Discovery BoxDeuteronomy 4:32
Context4:32 Indeed, ask about the distant past, starting from the day God created humankind 1 on the earth, and ask 2 from one end of heaven to the other, whether there has ever been such a great thing as this, or even a rumor of it.
Deuteronomy 31:17
Context31:17 At that time 3 my anger will erupt against them 4 and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome 5 them 6 so that they 7 will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters 8 overcome us 9 because our 10 God is not among us 11 ?’
[4:32] 1 tn The Hebrew term אָדָם (’adam) may refer either to Adam or, more likely, to “man” in the sense of the human race (“mankind,” “humankind”). The idea here seems more universal in scope than reference to Adam alone would suggest.
[4:32] 2 tn The verb is not present in the Hebrew text but has been supplied in the translation for clarification. The challenge has both temporal and geographical dimensions. The people are challenged to (1) inquire about the entire scope of past history and (2) conduct their investigation on a worldwide scale.
[31:17] 3 tn Heb “on that day.” This same expression also appears later in the verse and in v. 18.
[31:17] 4 tn Heb “him.” Smr, LXX, and the Targums read the plural “them.” See note on the first occurrence of “they” in v. 16.
[31:17] 5 tn Heb “find,” “encounter.”
[31:17] 6 tn Heb “him.” Smr, LXX, and the Targums read the plural “them.” See note on the first occurrence of “they” in v. 16.
[31:17] 7 tn Heb “he.” Smr, LXX, and the Targums read the plural “they.” See note on the first occurrence of “they” in v. 16.
[31:17] 9 tn Heb “me.” Smr, LXX, and the Targums read the plural “us,” which is necessary in any case in the translation because of contemporary English style.
[31:17] 11 tn Heb “me.” Smr, LXX, and the Targums read the plural “us,” which is necessary in any case in the translation because of contemporary English style.
