Deuteronomy 4:1-17
statutes <02706> [unto the statutes.]
Statutes, every thing that concerned morals and the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments, all matters of civil right and wrong.
live <02421> [that ye may.]
<03068> [what the.]
<0376> [for all the men.]
It appears from this appeal, that the pestilence, as well as the sword of the magistrates, singled out the guilty persons and spared the rest. (Ps 91:6-8). The legislator, in order to deter the Jews from idolatry, alludes to this fact, but he notices no circumstance but one, which, though in the original narrative was not stated, was infinitely the most important to advert to on this occasion; but which no persons, but spectators of the fact, and perfectly acquainted with every individual concerned in it, could possibly feel the truth of.
The people had been often ready to conclude that Moses taught them by his own authority; but at the close of his life he solemnly assured them that he had instructed them exactly as the Lord had commanded him, neither more, nor less, nor otherwise. This is a most express declaration that he was divinely inspired, and utterly incompatible with his integrity of character, if he was not. Scott.
wise <02451> [this is your.]
great <01419> [Surely.]
nation <01471> [what nation.]
god .......... God <0430> [who hath.]
pay ... careful attention <05315 08104> [keep thy soul.]
disregard <05493> [lest they.]
teach ..... children ... grandchildren <03045 01121> [teach them.]
You ..................................... days <03117> [the day.]
You ................................. revere ..... days <03372 03117> [fear me.]
stood <05975> [stood.]
above <03820> [midst. Heb. heart.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
speech <08544> [no similitude.]
heard ......... only ... voice <08085 02108 06963> [only ye heard a voice. Heb. save a voice.]
revealed ............... writing <05046 03789> [And he.]
ten <06235> [ten.]
writing <03789> [he wrote.]
very <03966> [Take ye.]
form <08544> [of similitude.]
corrupt <07843> [corrupt.]
likeness <08403> [the likeness.]
Such as Baal-peor, the Roman Priapus; Ashtaroth or Astarte, the Greek and Roman Venus, and many others.
In these verses there is an evident allusion to the idolatrous worship in Egypt. Among the Egyptians, almost everything in nature was the object of their idolatry; among beasts were oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; among birds, the ibis, crane, and hawk; among reptiles, the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and beetles; all the fish of the Nile, and the Nile itself; besides the sun, moon, planets, stars, fire, light, air, darkness, and night. These are all included in the very circumstantial prohibition in the text, and very forcibly in the general terms of Ex 20:4, the reason of which prohibition becomes self-evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered.
