# Leaving Horeb; leaders for the people Deuteronomy · Draft · BSB Content revision: 29d3d95b2762d32c · No editorial review date recorded [Citation / readable page](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/leaving-horeb/) [Open interactive map](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/?study=deuteronomy§ion=leaving-horeb) [Markdown](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/leaving-horeb/index.md) [JSON](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/leaving-horeb/index.json) Date: c. 1406 BC · Year 40, month 11 (Deuteronomy 1:3). Dated from 1 Kings 6:1 (the Exodus c. 1446 BC). Many scholars instead date the Exodus to about 1260 BC, placing these speeches about 1220 BC. At Horeb the LORD told Israel they had stayed long enough and should go in to take the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Because the people had become too many for Moses to carry alone, he appointed wise and respected leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens, and charged the judges to hear small and great alike and fear no one, for judgment belongs to God. Deuteronomy records Moses’ last speeches to the new generation of Israel on the plains of Moab, in the fortieth year after the Exodus (1:3). It looks back over the journey from Egypt and Horeb and forward to life in the land, calling Israel to love the LORD and remember what he has done. Each section below lists what Moses recalls, with links to those events on the timeline, and where the rest of Scripture takes up the passage. Moses retells the journey from Horeb to Moab and calls Israel to hold fast to the LORD (1:6–4:43). ## Primary Scripture [Deuteronomy 1:6–18 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A6%E2%80%9318&version=BSB) 1:6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 1:7 Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the foothills, in the Negev, and along the seacoast to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great River Euphrates. 1:8 See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.” 1:9 At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone. 1:10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. 1:11 May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. 1:12 But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself? 1:13 Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.” 1:14 And you answered me and said, “What you propose to do is good.” 1:15 So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes. 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.” 1:18 And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do. ## Moses looks back [Deuteronomy 1:6–8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A6%E2%80%938&version=BSB) The command to leave Horeb. [A covenant at the mountain](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/sinai/) [Deuteronomy 1:8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A8&version=BSB) The land sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. [The call of Abram](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/call-of-abram/) [Deuteronomy 1:9–18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A9%E2%80%9318&version=BSB) Exodus 18 tells how Jethro advised this; Numbers 11 adds seventy elders. [Jethro’s advice; judges appointed](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/jethro/) ## Location evidence Plains of Moab: Approximate region. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.64, 31.85\]. Classification source: editorial. Illustrative regional extent: \[\[35.56,31.77\],\[35.7,31.91\]\]; not a measured confidence interval. [Numbers 33:48–49 · extent of the camp](https://ebible.org/eng-web/NUM33.htm) ## For the class What qualities does Moses look for in leaders, and why do they still matter? ## Interpretation and reuse Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review. Record source: editorial Study guide: original editorial writing for Scripture Atlas. Place coordinates: OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0. Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm [Use this atlas with AI / data documentation](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/ai/)