1_And Moses went and spake these words. _By the word _went _he signifies that, having received the commands from God, he came to the people to report them. Hence we gather that they were warned in good time to beware, if they had been sensibly disposed. And it was necessary that the people should he... [ Continue Reading ]
2_And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old. _Although Moses had been often proudly and disdainfully rejected, it could not but be the case, nevertheless, that his departure would both awaken the deepest sorrow, and inspire them with much alarm. By setting before them his age, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
3_The Lord thy God, he will go over. _By no ordinary consolation does he encourage their minds to renewed alacrity, because they should experience, even when he was dead, the unceasing favor of God. Hence we gather a lesson of especial usefulness, that whenever God raises up to us men endowed with e... [ Continue Reading ]
4_And the Lord shall do unto them. _He promises that, when they shall come into the land of Canaan, they shall be conquerors of all its nations: and this he confirms by experience; for, as God had delivered Sihon king of the Arnorites, and Og king of Bashan, into their hands, so also He would give t... [ Continue Reading ]
6_Be strong and of good courage. _After he had shown that God would be with them, for their help, he exhorts the people to firmness and magnanimity. And surely this is one means of confirming our courage, to be assured that the assistance which God promises will suffice for us: so far is it from bei... [ Continue Reading ]
7_And Moses called unto Joshua. _It hence appears that those, upon whom a public charge is conferred, have need of a twofold confirmation: for, after having addressed a general instruction to the whole people, he directs his discourse peculiarly to Joshua himself, as to one whose business it was to... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And Moses wrote this law. _It is unquestionable that Moses deposited the Book of the Law in the custody of the Levites, to enjoin upon them the duty of teaching; for although it is only related that they were commanded to recite the book before the people every seventh year, yet it is easy to gat... [ Continue Reading ]
10._And Moses commanded them. _The object of this precept is the same as that of the foregoing. He would have (the Law (238)) represented, and constantly kept before their eyes; now He commands that it should also be recited every seventh year, lest the knowledge of it should ever depart. But let us... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Gather the people together. _(241) Literally, “to gather,” (242) etc., in the infinitive mood; and although this is sometimes taken for the imperative, yet, in this passage some improperly translate it “Gather,” etc., as if Moses commanded them to give these injunctions once only to the people o... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And that their children, which have not known anything. _Again, we see that their present assembly is not referred to, but that which was to be repeated every seven years, in order that their posterity might be retained in the path of duty. Another use, then, of this recitation is adduced; that... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And the Lord said unto Moses. _Joshua is now substituted in the place of Moses by a solemn ceremony, not only that he may be held in greater reverence by men, but also that he may be presented before God, and thus may acknowledge that he is dedicated to His service; for his being brought before... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Behold, thou, shalt sleep with thy fathers. _In order that Moses may labor more earnestly to retain the people in obedience to God, he is reminded of their indomitable perverseness. He had already sufficiently, and more than sufficiently, experienced how depraved and stubborn was the disposition... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Then my anger shall be kindled against them. _By this denunciation of punishment, God undoubtedly desired to put a restraint upon the senselessness of the people; but since this was done without their profiting by it, there was another advantage in this lesson, viz., that, after having been seri... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Now, therefore, write ye this song. _It seems absurd that a useless remedy should be applied to an incurable disease. Why does not God rather correct their wickedness, and by His Spirit mold their hearts to obedience, than pour forth words in vain into their deaf ears? Thus do proud and profane... [ Continue Reading ]
20._But when I shall have brought them. _In other words, God again enlarges upon the atrociousness of their iniquity, in that, when He had dealt liberally with the Israelites, they would turn His benefits into occasions of perversity, since nothing can be more base than such ingratitude, he says, th... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And he gave Joshua the son of Nul, a charge. _The more difficult was the task of Joshua, the more needful was it that he should be encouraged to exert himself, and to beware of failure. For this reason his charge is repeated, although in his person all the others were at the same time confirmed.... [ Continue Reading ]
24._And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end. _By “the words of this law,” we must understand not only those which are embraced in this book, but in the other three also; and there is an implied antithesis between the two tables written by God’s hand, and the exposition which was afterwards a... [ Continue Reading ]
27._For I know thy rebellion. _The reason is given why he passed over the utility of his doctrine, and only cited it as a witness against the Israelites in terms of severity and reproach, viz., because he had found them by experience to be of a “stiffneck,” (of which expression I have spoken elsewhe... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Gather to me all the elders of your tribes. _Special reference is here made to the Song, which we gather from the last verse to have been alone recited. Moses, indeed, appears to contradict himself when he commands the elders and officers only to be called to listen, whereas he soon afterwards r... [ Continue Reading ]