Deuteronomy 5:1--11:32
Israel ........ Israel <03478> [all Israel.]
Listen <08085> [Hear.]
be careful ... keep <08104 06213> [keep, and. Heb. keep to.]
Lord <03068> [I am the.]
brought <03318> [brought.]
slavery <05650> [bondage. Heb. servants.]
image <06459> [graven image.]
worship <07812> [shalt not.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
On the import of the word {yehowah,} which we translate Lord, see Note on Ex. 3:15. The word {elohim,} which is rendered God, in the singular, {eloah,} and in Arabic {allah,} is derived from the Arabic {alaha,} he worshipped, adored, was struck with astonishment, fear, or terror: and hence, he adored with sacred honour and veneration: it also signifies, he succoured, liberated, kept in safety, or defended. Here we learn that {elohim} denotes the sole object of adoration; the perfections of whose nature must astonish all who contemplate them, and fill with horror all who rebel against him; that consequently he must be worshipped with reverence and religious fear; and that every sincere worshipper may expect help in all his weaknesses, etc., freedom from the power, guilt, and consequences of sin, and support and defence to the uttermost.
jealous God <0410 07067> [a jealous God.]
punish <06485> [visiting.]
show <06213> [shewing.]
choose .... keep <0157 08104> [love me.]
Sabbath <07676> [the sabbath.]
foreigner <01616> [thy stranger.]
male slave ...................... male .... slaves <05650> [thy man-servant.]
Recall <02142> [remember.]
Lord ................. Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
strength <02389> [through.]
Honor <03513> [Honour.]
days <03117> [that thy days.]
things ............................. said ..... the words <01697> [These words.]
inscribed <03789> [he wrote.]
heard <08085> [we have heard.]
living <02425> [he liveth.]
intense <01419> [this great.]
hearing <08085> [hear. Heb. add to hear.]
human race <01320> [who is.]
It seems to have been a general opinion, that if God appeared to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them. And indeed most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of judgment; but here it was widely different. God did appear in a sovereign and extraordinary manner; but it was for the instruction, direction, deliverance, and support of his people. 1. They heard this voice speaking with them in a distinct, articulate manner. 2. They saw the fire, the symbol of his presence, the appearances of which demonstrated it to be supernatural. 3. Notwithstanding God appeared so terrible, yet no person was destroyed; for he came not to destroy but to save.
human race <01320> [all flesh.]
living <02416> [living.]
speaking ..... said ........... said ...... spoken well <0559 03190 01696> [they have well said all.]
The language of the original is emphatic: {Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem,} literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?
<02088> [O that there.]
obey <08104> [keep all:]
[that it might:]
careful <08104> [observe.]
turn <05493> [ye shall not.]
<03212> [walk.]
well <02895> [well.]
commandments <04687> [the commandments.]
headed <03423 05674> [go to possess it. Heb. pass over.]
revere <03372> [fear.]
children .... grandchildren <01121> [and thy son.]
days <03117> [thy days.]
careful <08104> [and observe.]
increase <07235> [that ye may.]
land <0776> [in the land.]
Israel, Jehovah, our God,is one Jehovah." On this passage the Jews lay great stress; and it is one of the four passages which they write on their phylacteries: On the word {Elohim,} Simeon Ben Joachi says: "Come and see the mystery of the word {Elohim:} there are three degrees, and each degree is by itself alone, and yet they are all one, and joined together in one, and are not divided from each other."
[the Lord,]
love <0157> [thou shalt.]
God ..... mind <0430 03824> [God with all.]
mind <03824> [shall be.]
teach <08150> [And thou shalt.]
teach <08150> [teach. Heb. whet, or sharpen. shalt talk.]
land <0776> [land.]
large <01419> [great.]
eat <0398> [when thou.]
slavery <05650> [bondage. Heb. bondmen, or servants.]
revere <03372> [fear.]
serve ..... oaths <05647 07650> [and serve him.]
Our Saviour quotes these words thus: "And him only [aut¢ mon¢,] shalt thou serve;" from which it would appear, that the word {levaddo} was anciently in the Hebrew text, as it was in the Septuagint, Coptic, Vulgate (illi soli), and Anglo-Saxon. Dr. Kennicott argues that without the word only, the text would not have conclusive for the purpose for which our Lord advanced it. It is proper, however, to observe, that the word {levaddo} is not found in any MS. yet collated, though retained in the above versions.
oaths <07650> [shalt swear.]
<03212> [not go.]
gods <0430> [of the gods.]
jealous <07067> [is a jealous.]
anger <0639> [lest.]
remove <08045> [destroy.]
put ........ test <05254> [tempt.]
put ........ test ...... Massah <05254 04532> [tempted him.]
Do <06213> [shalt do.]
well <03190> [that it may.]
children <01121> [when thy son.]
later <04279> [in time to come. Heb. to-morrow.]
Pharaoh's <06547> [We were.]
[See on]
powerful <02389> [with a mighty.]
<05414> [shewed.]
devastating ... on <07451> [sore. Heb. evil. before.]
land <05414 0776> [to give us.]
[See on]
revere <03372> [to fear.]
go well <02896> [for our good.]
preserve <02421> [he might.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Hittites <02850> [the Hittites.]
With respect to the situation of these nations in the land of Canaan, Calmet remarks, that the Canaanites chiefly inhabited Phoenecia; the Hittites, the mountains south of the promised land; the Hivites, mount Ebal, and Gerizim, and towards Hermon; the Girgashites, beyond Jordan, towards the lake of Gennesareth, the Jebusistes, about Jerusalem; the Amorites, the mountains west of the Dead Sea, and part of the land of Moab; and that the Perizzites were probably not a distinct nation, but villagers scattered through the country.
many ................ numerous <07227> [greater.]
over <05414> [deliver.]
utterly annihilate <02763> [utterly.]
Make ... treaty <03772 01285> [make no.]
anger <0639> [so will.]
tear <05422> [destroy.]
sacred pillars ............ idols <04676 06456> [images. Heb. statues, or pillars.]
cut down <01438> [and cut.]
burn up <08313> [burn.]
holy <06918> [an holy.]
prized <05459> [to be a special.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
numerous <07230> [ye were.]
his ....... faithfulness ............. Lord <03068 08104> [because.]
promise <07621> [oath.]
his ................... Lord .... out <03068 03318> [Lord brought.]
faithful <0539> [the faithful.]
keeps .......... keep <08104> [which keepeth.]
thousand <0505> [a thousand.]
pays ....................... repay <07999> [repayeth.]
ignore <0309> [slack.]
hate ............... hate <08130> [hateth.]
If <06118> [if. Heb. because.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
love <0157> [he will love.]
bless ......... bless <01288> [he will also.]
blessed <01288> [blessed.]
beyond ........ barrenness <06135> [male or.]
terrible ........... inflict ... on <07760 07451> [will put none.]
The Israelites, if obedient, would have been subject to no maladies but those common to fallen man, and generally very healthy and long lived; being exempted from pestilential diseases, which have often most tremendously scourged guilty nations; and from such maladies in particular, as they had witnessed in Egypt, by which God afflicted their cruel oppressors, (Ex 15:26.) This must be referred to the national covenant; for though godliness often secures the most solid temporal advantages, yet temporal blessings were not, even among them, uniformly dispensed to individuals according to their obedience; but they were to the nation, with an exactness which is not observed towards any other people.
terrible ........... inflict ... on <07760 07451> [will put none.]
destroy <0398> [consume.]
<05869> [thine eye.]
snare <04170> [for that will.]
<0559> [thou shalt.]
nations <01471> [These nations.]
fear <03372> [shalt not.]
must ... recall <02142> [remember.]
great <01419> [great.]
Lord <03068> [so shall.]
hornets <06880> [the hornet.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
great .... God <0410 01419> [a mighty God.]
expel <05394> [put out. Heb. pluck off. thou mayest.]
As the Israelites were not yet sufficiently numerous to fill the whole land occupied by these nations; and as wild and ferocious animals might be expected to multiply where the place was but thinly peopled, therefore God informs them that their extermination from before them should be gradual. Haynes says, "The approaching to Cana, at the close of the day, as we did, is at once terrifying and dangerous. The surrounding country swarms with wild beasts, such as tigers, leopards, jackals, etc., whose cries and howling, I doubt not, would strike the boldest traveller, who had not been frequently in a like situation, with the deepest sense of horror."
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<06440> [unto thee. Heb. before thy face.]
<01949> [shall destroy.]
over <05414> [he shall.]
names <08034> [their name.]
Nobody <0376> [there shall.]
images <06456> [graven.]
covet <02530> [thou shalt.]
ensnared <03369> [snared.]
abhorrent <08441> [an abomination.]
bring ...................... detest ... abhor <0935 08262 08581> [shalt.]
<08262> [but thou shalt.]
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.]
Carve <06458> [Hew.]
make ...... ark <06213 0727> [make thee.]
put <07760> [thou shalt.]
made <06213> [I made.]
carved out <06458> [hewed.]
wrote <03789> [he wrote.]
ten <06235> [the ten.]
commandments <01697> [commandments. Heb. words. which.]
middle <08432> [out of the.]
time <03117> [in the day.]
turned <06437> [I turned.]
placed ... tablets <07760 03871> [put the.]
Lord <03068> [there they.]
traveled <05265> [took.]
Moserah <04149> [Mosera.]
[Moseroth, Hor-ha-gid-gad, Jotbathah. there Aaron.]
time ... Lord .............. Lord's ....... Lord <03068 06256> [time the Lord.]
carry <05375> [bear.]
stand <05975> [to stand.]
formulate <01288> [to bless.]
stayed <05975> [I stayed.]
first time ... days <03117 07223> [first time. or, former days. the Lord hearkened.]
Get <06965> [Arise.]
leading <03212 04550> [take thy. Heb. go in.]
<03068> [what doth.]
revere <03372> [fear.]
<03212> [to walk.]
love <0157> [love.]
serve <05647> [to serve.]
God ....................... mind <0430 03824> [God with all.]
good <02896> [for thy.]
heavens ..... heavens <08064> [the heaven.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
cleanse <04135> [Circumcise.]
stubborn <06203> [stiff-necked.]
God ... God ... gods ........... God <0430 0410> [God of gods.]
lords <0113> [Lord of lords.]
great <01419> [a great.]
unbiased <05375> [regardeth.]
justly <06213> [doth.]
loves <0157> [loveth.]
Revere <03372> [fear.]
loyal <01692> [cleave.]
oaths <07650> [swear.]
praise <08416> [thy praise.]
done <06213> [that hath.]
seventy <07657> [with threescore.]
And now, from so small a beginning, they are multiplied to more than 600,000 men, besides women and children; and this, indeed, in the space of 40 years; for the 603,000 which came out of Egypt were at this time all dead, except Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. How easy can God increase and multiply, as well as diminish and bring low! In all things, by his omnipotence, he can do whatsoever he will; and he will do whatsoever is right.
stars <03556> [as the stars.]
love <0157> [thou shalt.]
This verse is the practical improvement of the conclusion of the foregoing chapter; while the next verse begins another view of the subject.
do ..... keep <08104> [keep.]
statutes <02708> [his statutes.]
mind ............... experienced <03045> [And know.]
Moses seems here to have addressed himself particularly to the elders, who had in their youth witnessed the wonderful works which Jehovah had wrought both for them and among them; and who were bound to remember them for their own warning, and testify them to the rising generation who had not been eye-witnesses.
judgments <04148> [the chastisement.]
greatness <01433> [his greatness.]
strength <02389> [his mighty.]
waters <04325> [how he made.]
did ... Dathan <06213 01885> [he did unto.]
[substance, or, living substance which followed them. in their possession. Heb. at their feet.]
attention <08104> [Therefore.]
strong <02388> [that ye may.]
long <0748> [prolong.]
promised <07650> [sware.]
land <0776> [a land.]
irrigated ... hand <07272 08248> [wateredst it with thy foot.]
Rain seldom falls in Egypt; the land being chiefly watered by the inundations of the Nile. In order to water the grounds where the inundations do not extend, water is collected in ponds, and directed in streamlets to the different parts of the field where irrigation is necessary. It is no unusual thing in the East to see a man, with a small mattock, making a little trench for the water to run into; and, as he opens the passage, the water following, he uses his foot to raise up the mould against the side of this little channel, to prevent the water from being shed unnecessarily, before it reaches the place of its destination. Hence he may justly be said to water the ground with his foot.
looks after <01875> [careth for. Heb. seeketh. the eyes.]
pay close attention <08085> [diligently.]
love <0157> [to love.]
provide <05414> [And I will.]
provide <05414> [send. Heb. give. eat and be full.]
<08104> [Take heed.]
<03824> [your heart.]
serve <05647> [and serve.]
Lord ...................................... Lord <03068> [the Lord's.]
close up <06113> [shut up.]
removed <06> [ye perish.]
Fix <07760> [ye lay up.]
reminder <0226> [a sign.]
days ........................ days <03117> [your days.]
days ........................ days <03117> [as the days.]
carefully observe <08104> [if ye shall.]
love <0157> [to love.]
loyal <01692> [to cleave.]
<0376> [There shall.]
promised <01696> [as he hath.]
pronounce ... blessing <01293 05414> [put the blessing.]
Gerizim <01630> [Gerizim.]
Gerizim and Ebal, mountains west of Jordan, and in the tribe of Ephraim, are opposite, or parallel to each other, extending from east to west; mount Gerizim being on the south, and mount Ebal on the north. They are separated by the beautiful valley in which Shechem or Nablous is situated, which is only about 200 paces in width. Both mountains are much alike in length, height, and figure; being about a league in length, in the form of a semicircle, and so steep, on the side of Shechem, that there is scarcely any shelving: their altitude appeared to Mr. Buckingham nearly equal, not exceeding 700 or 800 feet from the level of the valley, which is itself elevated. But though they resemble each other in these particulars, yet in another they are very dissimilar; for, says Maundrell, "though neither of the mountains has much to boast of as to its pleasantness, yet, as one passes between them, Gerizim seems to discover a somewhat more verdant, fruitful aspect then Ebal: the reason of which may be, because fronting towards the north, it is sheltered from the heat of the sun by its own shade; whereas Ebal, looking southward, and receiving the sun that comes directly upon it, must by consequence be rendered more scorched and unfruitful." A LIST OF THE MOST FAMOUS MOUNTAINS NAMED IN SCRIPTURE Amalek, in the tribe of Ephraim. Jud 12:15. Calvary, near Jerusalem. Lu 23:33. Carmel, near the Mediterranean. Jos 19:26 Ebal, near to Gerizim. Jos 8:30. En-gedi, near the Dead Sea. Jos 15:62. Gaash, in the tribe of Ephraim. Jos 24:30. Gilboa, south of the valley of Israel. 2 Sa 1:21. Gilead, beyond Jordan. Ge 31:21-25 Gerizim, on which afterwards stood a temple of the Samaritans. Jud 9:7. Hermon, beyond Jordan. Jos 11:3. Hor, in Idum‘a. Nu 20:22. Horeb, in Arabia Petr‘a, near to Sinai. De 1:2. Lebanon, separates Syria from Palestine. De 3:25. Moriah, where the temple was built. 2 Ch 3:1. Nebo, part of the mountains of Abarim. Nu 32:3. Olives, east of Jerusalem, divided only by brook Kidron. 1 Ki 11:1, 7. 2 Ki 23:13. Ac 1:12. Paran, in Arabia Petr‘a. Ge 14:6. De 1:1. Pisgah, beyond Jordan. Nu 21:20. De 34:1. Seir, in Idum‘. Ge 14:6. Sinai, in Arabia Petr‘a. Ex 19:2. De 33:2. Sion, near to mount Moriah. 2 Sa 5:7. Tabor, in the Lower Galilee. Jud 4:6.
Gilgal <01537> [Gilgal.]
