Deuteronomy 10:8

_AT THAT TIME THE LORD SEPARATED THE TRIBE OF LEVI, TO BEAR THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, TO STAND BEFORE THE LORD TO MINISTER UNTO HIM, AND TO BLESS IN HIS NAME, UNTO THIS DAY._ At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi. "At that time" is a phrase used in a large sense (see the note at Genesis 37:1, etc.), and applied in the case before us to an event which happened 38 years before-for the separation of the tribe of Levi took place in the second month of the second year (Numbers 1:49), while Aaron died on the first of the fifth month in the 40 year (Numbers 33:38). This explanation is suggested by the Jewish writer Ibn Ezra....

8._At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi _Moses does not exactly observe the order of time in the chapter from which this passage is taken, since he deemed it sufficient to collect here and there what was required to complete his general exhortation. The object indeed of the recital of this history was, lest any should attempt to overthrow God’s invioable decree in their pride and audacity; and therefore, in order that the dignity of the tribe of Levi may not beget envy, he testifies that God is its author. The clause, “unto this day,” seems to refer to those instances in which God had manifested His favor towards the Levites, lest any similar rivalry should hereafter arise. The rest has been expounded elsewhere....

1-11 Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations. There were four things in and by which the Lord showed himself reconciled to Israel. God gave them his law. Thus God has intrusted us with Bibles, sabbaths, and sacraments, as tokens of his presence and favour. God led them forward toward Canaan. He appointed a standing ministry among them for holy things. And now, under the gospel, when the pouring forth of the Spirit is more plentiful and powerful, the succession is kept up by the Spirit's work on men's hearts, qualifying and making some willing for that work in every age. God accepted Moses as an advocate or intercessor for them, and therefore appointed him to be their prince and leader. Moses was a type of Christ, who ever lives, pleading for us, and has all power in heaven and in earth....

These verses are closely connected with the preceding chapter, and state very briefly the results of the intercession of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 9:25. The people are reminded that all their blessings and privileges, forfeited by apostasy as soon as bestowed, were only now their own by a new and most unmerited act of grace on the part of God, won from Him by the self-sacrificing mediation of Moses himself Deuteronomy 10:10. Deuteronomy 10:1. The order for making the ark and tabernacle was evidently given before the apostasy of the people (Exo. 25ff); but the tables were not put in the ark until the completion and dedication of the ta

EXPOSITION RENEWED EXHORTATIONS TO OBEDIENCE. DEUTERONOMY 10:1 _Moses_'_ intercession and its results_. DEUTERONOMY 10:1 AT THAT TIME. When Moses thus interceded, God commanded him to prepare two new tables of stone, and to construct an ark in which to keep them (cf. Exodus 34:1, etc.). Directions had been given for the construction of the ark before the apostasy of the people, and it was not made till after the tabernacle had been erected, nor were the tables placed in it till the tabernacle had been consecrated (cf....

AT THAT TIME THE LORD SEPARATED THE TRIBE OF LEVI,.... Not at the time that Moses came down from the mount with the tables of the law, but some considerable time after, even after the tabernacle was erected; nor at the time that Aaron died, and Eleazar succeeded him, but many years before that; unless there was a fresh separation of them, or a renewal of it when Eleazar became high priest in his father's stead; and so that being mentioned is the reason of its being repeated here; TO BEAR THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD; even that into which the law, sometimes called the covenant, was put, and therefore here called the ark of the covenant: when this was carried from place to place, as it was especially in the wilderness, it was the business of the Levites to bear it, particularly the Kohathites; Numbers 3:31, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him

5. WARNING AGAINST SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THEIR PREVIOUS FAILURES Chapter S 9:1-10:11 _ 1. The warning (Deuteronomy 9:1)_ 2. The failures of the past (Deuteronomy 9:7) 3. The intercession of Moses (Deuteronomy 9:25) 4. The results of the intercession (Deuteronomy 10:1) This chapter and the first eleven verses of the tenth are aimed against the spirit of self righteousness. First there is the warning. This is followed by their shameful history of the past, which showed that a boast of being righteous, or having any righteousness had to be positively excluded in their

DEUTERONOMY 9:7_ b -_ DEUTERONOMY 10:11 (or DEUTERONOMY 10:9). Narrative of the legislation on Mount Horeb; for the purpose apparently of illustrating Deuteronomy 9:7_ a._ This historical survey suddenly thrust into a hortatory context closely resembles Deuteronomy 1-3, and is thought by Horst and Bertholet to be by the same author. They agree with Steuernagel (who, however, says its closest affinities are with Deuteronomy 5) in holding it to be an interpolation here. But surely the history in this section is didactic and therefore hortatory....

SEPARATED. Compare Numbers 3:5. LEVI. (1) On account of loyalty. Exodus 32:26, and Deuteronomy 33:8. (2) After revolt of Korah, &c. Numbers 16; Numbers 17. (3) After the sin of People with Moabites. Deuteronomy 25:6.Psalms 106:30; Malachi 2:4;...

_At that time_ Cp. Deuteronomy 9:20; Deuteronomy 10:1. If, as we have seen to be most probable, Deuteronomy 10:6 are a later intrusion and out of place where they stand, _that time_is not that of the sojourn at Yoṭbathah after Aaron's death (though the editor who inserted Deuteronomy 10:6 may have meant to imply this; see the general note to these _vv_.), but the time at Ḥoreb (Deuteronomy 10:1). This conclusion is confirmed (_a_) by the subsequent...