Deuteronomy 4:45

the testimonies An unsatisfactory translation of Heb. -çdoth. As the kindred verb signifies to solemnly affirm, attest, protest and warn, -edôthmay mean either (1) decreesor edicts, or (2) solemn exhortations. Its association with statutes and judgements, here and again in Deuteronomy 6:20, and with commandments and statutesin Deuteronomy 6:17, where it stands not before but between these two legal terms, favours the former alternative. Similarly P uses the related form -edûthfor the Decalogue. Steuernagel's opinion that -edôthhere covers the following hortatory discourses is therefore, while possible, less probable. Bertholet, limiting the reference of Deuteronomy 4:45 to ch. 5 (see introd. to this section), suggests that -edôthmeans the Decalogue in ch. 5.

statutes, and the judgements See Deuteronomy 4:1.

children of Israel See Deuteronomy 4:44.

when they came forth out of Egypt An illustration of the writer's late perspective. For thus to date legislation given in Moab forty years after the actual Exodus, was not possible for Moses himself or for a writer contemporary or nearly contemporary with him; but only for one viewing the whole progress of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land from a very distant standpoint.