Deuteronomy 9:23

_AND AT TABERAH, AND AT MASSAH, AND AT KIBROTH-HATTA'AVAH, YE PROVOKED THE LORD TO WRATH._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

7-29 That the Israelites might have no pretence to think that God brought them to Canaan for their righteousness, Moses shows what a miracle of mercy it was, that they had not been destroyed in the wilderness. It is good for us often to remember against ourselves, with sorrow and shame, our former sins; that we may see how much we are indebted to free grace, and may humbly own that we never merited any thing but wrath and the curse at God's hand. For so strong is our propensity to pride, that it will creep in under one pretence or another. We are ready to fancy that our righteousness has got for us the special favour of the Lord, though in reality our wickedness is more plain than our weakness. But when the secret history of every man's life shall be brought forth at the day of judgment, all the world will be proved guilty before God. At present, One pleads for us before the mercy-seat,...

EXPOSITION DISSUASIVES FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. DEUTERONOMY 9:1 Israel might acknowledge that it was of God's free gift that they possessed the land of Canaan, and yet might flatter themselves by thinking it was because of their righteousness and goodness that the gift was bestowed. To guard against this, _Moses _tells them that not because of their righteousness would God go before them and drive out the mighty peoples that then occupied the land, but because of the wickedness of these peoples themselves were they to be extirpated (Deuteronomy 9:1). He further reminds them of their transgressions in the past, and how they thereby came under the Divine displeasure, and were saved

LIKEWISE WHEN THE LORD SENT YOU FROM KADESHBARNEA,.... From whence the spies were sent to search the land, though previous to it they had the following order to go up and possess it; see Numbers 32:8 SAYING, GO UP AND POSSESS THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN YOU; this they were bid to do, before they desired the spies might be sent to search it first; and after they had returned and made their report, they were encouraged to go up and take possession of it: THEN YE REBELLED AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD YOUR GOD; REFUSING TO GO UP INTO IT: AND YE BELIEVED HIM NOT; that he would cast out and destroy the inhabitants of it, and put them into the possession of it; which they distrusted by reason of the gigantic stature of some that dwelt in it, and their fortified cities: NOR HEARKENED TO HIS VOICE; whether commanding or enc

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....

COMMANDMENT. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), for what is spoken by it. App-6....

Other instances of Israel's rebelliousness: _Tab-erah_, -Burning-place," because fire broke out on them there, Numbers 11:1-3, E; _Massah_, -Proof," for there they put God to the proof, Exodus 17:7, J; _Ḳibroth-hat-ta"avah_, -Graves of Lust," Numbers 11:31-34, J. _ye provoked_, etc.] As in Deuteronomy 9:7. _Kadesh-barnea_ See on Deuteronomy 1:19 f. _ye rebelled_, etc.] As in Deuteronomy 1:26 _q.v._

b. HOW TO PREVENT THE THREAT (Deuteronomy 9:1 to Deuteronomy 11:21) (1) BY A REALISTIC SELF-EVALUATION (Deuteronomy 9:1 to Deuteronomy 10:11) (Moses rehearses the story of the two tables of stone and the Israelite's sin at Sinai. This is done so Israel might see their previous course: rebelliousness, stubbornness, and disobedience.) Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can sta

9:23 word (d-26) Lit. 'mouth.'...