Deuteronomy 1:1-5 Introduction-Place, Time, Circumstances (Deuteronomy 1:1-5)The first verse of the book declares its Mosaic authorship, and asserts that the words were spoken to Israel at the place mentioned-“ On this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red Sea” (Deuteronomy 1:1). Note that Deuteronomy 1:2 declares that there were about eleven days’ journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, yet we remember it took Israel thirty-eight years. How long we make the time which God would make short! The time of the authorship as well as the subject and its inspiration are recorded in Deuteronomy 1:3 -“ And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them.” The purpose of the book is set forth in Deuteronomy 1:5 -“ On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying.” The word “ declare” in this verse means to dig up again, to dig deeper, to search as a surveyor, or as a prospector. A careful study of the book, noting the full explanation it gives of laws more briefly mentioned in the preceding books, bears witness to its purpose as declared in this verse.