Deuteronomy 26:16-19

(4) CONCLUDING EXHORTATION TO CAREY OUT COMMITMENTS TO GOD AND HIS LAW (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)

16 This day Jehovah thy God commandeth thee to do these statutes and ordinances; thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. 17 Thou hast avouched Jehovah this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and hearken unto his voice; 18 and Jehovah hath avouched thee this day to be a people for his own possession, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 19 and to make thee high above all nations that he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 26:16-19

462.

What distinction (if any) is there between heart and soul as here used?

463.

What is the meaning of the term avouched?

464.

When we keep our promises Jehovah is ready to keep His promises. What are they?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 26:16-19

16 This day the Lord your God has commanded you to do these statutes and ordinances; therefore you shall keep and do them with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being.
17 You have (openly) declared the Lord this day to be your God, [pledging] to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His precepts, and to hearken to His voice.
18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are His peculiar people, as He promised you, and you are to keep His commandments;
19 And He will make you have above all nations which He has made, in praise and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a holy people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.

COMMENT 26:16-19

In Deuteronomy 26:17 we have what Israel avouched (Heb. amar, Literally, be bright, make visible or known; hence to declare, as when a covenant is being made), and in Deuteronomy 26:18-19, what God avouched. In these verses, the Israelite does not enumerate, one by one, the laws he will keephe simply affirms openly that whatever God's will is concerning the matters mentioned, he will keep them.

AND TO MAKE THEE HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS etc. (note Deuteronomy 26:19 a), which the Torah renders and that He will set you, in fame and renown and glory, high above all the nations that He had made. while the margin of the A.S.V. reads, for a praise, and for a name, and for an honor.

However read, the meaning is apparentobedient Israel would be greatly blessed.