INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 6 In this chapter Moses proceeds on in his exhortations to the people of Israel, to attend to the commandments of God, that it might be well with them, Deuteronomy 6:1, and begins with a principal and fundamental article of religion, which deserved their first and chief... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THESE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS, THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS,.... Not the ten commandments repeated in the preceding chapter, but all others, whether moral, ceremonial, or judicial, afterwards declared; for what Moses now did was only to give a repetition and fresh declaration of such laws as he... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MIGHTEST FEAR THE LORD THY GOD,.... Being taught to know the greatness of his being, and the nature of his mind and will, and the manner of his worship; and not with a slavish fear, but with a filial one, a reverential affection for God; being instructed in their duty, as of children, to t... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THEREFORE, O ISRAEL, AND OBSERVE TO DO IT,.... Or them, the commandments given them: THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE; in body and estate: AND THAT YE MAY INCREASE MIGHTILY; not only in wealth and riches, but chiefly in numbers: AS THE LORD GOD OF THY FATHERS HATH PROMISED THEE; a promise of in... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, O ISRAEL,.... These are the words of Moses, stirring up the people to an attention to what he was about to say of this great and momentous article, the unity of God, to prevent their going into polytheism and idolatry. From one of the words here used, the Jews call this section Kiriathshema, w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD,.... Which is the first and chief commandment in the law, the sum and substance of the first table of it; and includes in it, or at least has connected with it, knowledge of God, esteem of him, delight in him, faith and trust in him, fear and worship of him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY,.... To hearken to, observe, and take notice of, that God is one, and is to be loved in the strongest manner that possibly can be: SHALL BE IN THINE HEART; on the table of the heart, as the Targum of Jonathan; see 2 Corinthians 3:3, be cordially receiv... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALL TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN,.... Care and diligence are to be used, and pains taken, to instruct children, as soon as they are capable, in the knowledge of God, and of his commandments; that they are to love him, fear him, serve, and worship him; this is to bring them up i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON THINE HAND,.... As a man ties anything to his hand for a token, that he may remember somewhat he is desirous of; though the Jews understand this literally, of binding a scroll of parchment, with this section and others written in it, upon their left hand, as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT WRITE THEM UPON THE POSTS OF THINE HOUSE, AND ON THY GATES. To put them in mind of them when they went out and came in, that they might be careful to observe them; this the Jews take literally also, and write in a scroll of parchment this section with some passages; and, as the Targum... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL HAVE BROUGHT THEE INTO THE LAND,.... The land of Canaan, on the borders of which they now were, and were just going into: WHICH HE SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB, TO GIVE THEE; of his own free favour and good will, without any... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HOUSES FULL OF ALL GOOD THINGS WHICH THOU FILLEDST NOT,.... Not only full of good, convenient, and rich household furniture, but of the fruits of the earth, of corn, and wine, and oil, and also, perhaps, of gold and silver: AND WELLS DIGGED WHICH THOU DIGGEDST NOT; which in those hot and dry co... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEWARE LEST THOU FORGET THE LORD,.... To love, fear, and worship him, and keep his commands; creature enjoyments being apt to get possession of the heart, and the affections of it; Proverbs 30:9 WHICH BROUGHT THEE FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE; into a land aboundi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT FEAR THE LORD THY GOD, AND SERVE HIM,.... Serve him through fear; not through slavish fear, a fear of hell and damnation; but through filial fear, a reverential affection for that God that had brought them out of a state of bondage into great and glorious liberty, out of Egypt into Canaan... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT GO AFTER OTHER GODS,.... To serve and worship them, and swear by them; and which indeed are no gods, only nominal and fictitious ones; idols which are nothing in the world, and ought to have no veneration and adoration given them; to go after them is to worship them, and this is to depa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AMONG YOU,.... He was near to them, in the midst of them, his tabernacle being placed between their camps; and was a God jealous of his honour and glory in matters of worship, and would resent any affront given him in that way: LEST THE ANGER OF THE LORD THY GO... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD,.... By striving with him or against him, by murmuring at or complaining of his providential dealings with them, or by requiring a sign of him, or miracles to be done by him; this is another passage used by Christ to repel the temptations of Satan, Matthew 4:7,... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU SHALL DILIGENTLY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD,.... Not only the ten commands, but all others: AND HIS TESTIMONIES, AND HIS STATUTES, WHICH HE HATH COMMANDED THEE; those of a judicial and ceremonial kind.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT AND GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,.... And what is such appears from the declaration of his mind and will in the commandments he has given, and obeying which is therefore doing what is right and good; for his commandment is holy, just, and good, being agreeable... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CAST OUT ALL THINE ENEMIES FROM BEFORE THEE,.... This the Lord promised, and as it seems with an oath, that he would do for them; drive out their enemies, and make way for the settlement of them in their country: AS THE LORD HATH SPOKEN; see Genesis 15:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THY SON ASKETH THEE IN TIME TO COME,.... Or "tomorrow" x; that is, in later times, as Jarchi interprets it; any time after this, and particularly after they were come into the land of Canaan, when the several laws, statutes, and ordinances appointed, would take place and be obeyed: WHAT [M... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 21 THEN SHALL THOU SAY UNTO THY SON,.... In order to lead him into the spring and original of them, and to acquaint him with the goodness of God, which laid them under obligation to observe them: WE WERE PHARAOH'S BONDMEN IN EGYPT; were brought into bondage and slavery to Pharaoh king of Egypt... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SHOWED SIGNS AND WONDERS, GREAT AND SORE,.... Meaning the ten plagues, which were signs of the power of God, marvellous works, great, above the power of nature, and very sore or "evil" y; very distressing to the Egyptians; for they came and lay heavy UPON EGYPT, UPON PHARAOH, AND UPON... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BROUGHT US OUT FROM THENCE,.... By means of those miraculous plagues, even out of a state of bondage and misery: and in order THAT HE MIGHT BRING US IN, TO GIVE US THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE UNTO OUR FATHERS; to bring them into the land of Canaan, give it to them, and put them in the possession... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD COMMANDED US TO DO ALL THESE STATUTES,.... Some of which were designed on purpose to commemorate the wonderful deliverance out of Egypt, as particularly the passover; and all of them they were obliged in gratitude to obey, in consideration of such great favours bestowed upon them: TO F... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... Or a mercy, benefit, and blessing to us; or this shall be reckoned our righteousness, and that by which we shall be justified: IF WE OBSERVE TO DO ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, AS HE HATH COMMANDED US; in order to have such a justifying right... [ Continue Reading ]