Parsha_Push Devarim

Some may be familiar with the feeling that sometimes you are nice to people, who don’t necessarily deserve it, or appreciate the effort it costs you. You don’t want to mention it, because by doing so, you take away from the value of the act itself. Saying, “Indeed I made a special effort for you” or “I was nice to you even though…” will dim or even diminish the pleasantness of what has been done. And yet, appreciation of an act is achieved through understanding and it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Sometimes the person on the receiving end is aware of the gesture or of its intensity, but at times an external eye is needed to highlight what is really going on.
This understanding may explain why Rashi, following Chazal, explains the list of locations stated at the opening of Dvarim, not as a list helping us to geographically place Moshe’s speeches, but rather as hints to Israel’s many sins. God and Moshe are there to lead us and help us towards entering the land of Israel after a long and challenging journey, but they choose not to dwell on our misgivings. It is up to us, via our Sages and commentators, to listen to those hints and remember what difficulties we have put our leaders through, and how despite the hardships, that is not the focus of Moshe’s speech.
Instead of focusing, or even out-right mentioning our digressions, Moshe is determined to help us learn from our mistakes and address those feelings from which they stemmed. The Sin of the Spies is indeed mentioned, but only for the purpose of teaching the people of Israel that we do not need to fear the Giants, just as Amon, Moav and Edom dealt successfully with the Giants in their God-given lands. Other sins will be mentioned later on to warn us of overlooking the spiritual dangers upon entering the land of Israel.
Moshe reminds us lovingly of God’s love and it helps us love Him back. The commentators are here to give us a mirror for self-reflection and understanding as to how lucky we are to have this love, especially when we remember how undeserving we are.