INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 10
In this chapter an account is given of an order to Moses to hew two
tables of stone, on which the Lord would write the words that were on
the first, and to make an ark and put them into it, all which was
accordingly done, Deuteronomy 10:1 and of some of the journeys o... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME THE LORD SAID UNTO ME,.... On the fortieth day, mentioned
in the preceding chapter, as Aben Ezra, or at the end of forty days,
as Jarchi; not of the first forty, for then were given him the first
two tables of stone, with the law written on them, which he broke when
he came down; but at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL WRITE ON THE TABLES THE WORDS THAT WERE IN THE FIRST
TABLES, WHICH THOU BRAKEST,.... a Though they were hewn by Moses, the
writing on them was the Lord's; and the very same laws, in the same
words, without any alteration or variation, were written by him on
these as on the former; partly... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I MADE AN ARK OF SHITTIM WOOD,.... That is, ordered it to be made,
and it was made by Bezaleel, and that of shittim wood: so the ark that
was put into the holy of holies was made of this wood; see
Exodus 25:10,
Exodus 37:1,
AND HEWED TWO TABLES OF STONE LIKE UNTO THE FIRST; two marble ones, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WROTE ON THE TABLES ACCORDING TO THE FIRST WRITING,.... The
same laws, in the same letters:
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WHICH THE LORD SPAKE UNTO YOU IN THE MOUNT; in
Mount Sinai, on which he descended, and from whence he delivered the
decalogue by word of mouth in an audible manner, that all the p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I TURNED MYSELF,.... From the Lord, out of whose hands he had
received the tables:
AND CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNT; with the two tables in his hand as
before, one in one hand, and the other in the other hand:
AND PUT THE TABLES IN THE ARK WHICH I HAD MADE; or ordered to be made:
AND THERE THEY B... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TOOK THEIR JOURNEY FROM BEEROTH OF THE
CHILDREN OF JAAKAN,.... Not when or soon after they removed from
Sinai; for if this place is the same with Benejaakan, as is generally
supposed, they had a great many journeys, mansions, and stations
before they came to it; see Number... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THENCE THEY JOURNEYED UNTO GUDGODAH,.... Which Jarchi takes to be
the same with Horhagidgad, and so do most; see
Numbers 33:32, but Aben Ezra says it is not, but is a general name,
including Zalmonah, Punon, and Oboth, places the Israelites came to
after they removed from Mount Hor, where Aaro... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME THE LORD SEPARATED THE TRIBE OF LEVI,.... Not at the time
that Moses came down from the mount with the tables of the law, but
some considerable time after, even after the tabernacle was erected;
nor at the time that Aaron died, and Eleazar succeeded him, but many
years before that; unle... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE LEVI HATH NO PART NOR INHERITANCE WITH HIS BRETHREN,.... In
the division of the land of Canaan, because being separated to the
service of the sanctuary, he had no leisure to plough and sow, as
Jarchi observes:
THE LORD IS HIS INHERITANCE, as the Lord thy God promised him; not in
a spiritu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I STAYED IN THE MOUNT, ACCORDING TO THE FIRST TIME, FORTY DAYS AND
FORTY NIGHTS,.... Which is to be connected with
Deuteronomy 10:6 and relates what passed before he came down from the
mount with the two tables; as that he stayed there as long as he did
when he received the first tables, and fa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, ARISE, TAKE THY JOURNEY BEFORE THE
PEOPLE,.... Here Moses goes on with his relation of things at Mount
Sinai, how that upon his supplication for the people, on account of
the destruction they were threatened with for their idolatry, the Lord
was graciously pleased not only... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, ISRAEL, WHAT DOTH THE LORD THY GOD REQUIRE OF THEE,.... For
all these favours bestowed upon them, the forgiveness of their sins,
and a fresh intimation of their possession of the land of Canaan, and
the renewal of the promise of it made to their fathers:
BUT TO FEAR THE LORD THY GOD; to fe... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, AND HIS STATUTES,.... Both the
ten commands and all others:
WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY FOR THY GOOD; promises of temporal good
things, introduction into the land of Canaan, possession of it, and
continuance in it, being made to obedience to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE HEAVEN, AND THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS, ARE THE LORD'S THY
GOD,.... Made and possessed by him; the airy and starry heaven, the
third heaven, which is the heaven of heavens, the seat of the divine
Majesty, the habitation of angels and glorified saints:
THE EARTH [ALSO], WITH ALL THAT THEREIN... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY THE LORD HAD A DELIGHT IN THY FATHERS TO LOVE THEM,.... Though
the heavens and the earth, and all the inhabitants of them are the
Lord's by creation, yet he had a special regard unto, and a peculiar
complacency in, the fathers of the Israelites, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob; from whence arose some... [ Continue Reading ]
CIRCUMCISE THEREFORE THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART,.... Content not
yourselves with, nor put your confidence in outward circumcision of
the flesh, but be concerned for the circumcision of the heart; for
removing from that whatever is disagreeable to the Lord, even all
carnality, sensuality, hypocrisy,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD OF GODS,.... Of angels and civil
magistrates, who are sometimes so called: these are his creatures, act
for him and under him, and are accountable to him:
THE LORD OF LORDS; of the kings and princes of the earth, who have
their crowns, sceptres, and kingdoms from him, a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DOTH EXECUTE THE JUDGMENT OF THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOW,.... Who have
none to help them, and whose patron and defender he is, and will do
them justice himself, and take care that it is done them by others, or
avenge their injuries, for he is a Father of the fatherless, and a
judge of the widow, in... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE YE THEREFORE THE STRANGER,.... Because the Lord loves him; and
another reason follows, particularly binding on the Israelites:
FOR YE WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; and therefore should
sympathize with such, and show them compassion, relieve them in
distress, and afford them whatever the... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT FEAR THE LORD THY GOD,.... Which includes the whole worship
of him, external and internal:
HIM SHALT THOU SERVE; heartily and sincerely, according to his
revealed will, and him only:
AND TO HIM SHALL THOU CLEAVE; and not turn aside to follow other gods,
and worship them:
AND SWEAR BY H... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS THY PRAISE,.... The object and matter of it, who deserves the
praises of all his creatures, because of his perfections, works, and
blessings of goodness; for all mercies temporal and spiritual come
from him, and therefore he is greatly to be praised for them: praise
is his due, and it is comel... [ Continue Reading ]
THY FATHERS WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT WITH SEVENTY PERSONS,.... That is, in
all; for there were not seventy besides Jacob and the patriarchs his
sons, but with them; see Genesis 46:26 and now the Lord thy God hath
made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude; as he promised they
should be, Genesis 15:5... [ Continue Reading ]