Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 4

Introduction

1  An exhortation to obedience.
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan.
44  Recapitulation.
Verse 1

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
unto the statutes
Statutes, every thing that concerned morals and the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments, all matters of civil right and wrong.
8,45, 5:1, 6:1,2, 8:1, 11:1,32, Leviticus 19:37, 20:8, 22:31, Psalms 105:45, Psalms 119:4, Ezekiel 11:20, 36:27, 37:24, Matthew 28:20, Luke 1:6, John 15:14
that ye may
Leviticus 18:5, Ezekiel 20:11,21, Romans 10:5
Verse 2

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
12:32, Joshua 1:7, Proverbs 30:6, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Matthew 5:18,43, 15:2-9, Mark 7:1-13, Galatians 3:15, Revelation 22:18,19
Verse 3

Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
what the
Numbers 25:1-9, 31:16, Joshua 22:17, Psalms 106:28,29, Hosea 9:10
for all the men
It appears from this appeal, that the pestilence, as well as the sword of the magistrates, singled out the guilty persons and spared the rest. (Ps 91:6-8). The legislator, in order to deter the Jews from idolatry, alludes to this fact, but he notices no circumstance but one, which, though in the original narrative was not stated, was infinitely the most important to advert to on this occasion; but which no persons, but spectators of the fact, and perfectly acquainted with every individual concerned in it, could possibly feel the truth of.
Numbers 26:64
Verse 4

But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
10:20, 13:4, Joshua 22:5, 23:8, Ruth 1:14-17, Psalms 63:8, 143:6-11, Isaiah 26:20, Ezekiel 9:4, John 6:67-69, Acts 11:23, Romans 12:9, Revelation 14:4, 20:4
Verse 5

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
1, Proverbs 22:19,20, Matthew 28:20, Acts 20:27, 1 Corinthians 11:28, 15:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:1,2, Hebrews 3:5; The people had been often ready to conclude that Moses taught them by his own authority; but at the close of his life he solemnly assured them that he had instructed them exactly as the Lord had commanded him, neither more, nor less, nor otherwise. This is a most express declaration that he was divinely inspired, and utterly incompatible with his integrity of character, if he was not. Scott.
Verse 6

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
this is your
Job 28:28, Psalms 19:7, 111:10, 119:98-100, Proverbs 1:7, 14:8, Jeremiah 8:9, 2 Timothy 3:15, James 3:13
Surely
1 Kings 4:34, 10:6-9, Psalms 119:99, Daniel 1:20, 4:9, 5:11-16, Zechariah 8:20-23, Malachi 3:12
Verse 7

For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
what nation
Numbers 23:9,21, 2 Samuel 7:23, Isaiah 43:4
who hath
5:26, Psalms 46:1, 73:28, 145:18, 148:14, Isaiah 55:6, Ephesians 2:12-22, James 4:8
Verse 8

And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
10:12,13, Psalms 19:7-11, 119:86,96,127,128, 147:19,20, Romans 7:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:16,17
Verse 9

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
keep thy soul
15,23, Proverbs 3:1,3, 4:20-23, Luke 8:18, Hebrews 2:3, James 2:22
lest they
Joshua 1:18, Psalms 119:11, Proverbs 3:1-3,21, 4:4, 7:1, Hebrews 2:1, Revelation 3:3
teach them
6:7, 11:19, 29:29, 31:19, Genesis 18:19, Exodus 13:8,9,14-16, Joshua 4:6,7,21, Psalms 34:11-16, 71:18, 78:3-8, Proverbs 1:8, 4:1-13, 23:26, Isaiah 38:19, Ephesians 6:4
Verse 10

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
the day
5:2, Exodus 19:9,16, 20:18, Hebrews 12:18,19,25
fear me
5:29, Exodus 20:20, 1 Samuel 12:24, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Luke 1:50, Revelation 19:5
Verse 11

And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
stood
5:23, Exodus 19:16-18, 20:18,19
midst
Heb. heart.
Verse 12

And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
the Lord
5:4,22
no similitude
15, Numbers 12:8, Isaiah 40:18, Colossians 1:15
only ye heard a voice
Heb. save a voice.
33,36, Exodus 20:22, 1 Kings 19:12,13, Isaiah 30:21, 40:3,6, Matthew 3:3,17, 17:5, John 12:28-30, 2 Peter 1:17,18
Verse 13

And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
And he
5:1-21, Exodus 19:5, 24:17,18, Hebrews 9:19,20
ten
10:4, Exodus 34:28
he wrote
9:9-11, 10:1-5, Exodus 24:12, 31:18, 34:28, 2 Corinthians 3:7, Hebrews 9:4
Verse 14

And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Ezekiel 21:1-23, Psalms 105:44,45
Verse 15

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
Take ye
9,23, Joshua 23:11, 1 Chronicles 28:9,10, Psalms 119:9, Proverbs 4:23,27, Jeremiah 17:21, Malachi 2:15
of similitude
12, Isaiah 40:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Hebrews 1:3
Verse 16

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
corrupt
8,9, Exodus 20:4,5, 32:7, Psalms 106:19,20, Romans 1:22-24
the likeness
Such as Baal-peor, the Roman Priapus; Ashtaroth or Astarte, the Greek and Roman Venus, and many others.
23, Isaiah 40:18, John 4:24, Acts 17:29, 20:4,5, 1 Timothy 1:17
Verse 17

The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
Romans 1:23
Verse 19

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
when thou
17:3, 2 Kings 23:4,5,11, Job 31:26,27, Jeremiah 8:2, Ezekiel 8:16, Amos 5:25,26
the host
Genesis 2:1, 2 Kings 17:16, 21:3, Jeremiah 19:13, Zephaniah 1:5, Acts 7:42, Romans 1:25
which the Lord
Genesis 1:16-18, Joshua 10:12,13, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalms 74:16,17, 136:7-9, 148:3-5, Jeremiah 31:35, 33:25, Matthew 5:45
divided
or, imparted.
Verse 20

But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
the iron
1 Kings 8:51, Jeremiah 11:4
a people
9:26,29, 32:9, Exodus 19:5,6, Psalms 28:9, 33:12, 135:4, Isaiah 63:17,18, Ephesians 1:18, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9
Verse 21

Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:
1:37, 3:26, 31:2, Numbers 20:12, Psalms 106:32,33
Verse 22

But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
3:25,27, 1 Kings 13:21,22, Amos 3:2, Hebrews 12:6-10, 2 Peter 1:13-15
Verse 23

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
heed
9,15,16, 27:9, Joshua 23:11, Matthew 24:4, Luke 12:15, 21:8, Hebrews 3:12
lest ye forget
6:12, 29:25, 31:20, Joshua 23:16, 1 Chronicles 16:15, Isaiah 24:5, Jeremiah 31:22, Ezekiel 16:59
make you
16, Exodus 20:4,5
Verse 24

For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
thy God
9:3, 32:22, Exodus 24:17, Psalms 21:9, Isaiah 30:33, 33:14, Jeremiah 21:12-14, Nahum 1:6, Zephaniah 1:18, Hebrews 12:29
a jealous God
6:15, 29:20, 32:16,21, Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Psalms 78:58, Isaiah 42:8, Nahum 1:2, Zephaniah 3:8, 1 Corinthians 10:22
Verse 25

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
beget
31:16-18, Judges 2:8-15
corrupt
See on ver.
16, 31:29, Exodus 32:7, Hosea 9:9
do evil
2 Kings 17:17-19, 21:2,14-16, 2 Chronicles 36:12-16, 1 Corinthians 10:22
Verse 26

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
I call heaven
A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all the nations in the world; God and man being called upon to bear testimony to the truth of what was spoken, that if there was any flaw or insincerity it might be detected, and if any crime, it might not go unpunished. Such appeals to God shew at once the origin and use of oaths.
30:18,19, 31:28, 32:1, Isaiah 1:2, Jeremiah 2:12, 6:19, 22:29, Ezekiel 36:4, Micah 1:2, 6:2
ye shall
29:28, Leviticus 18:28, 26:31-35, Joshua 23:16, Isaiah 6:11, 24:1-3, Jeremiah 44:22, Ezekiel 33:28, Luke 21:24
Verse 27

And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
28:62-64, Nehemiah 1:3,8,9, Ezekiel 12:15, 32:26
Verse 28

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
ye shall
28:36,64, 1 Samuel 26:19, Jeremiah 16:13, Ezekiel 20:32,39, Acts 7:42
neither see
Psalms 115:4-7, 135:15,16, Isaiah 44:9, 45:20, 46:7, Jeremiah 10:3,9
Verse 29

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
But if
30:10, Leviticus 26:39-42, 2 Chronicles 15:4,15, Nehemiah 1:9, Isaiah 55:6,7, Jeremiah 3:12-14, Jeremiah 29:12-14
with all
30:1-3, 1 Kings 8:47,48, 2 Kings 10:31, 23:3, 2 Chronicles 15:12, 31:21, Psalms 119:2,10, Psalms 119:58,145, Jeremiah 3:10, Joel 2:12
Verse 30

When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
all these
1 Kings 8:46-53, 2 Chronicles 6:36-39, Daniel 9:11-19
are come upon thee
Heb. have found thee.
31:17, Exodus 18:8; *marg:
in the latter
31:29, Genesis 49:1, Numbers 24:20, Jeremiah 23:20, Daniel 10:14, Hosea 3:5, Hebrews 1:2
if thou
30:10, Lamentations 3:40, Hosea 14:2,3, Joel 2:12,13, Acts 3:19, 26:20
obedient
Isaiah 1:19, Jeremiah 7:23, Zechariah 6:15, Hebrews 5:9
Verse 31

(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
the Lord
Exodus 34:6,7, Numbers 14:18, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Nehemiah 1:5, 9:31, Psalms 86:5,15, 116:5, Psalms 145:8,9, Jonah 4:2, Micah 7:18
forget
Leviticus 26:42,45, Psalms 105:8, 111:5,9, Jeremiah 14:21, Luke 1:72
Verse 32

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?
ask now
Job 8:8, Psalms 44:1, Joel 1:2
from the one
30:4, Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27
Verse 33

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
24-26, 9:10, Exodus 19:18,19, 20:18,19, 24:11, 33:20, Judges 6:22
Verse 34

Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
take him
Exodus 1:9, 3:10,17-20
temptations
7:19, 29:3, Exodus 9:20,21, 10:7
by signs
Exodus 7:3, Psalms 78:12,48-53
by a mighty
5:15, 6:21, 7:8,9, Exodus 6:6, 13:3, 1 Peter 5:6
and by great
26:8, 34:12, Exodus 12:30-33
Verse 35

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
know
1 Samuel 17:45-47, 1 Kings 18:36,37, 2 Kings 19:19, Psalms 58:11, 83:18
none else
32:23, Exodus 15:11, 1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 44:6,8, 45:5,18,22, Mark 12:29,32, 1 John 5:20,21
Verse 36

Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
33, Exodus 19:9,19, 20:18-22, 24:16, Nehemiah 9:13, Hebrews 12:18,25
Verse 37

And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
because
7:7-9, 9:5, 10:15, Psalms 105:6-10, Isaiah 41:8,9, Jeremiah 31:1, Malachi 1:2, Luke 1:72,73, Romans 9:5
and brought
Exodus 13:3,9,14
in his sight
2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 32:8, 34:15
with his
34, Psalms 114:1-6, 136:10-15, Isaiah 51:9-11, 63:11,12
Verse 38

To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
drive
7:1, 9:1-5, 11:23, Exodus 23:27,28, Joshua 3:10, Psalms 44:2,3
as
2:31-37, 3:1-16, 8:18
Verse 39

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
and consider
32:29, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Isaiah 1:3, 5:12, Hosea 7:2
the Lord
35, Joshua 2:11, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalms 115:3, 135:6, Daniel 4:35
Verse 40

Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
keep
1,6, 28:1-14, Leviticus 22:31, 26:1-13, Jeremiah 11:4, John 14:15,21-24
it may go
5:16, 6:3,18, 12:25,28, 22:7, Ephesians 6:3, 1 Timothy 4:8
Verse 41

Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
Numbers 35:6,14,15, Joshua 20:2-9
Verse 42

That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
19:1-10, Numbers 35:6,11,12,15-28, Hebrews 6:18
Verse 43

Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
Bezer
Bezer is the same as Bozra, formerly a royal city of Edom. See Note on "Ge 36:33"|.
Joshua 20:8
Ramoth
Ramoth was a celebrated city in the mountains of Gilead, placed by Eusebius fifteen miles east from Philadelphia or Ammon, and by Jerome in the neighbourhood of Jabbok, and consequently north of Philadelphia.
Joshua 21:38, 1 Kings 4:13, 22:3,4, 1 Chronicles 6:80
Golan
This city gave name to the district of Gaulonitis, now called Djolan, which comprises the plain to south of Djedour or Iturea, and to the west of Haouran: its southern frontier is the Nahar Aweired, by which it is separated from the district of Erbad, and the Sheriat el Mandhour, which separates it from the district of El Kefarat: on the west it is limited by the territory of Feik, and on the north-west by Djebel Heish, or mount Hermon.
Joshua 21:27, 1 Chronicles 6:71
Verse 44

And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
1:5, 17:18,19, 27:3,8,26, 33:4, Leviticus 27:34, Numbers 36:13, Malachi 4:4, John 1:17
Verse 45

These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,
These
6:17,20, 1 Kings 2:3, Psalms 119:2,14,22,24,111
statutes
1, Psalms 119:5
judgments
Psalms 119:7
Verse 46

On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:
On this side
47, 1:5, 3:29, Numbers 32:19
over
3:29
Beth-peor
Beth-peor was a city which was situated, according to Eusebius, opposite Jericho, and six miles above Livias. As the name signifies "the house of Peor," it is probable that there was a temple to Peor, situated in this place, full in view of the people, while Moses was pressing upon them the worship of Jehovah alone; and perhaps the very temple where so many had sinned to their own destruction.
Moses
1:4, 2:30-36, 3:8, Numbers 21:21-32
Verse 47

And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
3:1-14, 29:7,8, Numbers 21:33-35
Verse 48

From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,
Aroer
2:36, 3:12, Joshua 13:24-33
even unto
The Samaritan interpreter has, "unto the mountain of snow, which is Hermon." See Note on ch. 3:9.
Sion
3:9, Psalms 133:3
Verse 49

And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.
under the springs
3:17, 34:1, Joshua 13:20

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