XXXI. Deuteronomy 31:1. MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LEADER TO JOSHUA. (1) AND MOSES WENT AND SPAKE. — The expression is unusual. Possibly it means “went on to speak.” The Palestine Targum has, “He went into the house of instruction and spake.” The LXX. have apparently preserved a different reading... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:9. MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LAWGIVER TO THE PRIESTS. (9-11) AND MOSES WROTE THIS LAW, AND DELIVERED IT UNTO THE PRIESTS... AND... COMMANDED THEM, SAYING... THOU SHALT READ. — This must be distinguished from the deliverance of the “book” to the Levites in Deuteronomy 31:25. The deli... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:14. JOSHUA IS APPOINTED BY JEHOVAH TO MOSES’ PLACE. (14) THY DAYS APPROACH THAT THOU MUST DIE: CALL JOSHUA, AND PRESENT YOURSELVES. — What Moses had already done before Israel (Deuteronomy 31:1) is now ratified by Jehovah to Joshua and Moses. MOSES AND JOSHUA WENT. — We may compare t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BREAK MY COVENANT. — With this, contrast Judges 2:1 : “I said, _I will never break my covenant_ with you.” The phrases are identical in Hebrew. Comp. 2 Timothy 2:13 : “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU SHALT SLEEP WITH THY FATHERS... NOW THEREFORE WRITE YE THIS SONG. — This prophecy that the children of Israel would forsake Jehovah and break His covenant is not a little remarkable, when we consider His dealings with them as a nation. It is one of the many proofs in Holy Scripture that... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT THESE EVILS COME UPON US, BECAUSE OUR GOD IS NOT AMONG US? — A confession made freely by them at this present day.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SURELY HIDE MY FACE. — “As though I did not see (them) in their distress” (Rashi).... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS, THAT THIS SONG MAY BE A WITNESS. — This method of perpetuating the truth was even better adapted to the times and to the condition of the people than the delivery of a written law. It was not possible to multiply copies of the law among them to any great extent; but the rhyth... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SONG... SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THEIR SEED. — And it is not forgotten now. St. Paul made special use of it in the last days of the second Temple. This song is a favourite piece of Hebrew poetry to this day. Rashi observes: “This is a promise to Israel that the law shall not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE (Jehovah) GAVE JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN A CHARGE. — This is the first record of God’s direct communion with Joshua. He was with Moses on the mount during the first forty days, and “departed not out of the Tabernacle” when they came down (Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11). But we have no note of any Di... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 31:24. DELIVERY OF THE BOOKS OF MOSES TO THE LEVITES. (24) WHEN MOSES HAD MADE AN END OF WRITING. — This means the completion of the books of Moses as he delivered them to Israel; not merely Deuteronomy, as above, in Deuteronomy 31:9, but the whole, including the song mentioned in Deute... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LATTER DAYS. — A not uncommon prophetical expression, used with some considerable latitude. It occurs for the first time in Genesis 49:1. (See also Numbers 24:14 and Deuteronomy 4:30.) Some would refer it to the “days of the Messiah,” and make it almost a technical term. But a comparison of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SPAKE... THE WORDS OF THIS SONG. — The exodus of Israel begins and ends with a song of Moses. The song of Exodus 15 is usually referred to as the “Song of Moses,” and is thought to be intended in Revelation 15:3. But there is a remarkable resemblance between Revelation 15:3 and Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]