Deuteronomy 13:1
prophet <05030> [a prophet.]
That is, one pretending to the divine inspiration and authority of the prophetic office, or a dreamer of dreams, one who pretends that some deity has spoken to him in the night season, and giveth thee a sign, {oth,} what appears to be a miraculous proof of his mission, or a wonder, {mopheth,} some portentous sign, such as an eclipse, which he, who knew when it would happen, might predict to the people, who knew nothing of the matter, and thereby accredit his pretensions. But no pretended miracles must be admitted as a proof that the people might violate the first and great commandment.
foretells <02492> [a dreamer.]
Deuteronomy 8:1--9:29
Remember <02142> [remember.]
forty <03212 0705> [led thee.]
humbling <06031> [to humble.]
test ... to see if <05254 03045> [prove thee.]
to see if <03045> [to know.]
feeding ..... manna <0398 04478> [fed thee.]
humankind ... live <02421 0120> [doth.]
Many have attempted to give the following meaning to this text:--"God so amply provided for them all the necessaries of life, that they never were obliged to wear tattered garments, nor were their feet injured for lack of shoes or sandals." Now, though the Israelites doubtless brought out of Egypt more raiment than what they had upon them; and they might manufacture the fleeces of their flocks in the wilderness; and also might be favoured by Providence with other supplies from the neighbouring nations or travelling hordes of Arabs; yet, when we consider their immense numbers, their situation and long continuance in the wilderness, and the very strong expressions made use of in the text, why should we question the extraordinary and miraculous interposition of God in this respect, as well as in others, not less stupendous in their nature, or constant in their supply?
aware <03045> [consider.]
parent <0376> [as a man.]
<03212> [walk.]
wheat <02406> [wheat.]
barley <08184> [barley.]
vines <01612> [vines.]
olive trees <02132 08081> [oil olive. Heb. olive tree of oil.]
stones <068> [whose stones.]
eat <0398> [thou hast.]
praise <01288> [then thou.]
eat <0398> [Lest when.]
build <01129> [and hast built.]
self-important <03824> [thine heart.]
forget <07911> [thou forget.]
great <03212 01419> [led thee.]
serpents <05175 08314> [fiery serpents.]
<03318> [who brought.]
fed ..... desert <0398 04057> [fed thee.]
humbling ... test <06031 05254> [he might.]
good <03190> [to do thee.]
say <0559> [thou say.]
ability <03581> [My power.]
gives <05414> [he that.]
confirm <06965> [that he may.]
testify .... today <05749 03117> [I testify against.]
destroy <06> [so shall ye perish.]
cross <05674> [to pass.]
Today <03117> [this day.]
The Hebrew {hyyom,} "this day," frequently denotes, as here, this time. They had come, 38 years before this, nearly to the verge of the promised land, but were not permitted, because of their unbelief and rebellion, at that day or time, to enter; but this time they shall certainly pass over. This was spoken in the eleventh month of the fortieth year of their journeying; and it was on the first month of the following year they passed over: and during this interval Moses died.
nations <01471> [nations.]
cities <05892> [cities.]
<01419> [great.]
resist <03320> [Who can stand.]
Understand <03045> [Understand.]
goes <05674> [goeth over.]
devouring fire <0784 0398> [a consuming fire.]
defeat ... subdue <08045 03665> [he shall.]
think <0559 03824> [Speak not.]
because of the wickedness <07564> [for the wickedness.]
righteousness <06666> [Not for.]
Though the Canaanites were expelled for their wickedness, it does not follow, that the Israelites were established in their room on account of any distinguished virtue, or because they deserved it. On many occasions, it may be seen in the history of the world, that God punishes the wicked by the instrumentality of other men, who are as wicked as themselves. Not the Israelites' righteousness, but the wickedness of the inhabitants, and the promise of God to their fathers, was the cause of their obtaining Canaan.
confirm <06965> [that he may.]
Understand <03045> [Understand.]
give .... good <05414 02896> [giveth thee.]
Moses repeats this a third time, that, if it were possible, he might root out of the Israelites the opinion of their own deserts, before God rooted out the Canaanites from their country.
stubborn <06203> [a stiff-necked.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
In order to destroy the opinion which the Israelites had of their own righteousness, it was necessary to call to mind some of their most notorious provocations and rebellions, which Moses exhorts them to preserve in their mind, as a means to keep them humble.
from ... time <04480 03117> [from the day.]
Horeb <02722> [Also in Horeb.]
Or rather, "Even at Horeb," for there is a peculiar emphasis here, even there where they had lately received the law, attended with the most astonishing appearances and circumstances.
up <05927> [I was.]
tablets ... tablets <03871> [the tables.]
remained <03427> [then I.]
eating <0398> [I neither.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
written ..... finger <03789 0676> [written with.]
<01697> [all the words.]
tablets ... tablets .... covenant <03871 01285> [the tables of the covenant.]
Get <06965> [Arise.]
<07843> [corrupted.]
once ................. quickly <04118> [are quickly.]
<07200> [I have.]
stubborn <06203> [stiffnecked.]
Stand <07503> [Let me.]
obliterating <04229> [blot.]
make <06213> [and I will.]
turned <06437> [I turned.]
mountain ... it <02022> [the mount.]
looked <07200> [I looked.]
threw <07993 05921> [cast them.]
Moses might have done this through distress and anguish of spirit, on beholding their abominable idolatry and dissolute conduct; or probably he did it emblematically, and perhaps by the direction of God; intimating thereby, that as by this act of his the tables were broken in pieces, on which the Law of God was written, so they, by their present conduct, had made a breach in the covenant, and broken the laws of their Maker and Sovereign.
fell <05307> [I fell down.]
The transgressions of the people rendered this second forty days' fasting necessary to Moses. Their pardon was indeed in some sense obtained before he ascended the mount; yet probably much of the time which he spent there was employed in supplication: and when he descended the second time, with the tables of the law in his hands, the pardon was, as it were, ratified and sealed.
terrified <03025> [For I.]
Lord's .......... he <03068> [But the.]
took <03947> [I took.]
stream <05158> [the brook.]
This was the stream which flowed from the rock that Moses smote with his rod, (Ex 17:6,) and to which the Psalmist alludes in Ps 78:16-20; 105:41. Philo relates, that upon Moses' striking the rock, the water poured out like a torrent, affording not only a sufficient quantity for allaying their present thirst, but to fill their water vessels, to carry with them on their journey.
Taberah <08404> [Taberah.]
Massah <04532> [Massah.]
Kibroth-Hattaavah <06914> [Kibroth-hattaavah.]
he ....................... Lord <03068> [Likewise.]
rebelled <04784> [ye rebelled.]
believe <0539> [ye believed.]
prayed <06419> [prayed.]
valued property <05159> [thine inheritance.]
redeemed <06299> [which thou hast redeemed.]
out <03318> [which thou hast brought forth.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
ignore ... stubbornness <06437 07190> [look not.]
people <05971> [Yet they.]
brought out <03318> [which thou.]
