CHAPTER 32 THE SONG OF MOSES. Having written the Complaint Document as a song to be sung by the children of Israel until its words were fulfilled and it could be called on as a witness against them, and also be seen as a promise of hope, Moses read out the song to the people. Analysis. a And Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
WITNESSES ARE CALLED ON TO BEAR WITNESS TO HIS WORDS (DEUTERONOMY 32:1). Deuteronomy 32:1 “Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My teaching will drop like the rain; My speech will distil like the dew, As the raindrops on the fresh grass, And a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHARACTER OF THE OVERLORD IS DESCRIBED (DEUTERONOMY 32:4). Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.” The reason that God can be ascribed as great is now expanded on. It is because He is t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHARGE IS MADE AGAINST THE COVENANT BREAKERS (DEUTERONOMY 32:5). Deuteronomy 32:5 “They have dealt corruptly with him, Not his children, The result of their blemish; A perverse and crooked generation.” In contrast with Yahweh's faithfulness and reliability are His people. They have dealt co... [ Continue Reading ]
A SERIES OF QUESTIONS IS THEN PUT TO THEM (DEUTERONOMY 32:6). Deuteronomy 32:6 “Do you (ye) thus requite Yahweh, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he your (thy) father who has bought you (thee)? He has made you (thee), and established you (thee).” He then faces the people up with their folly... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BENEFICENCE TOWARDS THEM OF THEIR OVERLORD IS OUTLINED (DEUTERONOMY 32:7). Deuteronomy 32:7 “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations, Ask your (thy) father, and he will show you (thee), Your (thy) elders, and they will tell you (thee). “When the Most High gave to t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TREACHEROUS NATURE OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR IS DESCRIBED (DEUTERONOMY 32:15). Deuteronomy 32:15 ‘But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked, You are waxed fat, you are grown thick, you are become sleek, Then he forsook God who made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They moved him to j... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OVERLORD'S VERDICT IS PRONOUNCED (DEUTERONOMY 32:19). Deuteronomy 32:19 ‘And Yahweh saw, and abhorred, Because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be, For they are a very perverse generation, Childre... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS VERDICT IS WITHDRAWN FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME (DEUTERONOMY 32:26). Yahweh is now seen as hesitating at the thought of destroying His people completely. Not because they do not deserve it but lest their enemies think that they have defeated them rather than it being due to His activity. Deutero... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DECLARES THEIR HOPELESS STATE WITHOUT HIM (DEUTERONOMY 32:28). Deuteronomy 32:28 “For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them. Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!' He declares Israel's folly. They lack... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGMENT IS PASSED BY MOSES AND FAITHFUL ISRAEL ON FAITHLESS ISRAEL (DEUTERONOMY 32:31). Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, And of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their... [ Continue Reading ]
RATHER THAN SEEKING VENGEANCE YAHWEH WILL HAVE MERCY ON THEM (DEUTERONOMY 32:34). Deuteronomy 32:34 “Is not this stored up with me, Sealed up among my treasures? Vengeance is mine, and recompense, At the time when their foot shall slip. For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH COMPARES HIMSELF WITH THE GODS THAT THEY HAVE WORSHIPPED (DEUTERONOMY 32:37). Deuteronomy 32:37 “And he will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge, Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, Drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THREATENS JUDGMENT ON HIS ENEMIES (DEUTERONOMY 32:41). Deuteronomy 32:41 “If I whet my glittering (lightning) sword, And my hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense them that hate me. I will make my arrows drunk with blood, And my sword... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE AND RESTORE THEM (DEUTERONOMY 32:43). Deuteronomy 32:43 “Praise, O nations, his people, For he will avenge the blood of his servants, And will render vengeance to his adversaries, And will make expiation for his land, for his people.” For in the end He will deli... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONG IS FINISHED (DEUTERONOMY 32:44). Deuteronomy 32:44 ‘ And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.' Compare Deuteronomy 31:30. That is repeated here with the addition of the presence of Joshua. Joshua is now no longer Moses s... [ Continue Reading ]
A SUMMARY OF MOSES' FINAL ACTIVITY (DEUTERONOMY 32:46). A summary is now given of what was in fact Moses' final activity before his death. The song being completed Moses, together with Joshua (Hoshea is Joshua with the Yah element removed), having proclaimed the words of the song to the people, fol... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH'S FINAL WORDS TO MOSES (DEUTERONOMY 32:48). a And Yahweh spoke to Moses that selfsame day, saying, “Get you up into this mountain of Abarim, to mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a... [ Continue Reading ]