Deuteronomy 9:1-29

b. HOW TO PREVENT THE THREAT (Deuteronomy 9:1 to Deuteronomy 11:21)

(1) BY A REALISTIC SELF-EVALUATION (Deuteronomy 9:1 to Deuteronomy 10:11)

(Moses rehearses the story of the two tables of stone and the Israelite's sin at Sinai. This is done so Israel might see their previous course: rebelliousness, stubbornness, and disobedience.)
Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak? 3 Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee. 4 Speak not thou in thy heart, after that Jehovah thy God hath thrust them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness Jehovah hath brought me in to possess this land; whereas for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah doth drive them out from before thee. 5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the unrightness of thy heart, dost thou go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may establish the word which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
6 Know therefore, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. 7 Remember, forget thou not, how thou provokedst Jehovah thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou wentest forth out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against Jehovah. 8 Also in Horeb ye provoked Jehovah to wrath, and Jehovah was angry with you to destroy you. 9When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which Jehovah made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water. 10 And Jehovah delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which Jehovah spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly, 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that Jehovah gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. 12 And Jehovah said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people that thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image. 13 Furthermore Jehovah spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people; 14 let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they, 15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount was burning with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against Jehovah your God; ye had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which Jehovah had commanded you. 17 And I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my hands, and brake them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before Jehovah, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water; because of all your sin which ye sinned, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Jehovah was wroth against you to destroy you. But Jehovah hearkened unto me that time also. 20 And Jehovah was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

22 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, ye provoked Jehovah to wrath. 23 And when Jehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God, and ye believed him not, nor harkened to his voice. 24 Ye have been rebellious against Jehovah from the day that I knew you.
25 So I fell down before Jehovah the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Jehovah had said he would destroy you. 26 And I prayed unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, that thou hast redeemed through the greatness, that thou has brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin, 28 lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because Jehovah was not able to bring them into the land which he promised unto them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness. 29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm.
At that time, Jehovah said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Jehovah spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Jehovah gave them unto me. 5 And I turned and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Jehovah commanded me. 6 (And the children of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead. 7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water. 8 At that time Jehovah set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister unto him, and to bless his name, unto this day. 9Wherefore Levi hath no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; Jehovah is his inheritance, according as Jehovah thy God spake unto him.) 10 And I stayed in the mount, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights: and Jehovah hearkened unto me that time also; Jehovah would not destroy thee. 11 And Jehovah said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 9:1-10:11

187.

What is the grand purpose of chapter nine?

188.

What time is involved in the use of the term day in Deuteronomy 9:1?

189.

Our God is a consuming firethis can be understood in at least two ways; how is it used here?

190.

Were not the Israelites more righteous than the Canaanites? If so why not say it is because we are more righteous that God is driving out the inhabitants of the land? Cf. Deuteronomy 9:4-5.

191.

Show how the punishment of the original inhabitants of the land was actually very merciful.

192.

Why call for a remembrance of their sin at Horeb, and in the wilderness?

193.

How was Moses able to remain alive without water for forty days?

194.

Just what corruption or sin was involved at the worship of the golden calf? Is there a lesson in this for today?

195.

Consider God's proposal to Moses in Deuteronomy 9:14, did God mean what He said? Discuss.

196.

There are two or three periods of forty days, designate them, Why were they necessary? Are there two or three?

197.

Was it wrong for Moses to break the two tables of the covenant? What was Moses attitude

198.

Jehovah was as angry with Aaron as He was with the people, why?

199.

What very commendable quality is found in Moses at this time?

200.

What ultimately happened to the golden calf? Why?

201.

What sins were committed at the following places? (1) Taberah, (2) Massah, (3) Kibroth-hattaavah, (4) Kadesh-barnea.

202.

Name the two arguments used in his prayer for the preservation of Israel.

203.

In what sense was Israel Jehovah's heritage?

204.

Why was it necessary to make an ark? Wasn-'t the ark made later along with the furniture of the tabernacle?

205.

Who wrote the ten commandments on the tables of stone?

206.

Why introduce the subject matter of Deuteronomy 9:6 through Deuteronomy 9:9?

207.

Where did the Levites live? How were they supported? Read 1 Corinthians 9:13 for present application.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 9:1-10:11

Hear, O Israel; you are to cross the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you are, cities great and fortified up to the heavens,
2 A people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?
3 Know therefore this day, that the Lord your God is He Who goes over before you as a devouring fire; He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall dispossess them and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.
4 Do not say in your (mind and) heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land, whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you.
5 Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your [mind and] heart, do you go to possess their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out before you, and that He may fulfill the promise which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
6 Know therefore, that the Lord your God does not give you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a hard and stubborn people.
7 (Earnestly) remember, and forget not, how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
8 Even in Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.
9 When I went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate food nor drank water.
10 And the Lord delivered to me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the Lord spoke with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
11 And at the end of forty days and forty nights the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, the tables of the covenant.
12 And the Lord said to me, Arise, go down from here quickly; for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they have quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molten image.
13 Furthermore the Lord said to me, I have seen this people, and behold, it is stubborn and hard;
14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the heavens; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.
15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire; and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God; you had made you a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you.
17 I took the two tables, cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.
18 Then I fell down before the Lord, as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate food, nor drank water, because of all the sin you had committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.
19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the Lord held against you, enough to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.
20 And the Lord was very angry with Aaron, enough to have destroyed him; and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
21 And I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust; and I cast the dust of it into the brook that came down out of the mountain.
22 At Taberah also, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, you provoked the Lord to wrath.
23 Likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you did not believe Him or trust and rely on Him or obey His voice.
24 You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.
25 So I fell down and lay prostrate before the Lord forty days and nights, for the Lord had said He would destroy you.
26 And I prayed to the Lord, O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your heritage, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
27 Remember [earnestly] your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not at the stubbornness of this people, or at their wickedness, or at their sin,
28 Lest the land from which You brought us out say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which He promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
29 Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm.
At that time the Lord said to me, Hew two tables of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
2 And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.
3 So I [Moses] made an ark of acacia wood, and hewed two tables of stone like the first, and went up the mountain[30] with the two tables of stone in my [one] hand.

[30] One of the many misconceptions of articles and events mentioned in the Bible, which have been innocently perpetuated by artists without adequate knowledge, is that of the size of the two tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written. They were not great combstone-size slabs, but probably small rectangular plates, two of which could easily be carried in one hand. Dr. George L. Robinson brought from the Sinai area a pair of tablets of stone believed comparable to those mentioned here, which he put in his coat pocket. Moses says here I went up the mountain with the two tables of stones in my [one] hand; and he confirms it in Exodus 34:4.

4 And the Lord wrote on the tables, as at the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.

5 And I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the Lord commanded me.
6 (The Israelites journeyed from the wells of the sons of Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried, and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.
7 From there they journeyed to Gudgodah; then to Jotbathah, a land of brooks [dividing the valley].
8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day.
9 Therefore Levi has no part or inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God promised him.)
10 And I [Moses] stayed on the mountain, as the first time, forty days and nights; and the Lord listened to me at that time also; the Lord would not destroy you.
11 And the Lord said to me, Arise, journey on before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give to them.

COMMENT 9:1-10:11

THOU ART TO PASS OVER THE JORDAN THIS DAY (Deuteronomy 9:1)Commenting on the term this day, Clarke states: haiyom, this time; they had come thirtyeight years before this nearly to the verge of the promised land, but were not permitted at that day or time to pass over, because of their rebellion; but this time they shall certainly pass over. This was spoken about the eleventh month of the fortieth year of their journeying, and it was on the first month of the following year they passed over; and during the interim Moses died. Robert Jamieson states, this daymeans this time. The Israelites had reached the confines of the promised land [thirty-eight years before], but were obliged, to their great mortification, to return. But now were they certainly to enter it. No obstacle could prevent their possession.

NATIONS GREATER AND MIGHTIER THAN THYSELF, CITIES GREAT AND FORTIFIED UP TO HEAVEN. A PEOPLE GREAT AND TALL, THE SONS OF THE ANAKIM (Deuteronomy 9:1-2)See Deuteronomy 1:28, Deuteronomy 7:1 and notes.

GOD IS HE WHO GOETH BEFORE THEE AS A DEVOURING FIRE (Deuteronomy 9:3)They had been warned against idolatry with the reminder, For Jehovah thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24). But how good it is to have the power of God going before one, overpowering the enemy, as a devastating forest or prairie fire consumes all that is in its path! So was God's continued promise to an obedient Israel.

SO SHALT THOU DRIVE THEM OUT, AND MAKE THEM TO PERISH QUICKLY (Deuteronomy 9:3)How do we reconcile what is stated here, with the previous promise that God would cast out those nations before thee by little and little, and not at once (Deuteronomy 7:22)? Looking at the whole process, and in view of the time it would take by any natural means for a nation the size of Israel to dispossess the native inhabitants, it was to be quickly. But looking on it from the standpoint of the Israelites, the process would be little by little. Furthermore, the emphasis here is on the fact that these inhabitants should not be allowed to live: ... you will be able to dispossess them and kill them off quickly (Berkeley).

SPEAK NOT THOU IN THY HEART. FOR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS JEHOVAH HATH BROUGHT ME IN. WHEREAS FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS JEHOVAH DOTH DRIVE THEM OUT (Deuteronomy 9:4)There were two great purposes in God's bringing Israel into this land.

1. To punish the Canaanite tribes for their gross wickedness.

2. To bring about his eternal purpose of salvation through Christ, promised to the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 4:37, Deuteronomy 10:15). Note Deuteronomy 9:5.

The wickedness of these nations has already been described, and archaeologists have shown that these nations were engrossed in the basest, most degrading kind of idolatry. Their worship often included human sacrifice and sensual rites. See Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Numbers 31:15-16; Leviticus 18:24-30, etc. The iniquity of the Amorite was full (Genesis 15:16), and it was time now for God to drive them out and bring his chosen seed in. Where, then, was room provided for Israel to boast? Clarke's comment is timely: Thus the Canaanites were cut off, and the Israelites were grafted in; and the Israelites, because of their wickedness were afterwards cut off, and the Gentiles grafted in. Let the latter not be high-minded but fear; if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he spare not thee. [Cf. Romans 11:17-24]

THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE (Deuteronomy 9:6)One of a number of references to Israel's perennial disobedience. In just this chapter we have

(a)

Stiffnecked, Deuteronomy 9:6; Deuteronomy 9:13

(b)

rebellious, Deuteronomy 9:7; Deuteronomy 9:23-24

(c)

corrupted themselves, Deuteronomy 9:12

(d)

provoked Jehovah to wrath Deuteronomy 9:7-8; Deuteronomy 9:22

(e)

believed not God, Deuteronomy 9:23

(f)

sinned and were evil, Deuteronomy 9:18

(g)

quickly turned aside, Deuteronomy 9:12

These were not exactly complimentary termsbut every one of them true. Moses could rightfully say, Ye have been rebellious against Jehovah FROM THE DAY THAT I KNEW YOU (Deuteronomy 9:24). Where was Israel's room for pride in this? An honest appraisal of their past would have induced humility and contriteness of heart.

I ABODE IN THE MOUNT FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS; I DID NEITHER EAT BREAD NOR DRINK WATER (Deuteronomy 9:9)How could Moses have more exactly stated that his was a total fast in Sinai? See also Deuteronomy 9:18, where the second stay in the mount is similarly described, and Exodus 34:28. Jesus-' fast in the wilderness was for the same length of time, and it is also specified that he did eat nothing in those days, Luke 4:1-2. They were both, of course, miraculously sustained and strengthened, though this does not mean they were without hunger afterward (Matthew 4:2).

WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF GOD (Deuteronomy 9:10)See Deuteronomy 5:22 and notes.

LET ME ALONE, THAT I MAY DESTROY THEM, AND BLOT OUT THEIR NAME FROM UNDER HEAVEN; AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A NATION MIGHTIER AND GREATER THAN THEY (Deuteronomy 9:14)See Exodus 32:7-14. Moses-' prayer found favor with God, and changed the course of history! See also Deuteronomy 9:18; Deuteronomy 9:25-29; Deuteronomy 10:10-11. As it was, Moses had two sons, Gershom and Eliezer (Exodus 18:3-4), but no tribe or nation sprang from them.

SO I TURNED AND CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNT (Deuteronomy 9:15)The student should review these events in Exodus, chapter 31 ff. if he is not already familiar with them.

AND I FELL DOWN BEFORE JEHOVAH, AS AT THE FIRST, FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS (Deuteronomy 9:18)See also Deuteronomy 9:25, Deuteronomy 10:10; Exodus 34:28. Moses interceded for the people before he came down from the mountain the first time (Exodus 32:11-13). This intercession is only briefly alluded to in this verse. Afterwards he spent another forty days on the mountain in fasting and prayer to obtain a complete restitution of the Covenant (Exodus 34:28). It is this second forty days, and the intercession of Moses made therein (Cp. Exodus 34:9), that is more particularly brought forward here and in Deuteronomy 9:25-29. (Cook, in Barne's Notes)

AND JEHOVAH WAS VERY ANGRY WITH AARON, TO DESTROY HIM (Deuteronomy 9:20)See Exodus 32:21 ff. Aaron had died several months before Moses-' present speech. Cf. Numbers 33:38 with Deuteronomy 1:3.

AND I TOOK. THE CALF. GRINDING IT VERY SMALL (Deuteronomy 9:21)Exodus 32:20 states additionally, And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. That's what is called, a taste of your own medicine. But the consequences of that sin were much more serious, and three thousand men were immediately slain by the Levites (Exodus 32:25-29).

AND AT TABERAH [Burning. See Numbers 11:1-3]. MASSAH [tempting or proving. See Exodus 17:1-7, Deuteronomy 6:16 and notes] AND AT KIBROTH-HATTAAVAH] The graves of lust. See Numbers 11:4-35 [YE PROVOKED JEHOVAH TO WRATH (Deuteronomy 9:22). AND WHEN JEHOVAH SENT YOU FROM KADESH-BARNEA (Deuteronomy 9:23) [The holy place of Barnea See Numbers, Chaps. 13, 14]. Murmuring, complaining, and rebellion were evident at all four of these places; and with all truthfulness Moses could say, YE HAVE BEEN REBELLIOUS AGAINST JEHOVAH FROM THE DAY I KNEW YOU (Deuteronomy 9:24)Cf. Deuteronomy 9:7from the day that thou wentest forth out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place. What an indictment! And yet, what Israelite could deny it?

SO I FELL DOWN BEFORE JEHOVAH THE FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NLGHTS (Deuteronomy 9:25)Continuing now from Deuteronomy 9:18. See also Deuteronomy 10:10. Moses-' effectual prayer when Israel, led by Aaron, had corrupted themselves is recorded in Exodus 32:7-14; also Exodus 9:30-35. But Moses references here, are especially to his pleas with God during his second stay in the mount, which was as the first, forty days and forty nights (Deuteronomy 9:18). This account is in Exodus 34:4 ff.

Moses-' acts were similar during both stays, and (as we saw in discussing the engraving on the stones) it is not always easy to know those acts that were true in one stay and not in another. We know Deuteronomy 10:1 ff. concerns his second stay.

The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working, and Moses found favor with God. Note that his prayer for Israel's preservation is based on God's eternal purpose for his people. And surely this was God's reason for preserving themtheir own righteousness merited only destruction (Deuteronomy 9:4-5).

God's true leaders are even in prayer for his people; and their motives, like Moses-', are altogether disinterested and altruistic. Samuel could say, even to a people bent on doing wrong, Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and right way (1 Samuel 12:23).

AT THAT TIME (Deuteronomy 10:1)Moses-' second stay in the mount. The Exodus account (Ch. 34) can here be compared.

JEHOVAH SAID. I WILL WRITE (Deuteronomy 9:2)See also our previous discussion under Deuteronomy 5:22. The plain statements of this chapter about God writing the ten commandments during Moses-' second stay in the mount, cannot help but influence our interpretation of Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:27-28. In the first instance, the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven on the tables (Exodus 32:16). Moses hewed out the second set of tables himself, and if the words here about God writing on the second set are to be understood literally (and we have no difficulty so understanding them), the statement And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments (Exodus 34:28) would refer to God, not Moses.

AND I. PUT THE TABLES IN THE ARK (Deuteronomy 9:5)... the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant (Hebrews 9:3-4).

AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED. etc. (Deuteronomy 9:6-9)A parenthetical statement concerning Aaron and the tribe of Levi. Aaron's death and his succession by Eleazer his son is further detailed in Numbers 20:22-29 and (especially as it connects with this passage) Numbers 33:31-39. Obviously, the statements of our present verses are not intended to be understood as happening at the same time as the giving of the law, for Aaron had only recently died, in the fifth month of their fortieth year out of Egypt. Why, then, are these statements made? They are apparently suggested by the mentioning of the covenant and the Ark (Deuteronomy 9:5), which was borne by the tribe of Levi. And so prominent was the fact that the tables of stone were within the ark, it was known as the ark of the covenant, or the ark of the covenant of Jehovah. The book of Deuteronomy was later carried on the side of the ark (Deuteronomy 31:2 b).

WHEREFORE LEVI HATH NO PORTION NOR INHERITANCE (Deuteronomy 9:9)See also Deuteronomy 12:12, Deuteronomy 14:27-29, Deuteronomy 18:1-8, Numbers 18:19-24. The fact that they did not have an inheritance placed them at the mercy of the Israelites for support. Don-'t miss the application Paul makes of this, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. Members of this tribe were not property owners. Numbers 35:1-8, however, provides that forty-eight cities should be given to the Levites, each surrounded by a pasturage (suburb). These included the six cities of refuge. They were not inheritances as such (the area occupied by the whole forty-eight jointly is estimated to have covered less than sixteen square miles), but provided places for members of this tribe to live. This passage is not inconsistent with Deuteronomy 18:8, which specifies that the Levite may have that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony. See notes under that verse, and remarks under Deuteronomy 12:12.

The threat from within was to be further prevented.