why he mentioned this, don’t we? It’s part of the overall picture of Deuteronomy, that emphasizes over and over again that obedience towards God will result in blessings, whereas disobedience will end in punishment.
In fact, there are entire chapters dedicated to these two premises. Deuteronomy 27 lays out the curses of disobedience, and Deuteronomy 28 talks about the blessings of obedience. Do His will—that’s the point emphasized time and time again.
Deuteronomy 1:2 isn’t even the only verse in this chapter that points out that the trip should’ve only taken eleven days. As if to drive the point home, the entire story of Numbers 13 is briefly repeated in Deuteronomy 1:19-46.
In case, as an Israelite, you were wondering why a trip that should’ve taken eleven days stretched for forty years, it was because of—you guessed it—disobedience.
The two geographical markers are used in Deuteronomy 1:19: Horeb and Kadesh-Barnea. For the immediate audience, it must’ve been a shock to know that they’re at the same spot their ancestors stood forty years earlier.
The big difference? You didn’t balk. The previous generation did.
This is seen by the mention of victories over Og and Sihon—two powerful kings that should have decimated the Israelites along the way (Numbers 21-22). Moses brings this memory up to shame the previous generation (they could’ve done it, too), and fortify this generation for the path ahead.
Obedience. Faith. History. All of these are central components of Deuteronomy.
Moses also expounds on the Law. Given in technical form during the Exodus, forty years of application in the desert has given them a practical understanding to match.
When God told them to keep His Law and become a “Kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5-6), that meant something. Their disobedience resulted in an entire generation falling in the wilderness (Exodus 23:20-21).
The previous generation may not have understood what the law really meant, but this one certainly did. When Moses “expounds the Law” in Deuteronomy 1:5, he doesn’t just repeat the words—he gives the why behind them as well.
After all, they’ve had forty years to think about it.