
Text -- Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Live comfortably and happily.

Wesley: Deu 8:2 - -- All the events which befel three in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the fr...
All the events which befel three in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience.

Wesley: Deu 8:2 - -- That thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery...
That thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use both to them, and to the church of God in all succeeding ages. It is good for us likewise to remember all the ways both of God's providence and grace, by which he has led us hitherto through the wilderness, that we may trust him, and chearfully serve him.
JFB: Deu 8:1 - -- In all the wise arrangements of our Creator duty has been made inseparably connected with happiness; and the earnest enforcement of the divine law whi...
In all the wise arrangements of our Creator duty has been made inseparably connected with happiness; and the earnest enforcement of the divine law which Moses was making to the Israelites was in order to secure their being a happy (because a moral and religious) people: a course of prosperity is often called "life" (Gen 17:18; Pro 3:2).

JFB: Deu 8:1 - -- This reference to the future increase of their population proves that they were too few to occupy the land fully at first.
This reference to the future increase of their population proves that they were too few to occupy the land fully at first.

JFB: Deu 8:2-3 - -- The recapitulation of all their checkered experience during that long period was designed to awaken lively impressions of the goodness of God. First, ...
The recapitulation of all their checkered experience during that long period was designed to awaken lively impressions of the goodness of God. First, Moses showed them the object of their protracted wanderings and varied hardships. These were trials of their obedience as well as chastisements for sin. Indeed, the discovery of their infidelity, inconstancy, and their rebellions and perverseness which this varied discipline brought to light, was of eminently practical use to the Israelites themselves, as it has been to the church in all subsequent ages. Next, he enlarged on the goodness of God to them, while reduced to the last extremities of despair, in the miraculous provision which, without anxiety or labor, was made for their daily support (see on Exo 16:4). Possessing no nutritious properties inherent in it, this contributed to their sustenance, as indeed all food does (Mat 4:4) solely through the ordinance and blessing of God. This remark is applicable to the means of spiritual as well as natural life.
Clarke -> Deu 8:2
Clarke: Deu 8:2 - -- Thou shalt remember all the way - The various dealings of God with you; the dangers and difficulties to which ye were exposed, and from which God de...
Thou shalt remember all the way - The various dealings of God with you; the dangers and difficulties to which ye were exposed, and from which God delivered you; together with the various miracles which he wrought for you, and his longsuffering towards you.
Calvin -> Deu 8:1
Calvin: Deu 8:1 - -- 1.All the commandments Although the first verse might have been included among the promises, whereby, as we shall hereafter see, the Law was ratified...
1.All the commandments Although the first verse might have been included among the promises, whereby, as we shall hereafter see, the Law was ratified by Moses, because he here exhorts and incites the Israelites to obedience by proposing to them the hope of reward; still it appeared to me that I might conveniently insert it here, since the design of Moses was simply this, to attract them by the sweetness of the promised inheritance to receive the doctrines of the Law. This sentence, then, may be justly counted among those whereby their minds were prepared to submit themselves to God with the gentleness and docility that became them; as though he had said, because the land of Canaan is now not far from you, its very nearness ought to encourage you to take upon you God’s yoke more cheerfully; for the same God, who this day declares to you His law, invites you to the enjoyment of that land, which He promised with an oath to your fathers. And certainly it is evident from this latter clause of the verse, that Moses did not simply promise them a reward if they should keep the law; but rather set before them the previous favor, wherewith God had gratuitously prevented them, in order that they might, on their part, shew themselves grateful for it Moses calls the commandments his, not (as we have already seen) because he had invented them himself, but because he faithfully handed them down from the dictation of God’s own mouth. And this we may also more fully gather from the following verse, wherein he recounts the mercies of the time past, and at the same time calls to their recollection by how many proofs God had instructed them, to form and accustom them to obedience. In the first place, he bids them remember generally the dealings of God, which they had seen for forty years, and then descends to particulars, viz., that God had proved them by afflictions, “to know what was in their heart;” for thus may the expressions be paraphrased, “to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart;” in which words he admonishes them, that they were painfully tried by many troubles and difficulties not without very good reason, viz., because they had need of such trial. Yet, at the same time, he indirectly reproves their obstinacy, which was then detected; since otherwise, if all things had gone prosperously with them, it would have been easy for them to pretend great fear of God, though, as was actually discovered, it did not really exist.

TSK: Deu 8:2 - -- remember : Deu 7:18; Psa 77:11, Psa 106:7; Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; 2Pe 1:12, 2Pe 1:13, 2Pe 3:1, 2Pe 3:2
led thee : Deu 1:3, Deu 1:33, Deu 2:7, Deu 29:5; P...
remember : Deu 7:18; Psa 77:11, Psa 106:7; Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; 2Pe 1:12, 2Pe 1:13, 2Pe 3:1, 2Pe 3:2
led thee : Deu 1:3, Deu 1:33, Deu 2:7, Deu 29:5; Psa 136:16; Amo 2:10
to humble : 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:26, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19; Job 33:17, Job 42:5, Job 42:6; Isa 2:17; Luk 18:14; Jam 4:6, Jam 4:10; 1Pe 5:5, 1Pe 5:6
prove thee : Deu 8:16, Deu 13:3; Gen 22:1; Exo 15:25, Exo 16:4; 2Ch 32:31; Psa 81:7; Pro 17:3; Mal 3:2, Mal 3:3; Jam 1:3; 1Pe 1:7

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole: Deu 8:1 - -- That ye may live i.e. live comfortably and happily, as life is oft taken, as Gen 17:18 Pro 3:2 ; as, on the contrary, troubles or afflictions are ca...

Poole: Deu 8:2 - -- All the way i.e. all the events which befell thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee;...
All the way i.e. all the events which befell thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience.
To know what was in thine heart i.e. that thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, apostacy, rebellion, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use, both to them and to the church of God, in all succeeding ages.
Haydock: Deu 8:1 - -- Live a long and happy life; which was often promised to the carnal Jews, to encourage them to fill God's commands. Christians are willing to forego ...
Live a long and happy life; which was often promised to the carnal Jews, to encourage them to fill God's commands. Christians are willing to forego these temporal advantages, that they may obtain such as may last for ever. (Calmet)

Haydock: Deu 8:2 - -- Prove, which is done frequently by posterity also, ver. 3, 12, 14. After trying the fidelity of his people by various means, to make them sensible o...
Prove, which is done frequently by posterity also, ver. 3, 12, 14. After trying the fidelity of his people by various means, to make them sensible of their own weakness and inability to do good, God takes pity on them, ver. 16. (Calmet) ---
Known. Hebrew, "to know (by experience) what was in thy heart, whether," &c. The original term signifies also to make known to others, Genesis xxii. 12. (Haydock)
Gill: Deu 8:1 - -- All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,.... It is repeated over and over again, to impress it on their minds, and t...
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,.... It is repeated over and over again, to impress it on their minds, and to show the importance and necessity of it, how greatly it was expected from them, and how much it was incumbent on them:
that ye may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers; for their temporal life, and the mercies and comforts of it, the multiplication of their offspring, and of their substance, their entrance into the land of Canaan, possession of it, and continuance in it, all depended on their obedience to the commands of God; see Deu 19:20.

Gill: Deu 8:2 - -- And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,.... For this was now the fortieth year of the...
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,.... For this was now the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt into the wilderness, into which they quickly came after their departure from thence, and had been in one wilderness or another ever since, in which God went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, and directed their way; and now they are called upon to remember all the occurrences in the way, what favours and mercies had been bestowed upon them, what provisions had been made for them, what enemies they had been delivered from or overcome, as well as what afflictions and chastisements had attended them: and so the people of God should call to mind how they were brought to see their wilderness state and condition by nature; how they were brought out of it, and stopped in their career of sin, and turned from their evil ways, and led to Christ; what gracious promises have been made to them; what light has been afforded them; what communion they have had with God; what pleasure in his ordinances; what food they have been fed with; what temptations have befallen them, and how delivered out of them; and what afflictions have been laid upon them, and how supported under them, and freed from them:
to humble thee; under the mighty hand of God, to bring down the pride of their hearts and hide it from them; to lay them low in their own eyes, and clothe them with humility, that the Lord alone might be exalted: and
to prove thee; whether they would be obedient to his laws, or how they would behave towards him both in prosperity and adversity, and to try their graces, their faith and patience, fear and love:
to know what was in thine heart; that is, to make it known to themselves and others; for God knew all that was in it, the wickedness of it, the unbelief, rebellion, and frowardness of it, and needed not any ways and means to get into the knowledge of it; see 2Ch 32:31,
whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no; which they had in such a solemn manner promised to do; Deu 5:27.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe ( a ) to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which ...

Geneva Bible: Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to ( b ) prove thee, to...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Deu 8:1-20
TSK Synopsis: Deu 8:1-20 - --1 An exhortation to obedience in regard of God's mercy and goodness in his dealings with Israel.
Maclaren -> Deu 8:2
Maclaren: Deu 8:2 - --Deut. 8:2
The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor...
MHCC -> Deu 8:1-9
MHCC: Deu 8:1-9 - --Obedience must be, 1. Careful, observe to do; 2. Universal, to do all the commandments; and 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God as the Lord...
Matthew Henry -> Deu 8:1-9
Matthew Henry: Deu 8:1-9 - -- The charge here given them is the same as before, to keep and do all God's commandments. Their obedience must be, 1. Careful: Observe to do. 2. Un...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Deu 8:1-6
Keil-Delitzsch: Deu 8:1-6 - --
In addition to the danger of being drawn aside to transgress the covenant, by sparing the Canaanites and their idols out of pusillanimous compassion...
Constable: Deu 5:1--26:19 - --IV. MOSES' SECOND MAJOR ADDRESS: AN EXPOSITION OF THE LAW chs. 5--26
". . . Deuteronomy contains the most compre...

Constable: Deu 5:1--11:32 - --A. The essence of the law and its fulfillment chs. 5-11
"In seven chapters the nature of Yahweh's demand...

Constable: Deu 7:1--11:32 - --3. Examples of the application of the principles chs. 7-11
"These clearly are not laws or comman...
