Deuteronomy 9:1-21

9:1

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.]

9:2

<01419> [great.]

resist <03320> [Who can stand.]

9:3

Understand <03045> [Understand.]

goes <05674> [goeth over.]

devouring fire <0784 0398> [a consuming fire.]

defeat ... subdue <08045 03665> [he shall.]

9:4

think <0559 03824> [Speak not.]

because of the wickedness <07564> [for the wickedness.]

9:5

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.]

9:6

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.]

9:7

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.]

9:8

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.

9:9

up <05927> [I was.]

tablets ... tablets <03871> [the tables.]

remained <03427> [then I.]

eating <0398> [I neither.]

9:10

Lord <03068> [the Lord.]

written ..... finger <03789 0676> [written with.]

<01697> [all the words.]

9:11

tablets ... tablets .... covenant <03871 01285> [the tables of the covenant.]

9:12

Get <06965> [Arise.]

<07843> [corrupted.]

once ................. quickly <04118> [are quickly.]

9:13

<07200> [I have.]

stubborn <06203> [stiffnecked.]

9:14

Stand <07503> [Let me.]

obliterating <04229> [blot.]

make <06213> [and I will.]

9:15

turned <06437> [I turned.]

mountain ... it <02022> [the mount.]

9:16

looked <07200> [I looked.]

9:17

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.

9:18

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.

9:19

terrified <03025> [For I.]

Lord's .......... he <03068> [But the.]

9:20

9:21

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.