Commentary for Deuteronomy 1:19

המדבר הגדול והנורא [THAT]. GREAT AND FEARFUL WILDERNESS — [It is termed fearful] because there were in it serpents thick as beams and scorpions as bows (Sifrei Devarim 18:2).

ונלך את כל המדבר הגדול והנורא, a way no one had crossed on foot before because of the many snakes and other predators and their size. These are referred to once more in 8,15. Our sages in Sifri 18 have described that the snakes were as large as beams and the scorpions as bows. If G’d had nonetheless chosen to lead them on this route, it had been to shorten the distance they would have to travel so that they could get to their destination before their tendency to quarrel, etc., would result in major sins. Nonetheless, G’d’s efforts in this respect had not proven to be sufficient; they had sinned on numerous occasions at locations Moses recalls by name.

ונלך את כל המדבר הגדול, “we went through this great desert.” This refers to the wanderings during the eleven days of which Moses spoke earlier. והנורא ההוא, “and that awesome one.” [This is a reference to the dangerous reptiles inhabited by this desert;] there were snakes as large as beams and scorpions the size of bows.

In there were snakes thick as beams, etc. Otherwise, what is the meaning of “awesome”? In that wilderness, from whom would they fear? For no person traveled there! Rather, it refers to snakes, etc. You might ask: In Parshas Beha’aloscha (Bamidbar 10:34), Rashi explains, “A cloud traveled in front of them and killed the snakes and scorpions.” The answer is: Wherever they camped in the wilderness, the snakes surrounded their camp. When they left the camp to relieve themselves, they saw the dead snakes, and they were in awe, even though the snakes did not harm them.

V. 19. ונסע וגו׳ את כל המדבר הגדול והנורא ההוא אשר ראיתם. Es ist das die Wüste Paran (siehe Bamidbar 13, 3 u. 26), אשר ראיתם: sie hatten sie zum zweiten Male am Ende der vierzig Jahre auf ihrem zweiten Zuge nach Kadesch kennen gelernt. המדבר הגדול והנורא ההוא, wenn es noch einer Befestigung des Vertrauens in Gottes allmächtigen Schutz bedurft hätte, so hätte dieser Zug durch die furchtbare Wüste es bewirken müssen, auf welchem bis zum kleinsten Kinde hinab jeder den speziellen Schutz der göttlichen Allmacht erfuhr.

ונסע מחורב, ”we journeyed from Mount Chorev;” Moses referred to what the Torah had written in Numbers10,1.

כאשר צוה ה' אלוקינו אותנו, “as the Lord our G-d commanded us;” our author has explained this already in verse 7.

ונבא עד קדש ברנע, “and we came as far as Kadesh Barnea.” This was on the 29th day of Sivan, as I have already explained on verse 2.