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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Deuteronomy 4

Deuteronomy 4:1

DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 4 An exhortation to obey the law, DEUTERONOMY 4:1; and warning against idolatry, DEUTERONOMY 4:14; from the mischief of it upon themselves and children, DEUTERONOMY 4:25; God's promise upon their repentance, DEUTERONOMY 4:29; and from God's wonders towards them, DEUTERONOMY 4:32.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:2

YE SHALL NOT ADD, by devising other doctrines or ways of worship than what I have taught or prescribed; see NUMBERS 15:39,40 DEU 12:8,32 1 KINGS 12:33 PROVERBS 30:6 MATTHEW 15:9; for this were to accuse me of want of wisdom or care or faithfulness in not giving you sufficient instructions for my own... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:6

For though the generality of heathen people in the latter and degenerate ages of the world, did, through inveterate prejudices, and for their own lusts and interest, condemn the laws of the Hebrews as foolish and absurd, yet it is most certain that divers of the wisest heathens did highly approve of... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:7

GOD NIGH UNTO THEM, by glorious miracles, by the pledges of his special presence, by the operations of his grace, and particularly, as it here follows, by his readiness to hear our prayers, and to give us those succours which we call upon him for.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:8

Whereby he implies that the true greatness of a nation doth not consist in pomp or power, or largeness of empire, as commonly men think, but in the righteousness of its laws.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:10

Some of them stood in Horeb in their own persons, though then they were but young; the rest stood then in the loins of their parents, in whom they may well be said to stand there, because they are said to have entered into covenant with God, because their parents did so in their name and for their u... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:11

Flaming up into the air, which is oft called _heaven_; and the _midst_ or the _heart_ of it is not only that which is strictly and properly the middle part, but that which is within it, though but a little way, in which sense places or persons or things are said to be in the heart of the sea, EXODUS... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:12

i.e. No resemblance or representation of God, whereby either his essence or properties or actions were represented, such as were usual among the heathens.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:14

STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS, i.e. the ceremonial and judicial laws, which are here distinguished from the moral, or the ten commandments, DEUTERONOMY 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:15

By which caution he insinuates man's great proneness to the worship of images. God, who in other places and times did appear in a similitude, in the fashion of a man, now in this most solemn appearance, when he comes to give eternal laws for the regulation and direction of the Israelites in the wors... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:16

i.e. Lest ye corrupt your minds with mean and carnal thoughts of God. Or, _corrupt_ your ways or courses, by worshipping God in a corrupt manner, or by falling into idolatry. A GRAVEN IMAGE, to wit, for worship, or for the representation of God, as it is explained DEUTERONOMY 4:19, for otherwise it... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:19

DRIVEN TO WORSHIP THEM, i.e. strongly inclined, and in a manner constrained, partly by the glory of these heavenly bodies, which may seem to be made for higher purposes than to enlighten this lump of earth; partly from that natural propension which is in men to idolatry. Or, _shouldest be driven_ or... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:20

i.e. The furnace wherein iron and other metals are melted, to which Egypt is fitly compared, not only for the torment and misery which they there endured, but also because they were thoroughly tried and purged thereby, as metals are by the fire. A PEOPLE OF INHERITANCE; his peculiar possession from... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:23

Or, _commanded thee_, to wit, not to do, which is easily understood by comparing this place with EXODUS 20:4,5, and with GENESIS 3:11, where this phrase is fully expressed. See more on LEVITICUS 4:2 DEUTERONOMY 2:37.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:24

A CONSUMING FIRE; a just and terrible God, who, notwithstanding his special relation to thee, will severely punish and destroy thee if thou provokest him by idolatry, or other ways. A JEALOUS GOD, who being espoused to thee, will be highly incensed against thee, (if thou followest after other lovers... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:25

IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD: these words are here added, either, 1. As a caution. Your idolatry, though possibly secretly and cunningly managed, will not be hid from him; he sees it, and he will punish it. Or, 2. To aggravate their spiritual whoredom, as being committed in the sight and presence of t... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:26

HEAVEN AND EARTH; either, 1. Figuratively, i.e. God, and angels, and men. Or rather, 2. Properly; it being usual in Scripture to call in the senseless creatures as witnesses in such cases, as DEUTERONOMY 32:1 ISAIAH 1:2 JEREMIAH 2:12.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:28

i.e. Idols. You shall be compelled by men, and given up by me to idolatry. So that very thing which was your choice shall be your punishment; it being just and usual for God to punish one sin by giving them up to another, as is manifest from ROMANS 1:24,25.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:29

IF THOU SEEK HIM; if thou desirest his help and favour. See DEUTERONOMY 30:2 ISAIAH 45:6. WITH ALL THY HEART, i.e. sincerely and fervently.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:30

IN THE LATTER DAYS; either in general, in succeeding ages and generations; or particularly, in the days of the Messias, which are commonly called in Scripture THE LATTER, or _last days_, as ISAIAH 2:2 HOSEA 3:5 MICAH 4:1 DANIEL 2:44 HEBREWS 1:2, HEBREWS 9:26. And so this may respect the conversion a... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:32

FROM THE ONE SIDE OF HEAVEN, i.e. of the earth under heaven. Ask all the inhabitants of the world. Compare MATTHEW 24:31, with MARK 13:27.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:34

BY TEMPTATIONS; by tribulations and persecutions, which are commonly called _temptations_, which are here fitly mentioned as one great occasion first of their cries unto God, and then of God's coming for their rescue. Or, _temptations_ is the general title, which is explained by the following partic... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:37

IN HIS SIGHT; keeping his eye fixed upon him, as the father doth on his beloved child. Or, _with his presence_, i.e. he did not send them forth by Moses, but he himself was present with them, and as it were marched along with them, in the pillar of cloud and fire.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 4:44

Which hath been generally intimated already, but is more particularly and punctually expressed in the following chapter, to which these words are a preface.... [ Continue Reading ]

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