INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 8 In this chapter Moses repeats the exhortation to observe the commands of God, and urges the Israelites to it, from the consideration of the great and good things God had done for them in the wilderness, and even in those instances which were chastisements, and were of... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY SHALL YE OBSERVE TO DO,.... It is repeated over and over again, to impress it on their minds, and to show the importance and necessity of it, how greatly it was expected from them, and how much it was incumbent on them: THAT YE MAY LIVE AND MULTIPL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT REMEMBER ALL THE WAY WHICH THE LORD THY GOD LED THEE THESE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS,.... For this was now the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt into the wilderness, into which they quickly came after their departure from thence, and had been in one wilderness or another... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HUMBLED THEE,.... Or afflicted thee with want of bread: AND SUFFERED THEE TO HUNGER; that there might be an opportunity of showing his mercy, and exerting his power: AND FED THEE WITH MANNA, WHICH THOU KNEWEST NOT, NEITHER DID THY FATHERS KNOW; a sort of food they had never seen before, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RAIMENT WAXED NOT OLD UPON THEE, c] They wanted not clothes all the forty years they were in the wilderness which some account for by the rising generation being supplied with the clothes of those that died in the wilderness, and with the spoils they took from Amalek, Exodus 17:1 and others, as... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ALSO CONSIDER IN THINE HEART,.... Frequently think of, and meditate upon, revolve in their thoughts, well weigh in their minds, and take into thorough and deliberate consideration in their hearts; it being a matter of great moment and importance to them for their peace and comfort and the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THOU SHALT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD THY GOD,.... Not only because they are the commands of God, and of a covenant God and Father, which are reasons sufficient for the observance of them; but because the Lord had dealt so bountifully with them, in providing food and raiment for the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD THY GOD BRINGETH THEE INTO A GOOD LAND,.... The land of Canaan, abounding with good things after enumerated, a land flowing with milk and honey, having in it plenty of everything both for convenience and delight; which is another reason why they were under obligations to serve the Lord,... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAND OF WHEAT AND BARLEY,.... There were two harvests in it, one a barley harvest, which began at the passover, and the other a wheat harvest, which began at Pentecost: instances of the great plenty of these might be observed in the vast quantities consumed in the times of Solomon, in his househol... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAND WHEREIN THOU SHALL EAT BREAD WITHOUT SCARCENESS,.... That is, should have plenty of all sorts of provisions, which bread is often put for: THOU SHALL NOT LACK ANYTHING IN IT; for necessity and convenience, and for delight and pleasure: A LAND WHOSE STONES ARE IRON; in which were iron mines:... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU HAST EATEN AND ART FULL, THEN THOU SHALT BLESS THE LORD THY GOD,.... For as the Lord would furnish them with plenty of food, they might eat of it liberally, provided they did not indulge to intemperance, as everyone may whom God has blessed with a fulness of good things; and this shows tha... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE THAT THOU FORGET NOT THE LORD THY GOD,.... The Father of mercies and fountain of goodness, the author and donor of every good and perfect gift. Plenty is apt to induce a forgetfulness of God, when on the contrary one would think it should keep him in continual remembrance, and engage to daily... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST WHEN THOU HAST EATEN AND ART FULL,.... Not only once and again, but continually, day after day, being indulged with great plenty: AND HAST BUILT GOODLY HOUSES, AND DWELT [THEREIN]; who for forty years had only dwelt in tents, moving from place to place in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THY HERDS AND THY FLOCKS MULTIPLY,.... Having good pasture for them in so fruitful a land: AND THY SILVER AND THY GOLD IS MULTIPLIED; by trading with other nations: AND ALL THAT THOU HAST IS MULTIPLIED; children, servants, and substance.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THINE HEART BE LIFTED UP,.... As the heart is apt to be when riches increase; hence the advice in 1 Timothy 6:17 AND THOU FORGET THE LORD THY GOD; from whom all good things come, and who can take them away when he pleases, and therefore should be ever kept in mind, for ever looked to and trust... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO LED THEE THROUGH THAT GREAT AND TERRIBLE WILDERNESS,.... The wilderness of Paran, which was great and large, reaching from Sinai to Kadesh, eleven days' journey, and terrible to the sight, nothing being to be seen but dry rocks and barren mountains; see Deuteronomy 1:19, and especially for what... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO FED THEE IN THE WILDERNESS WITH MANNA,.... Even all the forty years they were in it, Exodus 16:35 which thy fathers knew not; when they first saw it, Exodus 16:15 THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE THEE, AND THAT HE MIGHT PROVE THEE; they were kept humble, being dependent on God for their daily bread, having... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SAY IN THINE HEART,.... These words are in connection with the former part of the Deuteronomy 8:14: AND THOU FORGET THE LORD THY GOD; the author and giver of all the good things enjoyed, and think within themselves, though they might not express it in words at length: MY POWER AND THE MIG... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU SHALT REMEMBER THE LORD THY GOD,.... That he was the author of their beings, the God of their lives and mercies; what great and good things he had done for them in Egypt, and in the wilderness; and particularly in putting them into the possession of such a fruitful country, abounding with a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE, IF THOU DO AT ALL FORGET THE LORD THY GOD,.... Either the mercies they received from him, not acknowledging they came from him, but ascribing them to themselves; or their duty to him, to whom they were so greatly obliged: and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them;... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD DESTROYETH BEFORE YOUR FACE, SO SHALL YE PERISH,.... Be cut off by the sword, or cast out as they were, the same sins, particularly idolatry, being committed by them. This is to be understood of the seven nations of the land of Canaan, which the Lord would be gradually... [ Continue Reading ]