Deuteronomy 4:3-49
<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.
see <07200> [when thou.]
creation <06635> [the host.]
Lord <03068> [which the Lord.]
assigned <02505> [divided. or, imparted.]
iron-smelting <01270> [the iron.]
people <05971> [a people.]
guard <08104> [heed.]
forget <07911> [lest ye forget.]
do ..... image <06213 06459> [make you.]
God <0430> [thy God.]
jealous God <0410 07067> [a jealous God.]
produced <03205> [beget.]
become corrupt <07843> [corrupt. See on ver.]
make ........ do ... evil things <07451 06213> [do evil.]
invoke heaven <05749 08064> [I call heaven.]
A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all the nations in the world; God and man being called upon to bear testimony to the truth of what was spoken, that if there was any flaw or insincerity it might be detected, and if any crime, it might not go unpunished. Such appeals to God shew at once the origin and use of oaths.
swiftly ..................... long <04118 0748> [ye shall.]
worship <05647> [ye shall.]
see <07200> [neither see.]
seek <01245> [But if.]
heart ... soul <03824 05315> [with all.]
things <01697> [all these.]
happen ...... latter <04672 0319> [are come upon thee. Heb. have found thee.]
latter <0319> [in the latter.]
return <07725> [if thou.]
obey <08085> [obedient.]
he <03068> [the Lord.]
forget <07911> [forget.]
ask .... distant ...... day <07592 03117> [ask now.]
end ...... other <07097> [from the one.]
deliver ... nation ....... nation <03947 01471> [take him.]
judgments <04531> [temptations.]
signs <0226> [by signs.]
power <02389> [by a mighty.]
very <01419> [and by great.]
alone <03045> [know.]
other <05750> [none else.]
loved <0157> [because.]
brought ... out <03318> [and brought.]
<06440> [in his sight.]
great <01419> [with his.]
dispossess <03423> [drive.]
day <03117> [as.]
consider <07725> [and consider.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Keep <08104> [keep.]
well <03190> [it may go.]
Bezer <01221> [Bezer.]
Bezer is the same as Bozra, formerly a royal city of Edom. \\See Note on "Ge 36:33"\\.
Ramoth <07216> [Ramoth.]
Ramoth was a celebrated city in the mountains of Gilead, placed by Eusebius fifteen miles east from Philadelphia or Ammon, and by Jerome in the neighbourhood of Jabbok, and consequently north of Philadelphia.
Golan <01474> [Golan.]
This city gave name to the district of Gaulonitis, now called Djolan, which comprises the plain to south of Djedour or Iturea, and to the west of Haouran: its southern frontier is the Nahar Aweired, by which it is separated from the district of Erbad, and the Sheriat el Mandhour, which separates it from the district of El Kefarat: on the west it is limited by the territory of Feik, and on the north-west by Djebel Heish, or mount Hermon.
This is evidently an introduction to the discourse of the subsequent chapters. Moses having practically improved some particulars in the history of Israel, proceeded to repeat and enforce the laws which he had delivered before, with additions and explanations, beginning with the ten commandments.
stipulations <05713> [These.]
statutes <02706> [statutes.]
ordinances <04941> [judgments.]
Transjordan <05676> [On this side.]
opposite <04136> [over.]
Beth Peor <01047> [Beth-peor.]
Beth-peor was a city which was situated, according to Eusebius, opposite Jericho, and six miles above Livias. As the name signifies "the house of Peor," it is probable that there was a temple to Peor, situated in this place, full in view of the people, while Moses was pressing upon them the worship of Jehovah alone; and perhaps the very temple where so many had sinned to their own destruction.
Moses <04872> [Moses.]
Aroer <06177> [Aroer.]
Mount <02022> [even unto.]
The Samaritan interpreter has, "unto the mountain of snow, which is Hermon." See Note on ch. 3:9.
Siyon <07865> [Sion.]
watershed <0794> [under the springs.]
