Moses, in his speech to the assembled Israelites, warned them against the sin of pride. They had defeated nations and peoples. These nations were stronger and had a greater population. These were established nations who had been inhabiting the land for ages. In comparison, Israel was just been born as a nation after leaving Egypt were they had been slaves. All of these encounters would be acceptable, Moses warned, if the Israelites saw these victories they had gained as victories given to them through the wisdom and might of Yahweh. Israel would be wrong to think that these victories was because of their righteousness. On the contrary, they should understand that these victories given to them was because of Yahweh’s judgement on the sins of the people whom Israel had defeated. Israel was not to forget that they too had provoked Yahweh as these nations had done.
