Deuteronomy
The book of Deuteronomy marks the end of the Pentateuch, commonly called the Law of Moses; a work every way worthy of God its author, and only less than the New Testament, the Law and Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Its antiquity places it at the head of all the writings in the world; and the various subjects it embraces render it of the utmost importance to every part of the civilized world. Its philosophy, history, geography, and chronology entitle it to the respect of the whole human race; while its system of theology and religion demonstrably proves it to be a revelation from God. The Law of Moses is more properly the Law of Jehovah, יהוה [H3068] תורה [H8451], torah yehowah, the grand title of the Pentateuch. Could we conceive Moses to have been the author of this system, we must consider him more than mortal - no wisdom of man has ever yet invented such a Code of Laws. His merit, however, has been disputed, and his laws severely criticised, by persons whose interest it was to prove religion a cheat, because they had none themselves. To some, whose mental taste and feeling are strangely perverted, everything in heathenism wears not only the most fascinating aspect, but appears to lay claim to and possess every excellence; and hence they have called up Confucius, Menu, Zoraster, and Mohammed himself, to dispute the palm with Moses! On this subject in general, it may be just necessary to add, that the utmost that can be said of all laws, merely human, is, that they restrain vices, through the terror of punishment. God's law not only restrains vice, but it infuses virtue. It alone brings man to the footstool of his Maker; and keeps him dependent on the strong for strength, on the wise for wisdom, and on the merciful for grace. It abounds with promises of support, and salvation for the present life, which no false system dared ever to propose. every where, Moses, in the most confident manner, pledges his God for the fulfilment of all the exceeding great and precious promises, with which his laws are so plentifully interspersed; and while they were obedient they could say, "Not one word hath failed us, of all the good things which the Lord our God spake concerning us." Who that dispassionately reads the Pentateuch, that considers it in itself and in its reference to that glorious Gospel which it was intended to introduce, can for a moment deny it the palm of infinite superiority over all the systems ever framed or imagined by man? Well might the Israelitish people triumphantly exclaim, "There is none like the God of Jeshurun!" and with what striking propriety does the glorious legislator add, "Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee? O people, saved of the Lord!" Finally, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which are amassed in these five books, have enriched the whole civilized earth, and, indeed, greatly promoted that very civilization. They have been a kind of text-book to almost every writer on geology, geography, chronology, astronomy, natural history, ethics, jurisprudence, political economy, theology, poetry, and criticism, from the time of Moses to the present day - books to which the choicest writers and philosophers in Pagan antiquity, have been deeply indebted; and which were the text-books to all the prophets - books from which the flimsy writers against Divine Revelation have derived their natural religion, and all their moral excellence - books written in all the energy, and purity, of the incomparable language in which they are composed; and lastly, books, which for importance of matter, variety of information, dignity of sentiment, accuracy of facts, impartiality, simplicity, and sublimity of narration, tending to improve and ennoble the intellect and ameliorate the physical and moral condition of man, have never been equalled, and can only be paralleled by the Gospel of the Son of God! Fountain of endless mercy, justice, truth, and beneficence! How much are thy gifts and bounties neglected by those who do not read this law; and by those who having read it, are not morally improved by it, and made wise unto salvation!
Deuteronomy 1
Overview
1:1 Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year;
1:6 briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb;
1:14 of giving them officers;
1:19 of sending the spies to search the land;
1:34 of his anger for their incredulity;
1:41 and disobedience. Verse 1 on this Numbers 32:5, 32:19, 32:32, 34:15, 35:14; Joshua 9:1, 9:10, 22:4, 22:7 Red Seaor, Zuph, Or rather, Suph, This could not have been the Red Sea, not only because the word yam, "sea," is not joined with it as usual, but because they were now east of Jordan, and farther from the Red Sea than ever. It seems to be the same which is called Suphah in Numbers 21:14
which must necessarily signify some place in or adjoining to the plains of Moab, and not far from the Jordan and Arnon. Ptolemy mentions a people called Sophonites that dwelt in Arabia Petrea, who may have taken their name from this place.ParanParan, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab, seem to have been either places or cities not far from the plains of Moab; for it is evident that Paran and Hazeroth could not have been those near the Red sea, and not far from Horeb. Deuteronomy 33:2; Genesis 21:21; Numbers 10:12, 12:16, 13:3, 13:26; 1 Samuel 25:1; Habakkuk 3:3 Hazeroth Numbers 11:35, 33:17, 33:18 Reciprocal Genesis 48:21 - God; 50:10 - beyond; Numbers 33:21 - Libnah; Deuteronomy 5:1 - all Israel; 11:29 - General; 1 Kings 11:18 - Paran Verse 2 by the way Deuteronomy 1:44, 2:4, 2:8; Numbers 20:17-21 unto Leviticus 2:14, 9:23; Numbers 13:26, 32:8; Joshua 14:6 Reciprocal Numbers 33:2 - journeys; Deuteronomy 1:19 - we came; 2:1 - we compassed; 2:14 - Kadeshbarnea; 11:29 - General; 1 Chronicles 4:42 - mount Seir Verse 3 Numbers 20:1, 33:38 Reciprocal 9:5 - according; 14:33 - forty years; Deuteronomy 8:2 - led thee; 29:5 - I have led; Joshua 3:1 - rose early; 5:6 - walked; Psalm 95:10 - Forty Verse 4 Deuteronomy 2:26-37, 3:1-11; Numbers 21:21-35; Joshua 12:2-6, 13:10-12; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalm 135:11, 136:19, 136:20 Reciprocal Genesis 14:5 - Ashteroth; Numbers 21:33 - Og; Deuteronomy 4:46 - Moses; Joshua 9:10 - Ashtaroth; 12:4 - dwelt; 21:27 - Golan; 1 Chronicles 6:71 - Ashtaroth Verse 5 to declare Deuteronomy 4:8, 17:18, 17:19, 31:9, 32:46 Reciprocal Numbers 21:20 - country; 22:1 - on this side; Deuteronomy 4:44 - General; 4:46 - On this side Verse 6 in Horeb Deuteronomy 5:2; Exodus 3:1, 17:6 Ye have 19:1, 19:2; Numbers 10:11-13 Reciprocal 9:22 - abode; 33:16 - they removed; Deuteronomy 2:3 - long enough Verse 7 the mount Genesis 15:16-21; Exodus 23:31; Numbers 34:3-12; Joshua 24:15; Amos 2:9 all the placesHeb. all his neighboursin the plain Deuteronomy 11:11; Joshua 10:40, 11:16, 11:17 the great Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:4; 2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Chronicles 5:9, 18:3 Reciprocal Genesis 2:14 - Euphrates; 15:18 - Unto thy; Exodus 3:8 - unto a good; Numbers 9:22 - abode; 34:2 - is the land; Deuteronomy 1:20 - the mountain; Joshua 13:5 - Lebanon; Judges 3:3 - in mount; 1 Timothy 5:21 - without preferring Verse 8 setHeb. givenwhich Genesis 12:7, 13:14, 13:15, 15:16, 15:18, 17:7, 17:8, 22:16-18, 26:3, 26:4, 28:13, 28:14 Reciprocal 24:7 - which spake; 50:24 - sware; Exodus 16:35 - the borders; Numbers 34:2 - is the land; Deuteronomy 1:20 - the mountain; 2:31 - give Sihon; 6:23 - to give us; Nehemiah 9:15 - go; Jeremiah 32:22 - which Verse 9 I am not Exodus 18:18; Numbers 11:11-14, 11:17 Reciprocal 11:14 - General; Deuteronomy 1:12 - General; Acts 6:2 - we should; Romans 13:6 - attending; 1 Corinthians 13:7 - Beareth Verse 10 your God Deuteronomy 10:22, 28:62; Genesis 15:5, 22:17, 28:14; Exodus 12:37, 32:13; Numbers 1:46; 1 Chronicles 27:23; Nehemiah 9:23 ye are this dayThis was the promise made by God to Abraham - Genesis 15:5, 15:6
which Moses considers now as amply fulfilled. Many suppose the expression to be hyperbolical; and others, no friends to revelation, think it a vain, empty boast, because the stars, in their apprehension, amount to innumerable millions. But, as this refers to the number of stars that appear to the naked eye, which only amount to about 3,010 in both hemispheres, the number of the Israelites far exceeded this; for independently of women and children, at the last census, they amounted to more than 600,000.Reciprocal 13:16 - General; 46:3 - I will; 48:19 - become; Numbers 10:36 - many thousands of Israel; Ezekiel 16:7 - excellent ornaments; Habakkuk 3:1 - multiplying; 3:1 - as the stars Verse 11 make you 2 Samuel 24:3; 1 Chronicles 21:3; Psalm 115:14 and bless you Genesis 15:5, 22:17, 26:4, 49:25; Exodus 32:13; Numbers 6:27, 22:12 Reciprocal Exodus 3:15 - The Lord Verse 12 Deuteronomy 1:9; Exodus 18:13-16; Numbers 11:11-15; 1 Kings 3:7-9; Psalm 89:19; 2 Corinthians 2:16, 3:5 Reciprocal Exodus 18:17 - not good; 1 Kings 11:28 - charge; Galatians 6:2 - Bear Verse 13 TakeHeb. Give, Exodus 18:21; Numbers 11:16, 11:17; Acts 1:21-23, 6:2-6 Reciprocal Genesis 41:33 - look out; Numbers 30:1 - General; Micah 3:1 - Is it; Acts 6:3 - look Verse 15 I took Deuteronomy 16:18; Exodus 18:25, 18:26 madeHeb. gave, Ephesians 4:11 captains over thousands Numbers 31:14; 1 Samuel 8:12, 17:18, 22:7 Reciprocal Exodus 5:6 - officers; 18:21 - rulers of thousands; Numbers 1:16 - heads; 10:4 - General; 11:16 - officers; 13:2 - a ruler; Deuteronomy 20:5 - the officers; Joshua 10:6 - mountains; 1 Chronicles 12:20 - captains; 15:25 - captains; 27:1 - captains; Psalm 58:1 - O congregation; Isaiah 3:3 - captain; Micah 5:2 - thousands; Matthew 21:33 - husbandmen; Luke 20:9 - husbandmen Verse 16 charged Deuteronomy 27:11, 31:14; Numbers 27:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Timothy 5:21, 6:17 Hear Deuteronomy 16:18, 16:19; Exodus 23:2, 23:3, 23:7, 23:8; Leviticus 19:15; 2 Samuel 23:3; 2 Chronicles 19:6-10; Psalm 58:1; John 7:24 the stranger Deuteronomy 10:18, 10:19, 24:14; Exodus 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 24:22 Reciprocal Exodus 21:6 - the judges; Judges 11:10 - be witness; 2 Chronicles 19:9 - in the fear; Proverbs 18:5 - not; 31:9 - General; Ezekiel 18:8 - hath executed Verse 17 shall not Deuteronomy 10:17, 16:19; Leviticus 19:15; 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Samuel 14:14; Proverbs 24:23; Luke 20:21; Acts 10:34, 10:35; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1, 2:3, 2:9; 1 Peter 1:17 respect personsHeb. acknowledge faces, That is, let not the bold, daring countenances of the rich or mighty induce you to give an unrighteous decision; and let not the abject look of the poor man induce you either to favour him in an unrighteous cause, or to give judgment against him at the demand of the oppressor.ye shall hear Exodus 23:3, 23:6, 23:7; 1 Samuel 12:3, 12:4; Job 22:6-9, 29:11-17, 31:13-16; Psalm 82:3, 82:4; Proverbs 22:22, 22:23; Jeremiah 5:28, 5:29; Amos 5:11, 5:12; Micah 2:1-3, 3:1-4, 7:3, 7:4; James 2:2-4, 2:5 ye shall not 1 Kings 21:8-14; Job 31:34; Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 1:17; Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 the judgment 2 Chronicles 19:6 the cause Deuteronomy 17:8-10; Exodus 18:18, 18:22, 18:26 Reciprocal 23:2 - to decline; 2 Chronicles 18:30 - small or great; 19:9 - in the fear; 34:30 - great and small; Job 32:21 - accept; Psalm 82:2 - accept; Proverbs 18:5 - not; Ezekiel 18:8 - hath executed; Malachi 2:9 - have been partial in; John 7:19 - not; 7:24 - General; 7:51 - General Verse 18 Deuteronomy 4:5, 4:40, 12:28, 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Acts 20:20, 20:27 Reciprocal Exodus 18:20 - work Verse 19 through Deuteronomy 8:15, 32:10; Numbers 10:12; Jeremiah 2:6 we came Deuteronomy 1:2; Numbers 13:26 Reciprocal Genesis 14:7 - Kadesh; 20:1 - Kadesh; Numbers 13:3 - General; Deuteronomy 2:14 - Kadeshbarnea; 9:23 - Likewise; Joshua 15:23 - Kedesh Verse 20 the mountain Deuteronomy 1:7, 1:8 Reciprocal Amos 2:10 - to possess Verse 21 fear not Deuteronomy 20:1; Numbers 13:30, 14:8, 14:9; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1-3, 46:1, 46:7, 46:11; Isaiah 41:10; 43:1, 43:2; Luke 12:32; Habakkuk 3:1 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 1:29 - General; Joshua 8:1 - Fear not; Nehemiah 4:14 - General; Amos 2:10 - to possess Verse 22 We will sendThe people proposed this measure through unbelief; Moses, mistaking their motive, approved of it; and God, being justly displeased, permitted them to follow their own counsel, which proved injurious to them only through their sin and folly. Numbers 13:1-20 Reciprocal 13:2 - Send thou; 20:1 - Then; 32:8 - General Verse 23 Numbers 13:3-33 Reciprocal 20:1 - Then; 32:8 - General; Joshua 4:2 - twelve men; 1 Samuel 20:7 - It is well Verse 24 Numbers 13:21-27; Joshua 2:1, 2:2 Reciprocal Numbers 13:23 - brook; 32:9 - General; 2 Samuel 23:30 - brooks Verse 25 Reciprocal Exodus 3:8 - unto a good; Numbers 13:23 - brook; 13:27 - General; 14:7 - an exceeding good land Verse 26 Numbers 14:1-4; Psalm 106:24, 106:25; Isaiah 63:10; Acts 7:51 Reciprocal Habakkuk 3:18 - but Verse 27 The Lord hated us Deuteronomy 9:28; Exodus 16:3, 16:8; Numbers 14:3, 21:5; Matthew 25:24; Luke 19:21 Reciprocal Numbers 14:2 - murmured; Psalm 106:25 - murmured; Mark 14:5 - And they Verse 28 discouragedHeb. melted, Deuteronomy 20:8 *marg. Exodus 15:15; Joshua 2:9, 2:11, 2:24 *marg. 14:8; Isaiah 13:7; Ezekiel 21:7 The people Deuteronomy 9:1, 9:2; Numbers 13:28-33 walledThat is, with very high walls, which could not be easily scaled. Harmer says, high walls are still to be seen in Arabia, and are deemed a sufficient defence against the Arabs, who scarcely ever attempt to plunder except on horseback. The monastery on Mount Sinai, and the convent of St. Anthony in Egypt, are surrounded with a very high wall, without gates; the persons and things being taken up and let down through an opening in the upper part, by means of a pulley and a basket. This kind of walling is a sufficient defence.we have seen Deuteronomy 9:2; Joshua 11:22, 15:14; Judges 1:10, 1:20; 2 Samuel 21:16-22 Reciprocal Genesis 11:4 - whose; Numbers 13:31 - General; 13:32 - brought; 13:33 - saw the giants; 32:7 - wherefore; Deuteronomy 2:11 - as the Anakims; 2:21 - great; 3:5 - General; 20:20 - thou shalt build; Joshua 11:21 - the Anakims; 2 Samuel 17:10 - utterly melt; Amos 2:9 - whose; Luke 10:15 - which; John 21:25 - that even Verse 29 Deuteronomy 1:21 Reciprocal 7:18 - shalt not; 31:6 - fear not; 2 Chronicles 20:15 - Be not afraid; Nehemiah 4:14 - General Verse 30 he shall Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Exodus 14:14, 14:25; Joshua 10:42; 1 Samuel 17:45, 17:46; 2 Chronicles 14:11, 14:12, 32:8; Nehemiah 4:20; Psalm 46:11; Isaiah 8:9, 8:10; Romans 8:31, 8:37 according Exodus 7:1-25, 15:1-27; Psalm 78:11-13, 78:43-51, 105:27-36 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 3:22 - for the Lord; 6:22 - before; 9:3 - goeth over; 20:4 - to fight; Joshua 10:14 - for the Lord; 2 Chronicles 20:15 - Be not afraid; Nehemiah 4:14 - General; Jeremiah 31:2 - found; John 10:4 - he goeth Verse 31 in the wilderness Exodus 16:1-17:16; Nehemiah 9:12-23; Psalm 78:14-28, 105:39-41 bare thee Deuteronomy 32:11, 32:12; Exodus 19:4; Numbers 11:11, 11:12, 11:14; Isaiah 40:11, 46:3, 46:4, 63:9; Hosea 11:3, 11:4; Acts 13:18 *marg.Reciprocal Numbers 14:22 - which have; Isaiah 1:2 - I have; Jeremiah 31:32 - in the Verse 32 2 Chronicles 20:20; Psalm 78:22, 106:24; Isaiah 7:9; Habakkuk 3:12, 3:18, 3:19; Jude 1:5 Reciprocal Numbers 14:11 - believe me; Deuteronomy 9:23 - ye believed; 2 Kings 17:14 - did not believe Verse 33 Who went Exodus 13:21; Numbers 10:33; Psalm 77:20; Ezekiel 20:6 in fire Exodus 13:21, 13:22, 14:19, 14:20, 14:24, 40:34-38; Numbers 9:15-22, 10:11, 10:12, 14:14; Nehemiah 9:12; Psalm 78:14, 105:39; Isaiah 4:5, 4:6; Zechariah 2:5 Reciprocal Genesis 45:16 - it pleased Pharaoh well; Numbers 9:16 - General; Deuteronomy 8:2 - led thee; 9:23 - ye believed; Jeremiah 31:2 - found; 1 Corinthians 10:1 - were Verse 34 and sware Deuteronomy 2:14, 2:15; Numbers 14:22-30, 32:8-13; Psalm 95:11; Ezekiel 20:15; Habakkuk 3:8-11 Reciprocal Numbers 32:10 - General; 32:14 - to augment; Joshua 15:13 - Caleb; Psalm 95:8 - in the; 106:26 - Therefore; 1 Corinthians 10:5 - General; Habakkuk 3:11 - I sware; 3:18 - to whom Verse 35 Reciprocal Exodus 3:15 - The Lord; Numbers 14:23 - Surely they shall not see; 14:28 - As truly; 32:11 - from twenty; 32:14 - to augment; Deuteronomy 2:14 - until all the generation; 6:23 - to give us; Psalm 14:3 - there; 95:8 - in the; 95:11 - I sware; 106:26 - Therefore; 119:52 - remembered; Jeremiah 32:22 - which; Ezekiel 20:15 - I lifted; 1 Corinthians 10:5 - General; Habakkuk 3:11 - I sware; 3:18 - to whom Verse 36 Caleb Numbers 13:6, 13:30, 26:65, 32:12, 34:19; Joshua 14:6-14; Judges 1:12-15 wholly followedHeb. fulfilled to go after, Numbers 14:24 Reciprocal 14:30 - save Caleb; Joshua 14:8 - wholly; Judges 1:20 - they gave; Psalm 119:52 - remembered; Habakkuk 3:16 - not Verse 37 Deuteronomy 3:23-26, 4:21, 34:4; Numbers 20:12, 27:13, 27:14; Psalm 106:32, 106:33 Reciprocal Numbers 32:5 - bring us; Deuteronomy 3:26 - the Lord Verse 38 Joshua Numbers 13:8, 13:16, 14:30, 14:38, 26:65 which standeth Exodus 17:9-14, 24:13, 33:11; 1 Samuel 16:22; Proverbs 22:29 encourage him Deuteronomy 3:28, 31:7, 31:8, 31:14, 31:23; Numbers 27:18-23; Joshua 1:1, 1:6-9 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 16:21 - stood before him; 1 Kings 18:15 - before whom I; Jeremiah 40:10 - serve; Habakkuk 3:16 - not Verse 39 your little Numbers 14:3, 14:31 which in Isaiah 7:15, 7:16; Jonah 4:11; Romans 9:11; Ephesians 2:3 Reciprocal Joshua 5:7 - their children; Psalm 90:16 - and; Isaiah 8:4 - before; Amos 2:10 - to possess Verse 40 Numbers 14:25 Reciprocal 21:4 - by the way; Deuteronomy 2:1 - we turned; Judges 11:16 - walked Verse 41 We have sinned Numbers 14:39, 14:40-45, 22:34; Proverbs 19:3 Reciprocal Psalm 78:9 - The children Verse 42 Go not up Numbers 14:41, 14:42 for I am not Leviticus 26:17; Joshua 7:8-13; 1 Samuel 4:2, 4:10; Isaiah 30:17, 59:1, 59:2; Hosea 9:12 Reciprocal Psalm 60:10 - didst Verse 43 but rebelled Isaiah 63:10; Acts 7:51; Romans 8:7, 8:8 went presumptuously upHeb. ye were presumptuous and went up, Numbers 14:44 Reciprocal Exodus 21:14 - presumptuously; Numbers 15:30 - doeth ought Verse 44 chased youWhen bees are provoked or disturbed, the whole swarm attack and pursue whatever annoys them, with great courage and fury, and sometimes are a most formidable enemy. They were so troublesome in some districts of Crete, that, according to Pliny, the inhabitants were actually compelled to forsake their homes. Alian reports, that some places in Scythia were formerly inaccessible on account of the numerous swarms of bees with which they were infested. Mr. Park relates, that some of his associates imprudently attempted to rob a numerous hive which they found in their way. The exasperated little animals rushed out to defend their property, and attacked them with so much fury, that they quickly compelled the whole company of men, horses, and asses, to scamper off in all directions. The horses were never recovered, and a number of the asses were so severely stung, that they died the next day. Deuteronomy 28:25, 32:30; Psalm 118:12; Isaiah 7:18 unto Hormah Numbers 14:45, 21:3 Reciprocal Leviticus 26:36 - and the; Numbers 13:17 - the mountain; Deuteronomy 1:2 - by the way; Joshua 7:5 - for they; 15:30 - Hormah Verse 45 Psalm 78:34; Habakkuk 3:1 Reciprocal Numbers 14:1 - General Verse 46 Numbers 14:25, 14:34, 20:1, 20:22; Judges 11:16, 11:17 Reciprocal Genesis 14:7 - Kadesh; Numbers 15:1 - General; Deuteronomy 2:14 - Kadeshbarnea