CHAPTER IV _Exhortations to obedience_, 1. _Nothing to be added to or taken from the testimonies of God_, 2. _The people are exhorted to recollect how God had destroyed the_ _ungodly among them_, 3; _and preserved those who were faithful_, 4. _The excellence of the Divine law_, 5, 6. _No nati... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:2. _YE SHALL NOT ADD_] Any _book, chapter, verse_ or _word_, which I have not spoken; nor give any comment that has any tendency to corrupt, weaken, or destroy any part of this revelation. _NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH_] Ye shall not only not take away any larger portion of this wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:6. _KEEP - AND DO_ THEM; _FOR THIS_ IS _YOUR WISDOM_] There was no mode of worship at this time on the face or the earth that was not wicked, obscene, puerile, foolish, or ridiculous, except that established by God himself among the Israelites. And every part of this, taken in it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:9. _ONLY TAKE HEED TO THYSELF_] Be circumspect and watchful. _KEEP THY SOUL DILIGENTLY_] Be mindful of thy eternal interests. Whatever becomes of the _body_, take care of the _soul_. _LEST THOU FORGET_] God does his work that they may be had in everlasting _remembrance_; and he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:15. _YE SAW NO MANNER OF SIMILITUDE_] Howsoever God chose to appear or manifest himself, he took care never to assume any describable form. He would have no _image worship_, because he is a SPIRIT, and they who worship him _must worship him in Spirit and in_ _truth_. These outwar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:16. _THE LIKENESS OF MALE OR FEMALE_] Such as _Baal-peor_ and the Roman _Priapus, Ashtaroth_ or _Astarte_, and the Greek and Roman _Venus_; after whom most nations of the world literally _went a_ _whoring_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:17. _THE LIKENESS OF ANY BEAST, C._] Such as the Egyptian god _Apis_, who was worshipped under the form of a white _bull_ the _ibis_ and _hawk_, among the FOWLS, had also Divine honours paid to them; _serpents_ and the _crocodile_ among REPTILES; besides _monkeys_, _dogs, cats_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:19. _WHEN THOU SEEST THE SUN, AND THE MOON, AND THE STARS_] The worship of the heavenly bodies was the oldest species of idolatry. Those who had not the knowledge of the true God were led to consider the sun, moon, planets, and stars, as not only self-existing, but the authors o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:20. _OUT OF THE IRON FURNACE_] From this mention of the word _iron furnace_ there can be little doubt that the Israelites were employed in Egypt in the most laborious works of _metallurgy_. Digging, smelting, and forging of _iron_ in so hot a climate must have been oppressive wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:21. _THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH ME_] And if with _me_, so as to debar me from entering into the promised land, can _you_ think to escape if guilty of greater provocations?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:24. _THY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE_] They had seen him on the mount as an _unconsuming_ fire, while appearing to Moses, and giving the law; and they had seen him as a _consuming_ fire in the case of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their company. They had, therefore, every good to expect... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:26. _I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU_] A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all nations in the world. So Virgil, AEn., lib. xii., ver. 176, c. Tum pius AEneas stricto sic ense precatur: Esto nunc Sol testis et haec mihi terra vocanti - Fontesque fluv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:27. _THE LORD SHALL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE NATIONS_] This was amply verified in their different captivities and dispersions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:28. _THERE YE SHALL SERVE GODS - WOOD AND STONE_] This was also true of the Israelites, not only in their captivities, but also in their own land. And it may now be literally the case with the ten tribes who were carried away captive by the Assyrians, and of whose residence no ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:29. _BUT IF FROM THENCE THOU SHALT SEEK THE LORD_] God is longsuffering, and of tender mercy; and waits, ever ready, to receive a backsliding soul when it returns to him. Is not this promise left on record for the encouragement and salvation of _lost_ _Israel_?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:30. _WHEN THOU ART IN TRIBULATION IN THE LATTER DAYS_] Are not _these_ the times spoken of? And is there not still hope for Israel? Could we see them become zealous for their _own law_ and religious observances - could we see them humble themselves before the God of Jacob - coul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:33. _DID EVER PEOPLE HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD_] It seems to have been a general belief that if God _appeared_ to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them; and indeed most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of _judgment_; but here it was different; God d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:34. _FROM THE MIDST OF_ ANOTHER _NATION_] This was a most extraordinary thing, that a whole people, consisting of upwards of 600,000 effective men, besides women and children, should, without striking a blow, be brought out of the midst of a very powerful nation, to the political... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:41. _THEN MOSES SEVERED THREE CITIES_] See the law relative to the cities of refuge explained, Numbers 35:11, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 4:43. _BEZER IN THE WILDERNESS_] As the cities of refuge are generally understood to be types of the salvation provided by Christ for sinners; so their names have been thought to express some attribute of the Redeemer of mankind. See them explained Joshua 20:7-6. I SUPPOSE the las... [ Continue Reading ]