And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 1:20
What does Deuteronomy 1:20 mean?
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Deuteronomy 1:20
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Even though they are on the cusp of their promised inheritance, the "mountain of the Amorites" is explicitly named, reminding them that this land is currently occupied and hostile. God's declaration that He is "giving" it to them isn't a passive promise, but a present action that requires their bold faith to step into.
And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, reminding them of a pivotal moment when they finally reached the border of Amorite territory. This statement immediately follows his description of their arduous trek through the wilderness and their arrival at Kadesh-barnea, setting the stage for their planned advance into Canaan. The verses following will detail the people's fearful request to send spies, which ultimately led to disobedience and a delay in entering the land.
Ever feel like you've arrived at a place that seems like it belongs to someone else? This 'mountain' was the same. What does this land represent for God's people?
Moses is speaking to the Israelites shortly after they have journeyed through the wilderness for 40 years. He reminds them that they have arrived at the 'hill country of the Amorites.' This wasn't just any land; it was territory inhabited by a powerful people, promised by God to Abraham centuries before (Genesis 15:18-21). In this context, the 'mountain' signifies the beginning of God's fulfillment of His promises to His people, a tangible step toward the Promised Land.
Why would God call a land inhabited by others 'ours'? Discover the unique relationship between God's gift and human action.
The crucial phrase here is 'the LORD our God is giving us.' This isn't just a declaration of future intent; it's a present reality. God's giving is the foundation upon which Israel's claim rests. The land is a gift, an inheritance. However, the text also implies that this gift requires their action and faith. Later, in verses 21-23, Moses urges them to 'go up and possess it.' This highlights a beautiful tension in the biblical narrative: God gives, and humans must receive and act in faith to possess what is given.
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This verse marks a pivotal moment where God's promise of land and the people's arrival at its doorstep are juxtaposed with their hesitation and fear, setting the stage for rebellion.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart from Mount Sinai (Horeb)
After receiving the Law at Mount Sinai, the Israelites began their journey towards the Promised Land, a journey that would be significantly longer than expected due to their disobedience.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Arrival at Kadesh-Barnea
The Israelites reached the Kadesh-Barnea oasis, located in the wilderness on the southern edge of Canaan, a crucial staging point for entering the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
The Spies Are Sent Out
At the people's request, Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan, particularly the hill country of the Amorites, to assess its strength and resources.
c. 1445 BC
Spies Report on the Land
The spies returned with reports of a fertile land and abundant fruit, but also of strong inhabitants and fortified cities, leading to fear and doubt among the Israelites.
c. 1445 BC
Rejection of God's Command
Despite God's promise and Moses' encouragement, the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land, leading to their subsequent 40-year wandering in the wilderness.
This passage directly states God's covenant promise to give the land to Abraham and his descendants, setting the stage for the fulfillment mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Numbers 13:1-3This passage describes the very event that immediately follows the statement in Deuteronomy 1:20 – the sending of spies to survey the land God was giving them.
Joshua 1:3This verse echoes God's promise to give the land to the Israelites, showing the continuation of the divine assurance from Moses' time to Joshua's leadership.
Hebrews 4:1This New Testament passage reflects on the promise of entering God's rest (which the Promised Land represented) and warns against unbelief, connecting the historical event to spiritual application.
gillDeuteronomy 1:20: "And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us."
And I said unto you, you are come unto the mountain of the Amorites,.... Which was inhabited by them, and was one of the seven nations the Israelites were to destroy, and possess their land, and which lay on the southern part of the land of Canaan: which the Lord our God doth give unto us; not the mountain only, but the whole country of that people, and even all the…
calvinDeuteronomy 1:19-25: "And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea."
And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
Profecti de Horeb perambulavimus totam solitudin…
Even though they are on the cusp of their promised inheritance, the "mountain of the Amorites" is explicitly named, reminding them that this land is currently occupied and hostile. God's declaration that He is "giving" it to them isn't a passive promise, but a present action that requires their bold faith to step into.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, reminding them of a pivotal moment when they finally reached the border of Amorite territory. This statement immediately follows his description of their arduous trek through the wilderness and their arrival at Kadesh-barnea, setting the stage for their planned advance into Canaan. The verses following will detail the people's fearful request to send spies, which ultimately led to disobedience and a delay in entering the land.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, reminding them of a pivotal moment when they finally reached the border of Amorite territory. This statement immediately follows his description of their arduous trek through the wilderness and their arrival at Kadesh-barnea, setting the stage for their planned advance into Canaan. The verses following will detail the people's fearful request to send spies, which ultimately led to disobedience and a delay in entering the land.
"And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us." — Even though they are on the cusp of their promised inheritance, the "mountain of the Amorites" is explicitly named, reminding them that this land is currently occupied and hostile. God's declaration…
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Last reviewed October 2026