XXXI.
Deuteronomy 31:1. MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LEADER TO JOSHUA.
(1) AND MOSES WENT AND SPAKE. — The expression is unusual. Possibly
it means “went on to speak.” The Palestine Targum has, “He went
into the house of instruction and spake.” The LXX. have apparently
preserved a different reading... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:9. MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LAWGIVER TO THE PRIESTS.
(9-11) AND MOSES WROTE THIS LAW, AND DELIVERED IT UNTO THE PRIESTS...
AND... COMMANDED THEM, SAYING... THOU SHALT READ. — This must be
distinguished from the deliverance of the “book” to the Levites in
Deuteronomy 31:25. The deli... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:14. JOSHUA IS APPOINTED BY JEHOVAH TO MOSES’ PLACE.
(14) THY DAYS APPROACH THAT THOU MUST DIE: CALL JOSHUA, AND PRESENT
YOURSELVES. — What Moses had already done before Israel (Deuteronomy
31:1) is now ratified by Jehovah to Joshua and Moses.
MOSES AND JOSHUA WENT. — We may compare t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BREAK MY COVENANT. — With this, contrast Judges 2:1 : “I said,
_I will never break my covenant_ with you.” The phrases are
identical in Hebrew. Comp. 2 Timothy 2:13 : “If we believe not, yet
He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU SHALT SLEEP WITH THY FATHERS... NOW THEREFORE WRITE YE
THIS SONG. — This prophecy that the children of Israel would forsake
Jehovah and break His covenant is not a little remarkable, when we
consider His dealings with them as a nation. It is one of the many
proofs in Holy Scripture that... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT THESE EVILS COME UPON US, BECAUSE OUR GOD IS NOT AMONG US? —
A confession made freely by them at this present day.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SURELY HIDE MY FACE. — “As though I did not see (them) in
their distress” (Rashi).... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS, THAT THIS SONG MAY BE A WITNESS. — This
method of perpetuating the truth was even better adapted to the times
and to the condition of the people than the delivery of a written law.
It was not possible to multiply copies of the law among them to any
great extent; but the rhyth... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SONG... SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THEIR SEED.
— And it is not forgotten now. St. Paul made special use of it in
the last days of the second Temple. This song is a favourite piece of
Hebrew poetry to this day. Rashi observes: “This is a promise to
Israel that the law shall not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE (Jehovah) GAVE JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN A CHARGE. — This is the
first record of God’s direct communion with Joshua. He was with
Moses on the mount during the first forty days, and “departed not
out of the Tabernacle” when they came down (Exodus 24:13; Exodus
33:11). But we have no note of any Di... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:24. DELIVERY OF THE BOOKS OF MOSES TO THE LEVITES.
(24) WHEN MOSES HAD MADE AN END OF WRITING. — This means the
completion of the books of Moses as he delivered them to Israel; not
merely Deuteronomy, as above, in Deuteronomy 31:9, but the whole,
including the song mentioned in Deute... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LATTER DAYS. — A not uncommon prophetical expression, used
with some considerable latitude. It occurs for the first time in
Genesis 49:1. (See also Numbers 24:14 and Deuteronomy 4:30.) Some
would refer it to the “days of the Messiah,” and make it almost a
technical term. But a comparison of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SPAKE... THE WORDS OF THIS SONG. — The exodus of Israel
begins and ends with a song of Moses. The song of Exodus 15 is usually
referred to as the “Song of Moses,” and is thought to be intended
in Revelation 15:3. But there is a remarkable resemblance between
Revelation 15:3 and Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]