Deuteronomy 8 - Introduction

Further Remembrances and Warnings for the Promised Land

Remembering God's guidance through the wilderness, how it was both material and moral, sustenance and chastisement (Deuteronomy 8:1-5), Israel must keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 8:6); and in the land, whose richness contrasts so forcibly with the wilderness, must take heed not to forget Himself, His commandments and His discipline, nor ascribe to itself the new wealth on which it is to enter (Deuteronomy 8:7-17). He is the giver of this, in pursuance of His covenant (Deuteronomy 8:18). If Israel forgets all that and worships other gods, it shall surely perish (19, 20). This section of the discourse is fairly simple and compact (yet in any other style than the deuteronomic, Deuteronomy 8:6 would seem irrelevant and an intrusion). Except in Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 8:19b, Deuteronomy 8:20, probably editorial additions, the form of address is Sg. throughout, and no other v. need be regarded as secondary.