Keraia
Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:28

Israel’s Rebellion · Deuteronomy 1:26–33
Read Deuteronomy 1

Translations

Modern
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”
Traditional
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
Literal
Where can we go up? Our brothers have discouraged our hearts, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to the heavens. And moreover, we have seen the sons of Anak there.’”
Latin
Quo ascendemus? nuntii terruerunt cor nostrum, dicentes: Maxima multitudo est, et nobis statura procerior; urbes magnæ, et ad cælum usque munitæ: filios Enacim vidimus ibi.

Original

Hebrew
English
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

Notes

Deuteronomy 1:28

Anak was known as a man of very large size (2:10, 21; 9:2; Numbers 13:33). Goliath may have been one of Anak’s descendants (1 Samuel 17:4). Some of Anak’s family moved to the Philistine coastal plain (Deuteronomy 2:23; Joshua 11:21–23; 15:14; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8).

Deuteronomy 1:6–4:40

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Parallels

Numbers 14:1–12

People

Anak: Ancestor of giant people in Canaan

Glossary

Amorites Anak, Anakim, Anakites Archaeology and the Bible Deuteronomy, Book of

Topics

Anakim: A Race of Giants Cities: Surrounded with Walls Cowardice in Fearing to Attempt the Conquest of Canaan Faith: Enjoined Moses: People Complain Against Moses and Aaron Murmuring: Israelites Reproof: Faithfulness in Moses, of the Israelites The Anakim were Called: The Sons of the Anakim The Canaanites: had Many Strong Cities Walls of Cities: Often Very High