Deuteronomy 7 - Introduction
_MOSES ENJOINS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SEVEN NATIONS OF CANAAN, FORBIDS ALL COMMUNION WITH THEM, AND PROMISES THE ISRAELITES GOD'S BLESSING UPON THEIR OBEDIENCE._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_MOSES ENJOINS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SEVEN NATIONS OF CANAAN, FORBIDS ALL COMMUNION WITH THEM, AND PROMISES THE ISRAELITES GOD'S BLESSING UPON THEIR OBEDIENCE._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL BRING THEE INTO THE LAND_— Moses, well foreseeing how apt the Israelites would be to fall into idolatry, thought it necessary to insist particularly upon this article: accordingly, in the sequel of his speech, he desires them to remember what it was that God ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 2. _THOU SHALT SMITE THEM, AND UTTERLY DESTROY THEM_— i.e. In case they continue obstinate in their idolatry, they are to be destroyed as a nation or body politic: but if they forsook their idolatry, and became converts to the true religion, they would then be, what God required, penitents, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _NEITHER SHALT THOU MAKE MARRIAGES WITH THEM_— The reason is added in the following verse, because there was a danger, if they loved their wives, that they might be drawn over to their idolatry. On the same account the apostle warns Christians against such unequal matches. 2 Corinthians 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 5. _DESTROY THEIR ALTARS—AND CUT DOWN THEIR GROVES_— See Exodus 34:13. It is well known, that nothing was more common among idolaters, than consecrated trees and groves: to cut down those groves was reckoned a heinous crime; see Lucan's Pharsalia, book 3: ver. 361 of Rowe's translation. Sir I... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _THE LORD HATH CHOSEN THEE_— "Hath distinguished thee by peculiar laws and special favours, Exodus 19:5 yet not leaving himself without witness among any of the nations." See commentary on Deuteronomy 7:9... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6-11. The reasons are here given for such cautious avoiding whatever might offend God. For, 1. They were a chosen generation to show forth his praises, and therefore bound to answer the gracious designs of God. There was in them no cause moving God to such peculiar regard, but his own soverei... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 7, 8. _THE LORD DID NOT SET HIS LOVE UPON YOU,_ &C.— To preserve them from pride and a conceit of their own greatness, Moses here advises them to remember, that it was not their numbers, their strength, or external grandeur, it was not any merit or qualification of their own, which had caused... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 9. _KNOW, THEREFORE, THAT THE LORD THY GOD_— Moses here reminds them, that as God's choosing them for his peculiar people was a matter of mere favour, to which they had no more right than any other nation of the world, so they should consider the _fidelity of God,_ and beware of abusing their... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 12-15. _WHEREFORE—IF YE HEARKEN TO THESE JUDGMENTS,_ &C.— See the notes on chap. 28: Respecting _the diseases of Egypt,_ Mr. Locke observes, that they were noisome ulcers, which were called _Egyptia,_ and with which the priests of Isis used to threaten the contemners of her worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 19. _THE GREAT TEMPTATIONS_— Or, _The great trials._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 25. _THOU SHALT NOT DESIRE THE SILVER OR GOLD THAT IS ON THEM_— The statues and images of their gods were sometimes overlaid with gold and silver. Moses therefore thinks fit to caution them against being tempted, by the richness of the materials, to convert any of their instruments of idolatr... [ Continue Reading ]