About Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy contains Moses' final addresses to Israel, restating the Law and calling the new generation to covenant faithfulness.

Author: MosesWritten: c. 1406 BCReading time: ~4 minVerses: 30
Covenant RenewalObedienceLove for GodBlessing and CurseRememberChoose

Places in This Chapter

View map →

King James Version

Deuteronomy 31

30 verses with commentary

Joshua to Succeed Moses

And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel</strong>—the simplicity of this verse belies its gravity. <em>Vayelekh Moshe</em> ("And Moses went") uses the same verb that will describe his impending death (Deuteronomy 31:14, 32:50). At 120 years old, facing his final days, Moses delivers his farewell address to <strong>all Israel</strong> (כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל <em>kol-Yisra'el</em>), emp...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

XXXI. Deuteronomy 31:1-8. **MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LEADER TO JOSHUA.** (1) **And Moses went and spake.**—The expression is unusual. Possibly it means “went on to speak.” The Palestine Targum has, “He went into the house of instruction and spake.” The LXX. have apparently preserved a different reading, and say, “And Moses made an end of speaking these words” (like Deuteronomy 32:45), as if the...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**19-22. When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field--**The grain, pulled up by the roots or cut down with a sickle, was laid in loose sheaves; the fruit of the olive was obtained by striking the branches with long poles; and the grape clusters, severed by a hook, were gathered in the hands of the vintager. Here is a beneficent provision for the poor. Every forgotten sheaf in the harvest-fie...
Read full commentary →

And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>I am an hundred and twenty years old this day</strong>—Moses' age divides into three perfect forty-year periods: Egypt (Acts 7:23), Midian (Acts 7:30), and wilderness leadership. Despite living to this remarkable age, he acknowledges his limitation: <strong>I can no more go out and come in</strong> (לֹא־אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא <em>lo-ukhal od latset velavo</em>). This idiom describes m...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**19-22. When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field--**The grain, pulled up by the roots or cut down with a sickle, was laid in loose sheaves; the fruit of the olive was obtained by striking the branches with long poles; and the grape clusters, severed by a hook, were gathered in the hands of the vintager. Here is a beneficent provision for the poor. Every forgotten sheaf in the harvest-fie...
Read full commentary →

The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee</strong> (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ <em>YHWH Eloheikha hu over lefaneikha</em>)—the emphatic <em>hu</em> ("he himself") stresses God's personal presence and leadership. Though Moses cannot cross Jordan, Yahweh will. <strong>He will destroy these nations from before thee</strong>—<em>shamad</em> (destroy) refers to divine judgment on...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**19-22. When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field--**The grain, pulled up by the roots or cut down with a sickle, was laid in loose sheaves; the fruit of the olive was obtained by striking the branches with long poles; and the grape clusters, severed by a hook, were gathered in the hands of the vintager. Here is a beneficent provision for the poor. Every forgotten sheaf in the harvest-fie...
Read full commentary →

And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites</strong>—Moses references recent history as proof of future victory. Sihon ruled Heshbon, Og ruled Bashan; both attacked Israel and were utterly destroyed (Numbers 21:21-35; Deuteronomy 2:26-3:11). These victories demonstrated Yahweh's power over supposedly invincible foes—Og was a giant of the Rephaim remn...
Read full commentary →

And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the LORD shall give them up before your face</strong> (וּנְתָנָם יְהוָה לִפְנֵיכֶם <em>unetanam YHWH lifneikhem</em>)—<em>natan</em> (give, deliver) emphasizes divine agency in victory. God delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand; they don't conquer through superior military might. <strong>That ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you</stron...
Read full commentary →

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

This exhortation contains one of Scripture's most beloved promises of divine presence and faithfulness. The command <em>chizqu ve'imtsu</em> (חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ, 'be strong and of good courage') combines two Hebrew verbs emphasizing inner fortitude and resolute determination. The double negative—'fear not, nor be afraid'—reinforces the command to reject anxiety. The Hebrew <em>lo tira ve'lo ta'arot...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 25 De 25:1-19. Stripes Must Not Exceed Forty. **2-3. if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten--**In judicial sentences, which awarded punishment short of capital, scourging, like the Egyptian bastinado, was the most common form in which they were executed. The Mosaic law, however, introduced two important restrictions; namely: (1) The punishment should be inflicted in presence of the judg...
Read full commentary →

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel</strong>—this public commissioning before the entire assembly (<em>le'ene kol-Yisra'el</em>) transfers authority transparently, preventing succession disputes and confirming Joshua's divine appointment. <strong>Be strong and of a good courage</strong> (חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ <em>chazaq ve'emats</em>)—this command appears rep...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 25 De 25:1-19. Stripes Must Not Exceed Forty. **2-3. if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten--**In judicial sentences, which awarded punishment short of capital, scourging, like the Egyptian bastinado, was the most common form in which they were executed. The Mosaic law, however, introduced two important restrictions; namely: (1) The punishment should be inflicted in presence of the judg...
Read full commentary →

And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

This verse intensifies the promise of verse 6 with additional assurance. The phrase 'the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee' (<em>YHWH hu haholek lephanekha</em>) advances beyond accompaniment to leadership—God doesn't merely walk beside but goes ahead, preparing the way and facing enemies first. This military imagery portrays God as the divine commander leading His army into battle. The prom...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn--**In Judea, as in modern Syria and Egypt, the larger grains were beaten out by the feet of oxen, which, yoked together, day after day trod round the wide open spaces which form the threshing-floors. The animals were allowed freely to pick up a mouthful, when they chose to do so: a wise as well as humane regulation, introduced by the ...
Read full commentary →

The Reading of the Law

And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Moses wrote this law</strong>—the Hebrew <em>vayichtov Moshe et-hatorah hazot</em> (וַיִּכְתֹּב מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת) establishes Moses as the author of the Pentateuchal legal corpus. <strong>And delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD</strong>—the Levitical priesthood received custody of the written law, connecting legal a...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

Deuteronomy 31:9-13. **MOSES RESIGNS HIS CHARGE AS LAWGIVER TO THE PRIESTS.** (9-11) **And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests . . . And . . . commanded them, saying . . . thou shalt read.**—This must be distinguished from the deliverance of the “book” to the Levites in Deuteronomy 31:25-26. The deliverance here must be understood as a charge and a trust conveyed to the priests...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release</strong>—the septennial Sabbath year (Deuteronomy 15:1-11) when debts were canceled and land rested. <strong>In the feast of tabernacles</strong>—the Hebrew <em>chag ha-sukkot</em> (חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת), the autumn harvest festival commemorating wilderness wandering (Leviticus 23:33-43). M...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose</strong>—the central sanctuary (later Jerusalem) during the pilgrimage feast. <strong>Thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing</strong>—public oral reading to the assembled nation. The Hebrew <em>tiqra et-hatorah hazot</em> (תִּקְרָא אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת) emphasizes proclamation...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates</strong>—comprehensive inclusivity: all ages, both genders, even non-Israelite residents. No demographic was excluded from hearing God's law. <strong>That they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God</strong>—the threefold purpose: auditory reception, intellectual compr...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear</strong>—focused attention on the next generation who lacked direct experience of covenant formation or God's saving acts. <strong>And learn to fear the LORD your God</strong>—children must be intentionally taught reverence for Yahweh; it doesn't develop automatically. <strong>As long as ye live in the land whither ye go ove...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

The Lord's Charge to Moses and Joshua

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die</strong>—God's direct announcement of Moses's imminent death, removing any ambiguity. <strong>Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge</strong>—the leadership transition required divine commissioning in God's presence. The command for both Moses and Josh...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

Deuteronomy 31:14-23. **JOSHUA IS APPOINTED BY JEHOVAH TO MOSES’ PLACE.** (14) **Thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves.**—What Moses had already done before Israel (Deuteronomy 31:1-8) is now ratified by Jehovah to Joshua and Moses. **Moses and Joshua went.**—We may compare this scene with that which is described in Numbers 20:25-28, when Aaron and Eleazar went ...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5-10. the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother ... shall take her to him to wife--**This usage existed before the age of Moses (Ge 38:8). But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preser...
Read full commentary →

And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud</strong>—the visible manifestation of God's presence, the same glory-cloud that led Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22), descended at Sinai (Exodus 19:9), and filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). <strong>And the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle</strong>—positioning God's presence at the ...
Read full commentary →

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. sleep: Heb. lie down

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers</strong>—the euphemism for death emphasizes rest and reunion. <strong>And this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land</strong>—God's prophecy of inevitable apostasy. The sexual metaphor <em>zanah</em> (זָנָה, 'commit fornication') depicted idolatry as spiritual adultery, viola...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(16, 19) **Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers . . . now therefore write ye this song.**—This prophecy that the children of Israel would forsake Jehovah and break His covenant is not a little remarkable, when we consider His dealings with them as a nation. It is one of the many proofs in Holy Scripture that our Creator is not like the man in our Lord’s parable, who “intending to build a towe...
Read full commentary →

Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? befall: Heb. find

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day</strong>—covenant violation would provoke divine wrath. <strong>And I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them</strong>—the terrifying withdrawal of God's presence and protection. <strong>And they shall be devoured</strong>—by enemies and circumstances. <strong>And many evils and troubles shall befall them</strong>—covenan...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(17) **Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?**—A confession made freely by them at this present day.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-16. Thou shalt not have ... divers weights--**Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [Roberts]. (Compare Pr 16:11; 20:10).

And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought</strong>—God's reiteration emphasizes certainty and just cause. The Hebrew <em>anochi haster astir</em> (אָנֹכִי הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר) uses emphatic construction: 'I will surely hide' or 'I will utterly hide.' <strong>In that they are turned unto other gods</strong>—the specific sin meriting face-hidin...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(18) **I will surely hide my face.**—“As though I did not see (them) in their distress” (Rashi).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-16. Thou shalt not have ... divers weights--**Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [Roberts]. (Compare Pr 16:11; 20:10).

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths</strong>—God commanded Moses to compose and disseminate the song recorded in Deuteronomy 32. <strong>That this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel</strong>—the song would serve as legal testimony in Israel's future covenant lawsuit. The Hebrew <em>le-ed</em> (לְעֵד,...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(19) **Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness.**—This method of perpetuating the truth was even better adapted to the times and to the condition of the people than the delivery of a written law. It was not possible to multiply copies of the law among them to any great extent; but the rhythmical form of the song would make it easy to be retained in their memories. There is reason t...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-16. Thou shalt not have ... divers weights--**Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [Roberts]. (Compare Pr 16:11; 20:10).

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat</strong>—God predicted prosperity would become a spiritual trap. <strong>Then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant</strong>—wealth and satisfaction, rather than pr...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-16. Thou shalt not have ... divers weights--**Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [Roberts]. (Compare Pr 16:11; 20:10).

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. against: Heb. before go: Heb. do

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness</strong>—when covenant curses arrived, the song would explain causation: suffering resulted from covenant violation. <strong>For it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed</strong>—the song's memorability ensured it would persist through generatio...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(21) **This song . . . shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed.**—And it is not forgotten now. St. Paul made special use of it in the last days of the second Temple. This song is a favourite piece of Hebrew poetry to this day. Rashi observes: “This is a promise to Israel that the law shall not be utterly forgotten by their seed.” **I know their imagination.**—Heb., *yêtzer, *the sam...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**17-19. Remember what Amalek did--**This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Ex 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel (see on 1 Samuel 15; 27. 8; 30).

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel</strong>—immediate obedience. Moses didn't delay implementing God's command but composed and began disseminating the song immediately. The phrase 'the same day' emphasizes urgency—Moses's remaining time was short, and the song's importance warranted immediate action. <em>Vayilmedah</em> (וַיְלַמְּדָהּ, 'and ...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**17-19. Remember what Amalek did--**This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Ex 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel (see on 1 Samuel 15; 27. 8; 30).

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage</strong>—Moses's commissioning echoed God's earlier words (31:7-8), now delivered personally. The Hebrew <em>chazaq ve-ematz</em> (חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ) means 'be strong and resolute/steadfast.' <strong>For thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee</st...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(23) **And he (**Jehovah**) gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge.**—This is the first record of God’s direct communion with Joshua. He was with Moses on the mount during the first forty days, and “departed not out of the Tabernacle” when they came down (Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11). But we have no note of any Divine communication made to Joshua apart from Moses before this. It ratifies Joshua’s appo...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**17-19. Remember what Amalek did--**This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Ex 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel (see on 1 Samuel 15; 27. 8; 30).

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished</strong>—the completion of Moses's written work, the Pentateuch substantially in its canonical form. The Hebrew <em>sefer</em> (סֵפֶר, 'book/scroll') indicates a complete literary work, not fragmentary notes. <strong>Until they were finished</strong> emphasizes thoroughness—...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

Deuteronomy 31:24-28. **DELIVERY OF THE BOOKS OF MOSES TO THE LEVITES.** (24) **When Moses had made an end of writing.**—This means the completion of the books of Moses as he delivered them to Israel; not merely Deuteronomy, as above, in Deuteronomy 31:9, but the whole, including the song mentioned in Deuteronomy 31:22. The song was probably the end of the book as delivered to them by Moses. **In ...
Read full commentary →

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying</strong>—Moses addressed the specific Levitical clan responsible for transporting the ark (descendants of Kohath, Numbers 3:27-32). These Levites had the sacred duty of carrying the ark during Israel's travels and tending it when stationary. Entrusting them with the law-book connected Scripture's autho...
Read full commentary →

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God</strong>—the law-book was placed beside, not inside, the ark (which contained only the Ten Commandments tablets, Hebrews 9:4). The Hebrew <em>mi-tzad</em> (מִצַּד) means 'on the side of' or 'beside.' <strong>That it may be there for a witness against thee</strong>—the book functioned as legal ...
Read full commentary →

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 26 De 26:1-15. The Confession of Him That Offers the Basket of First Fruits. **2. Thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth--**The Israelites in Canaan, being God's tenants-at-will, were required to give Him tribute in the form of first-fruits and tithes. No Israelite was at liberty to use any productions of his field until he had presented the required offerings. The tri...
Read full commentary →

For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck</strong>—Moses's stark assessment of Israel's character. <em>Meri</em> (מֶרִי, 'rebellion') and <em>oref qasheh</em> (עֹרֶף קָשֶׁה, 'stiff neck') described stubborn, persistent resistance to God's authority. <strong>Behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD</strong>—even with Moses's leadership and ...
Read full commentary →

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

View commentary

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers</strong>—Moses assembled Israel's leadership for final testimony. <strong>That I may speak these words in their ears</strong>—direct, personal communication to those responsible for leading after his death. <strong>And call heaven and earth to record against them</strong>—the covenant lawsuit invoked cosmic witnesses. The Hebr...
Read full commentary →

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

View commentary (3 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves</strong>—Moses predicted complete moral collapse. The Hebrew <em>hashchet tashchitun</em> (הַשְׁחֵת תַּשְׁחִתוּן) uses emphatic construction: 'surely you will utterly corrupt.' <strong>And turn aside from the way which I have commanded you</strong>—deviation from covenant path. <strong>And evil will befall you in the latter ...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(29) **In the latter days.**—A not uncommon prophetical expression, used with some considerable latitude. It occurs for the first time in Genesis 49:1. (See also Numbers 24:14 and Deuteronomy 4:30. ) Some would refer it to the “days of the Messiah,” and make it almost a technical term. But a comparison of these few passages will show that it cannot be tied strictly to any one period.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5. thou shalt say ... A Syrian ready to perish was my father--**rather, "a wandering Syrian." The ancestors of the Hebrews were nomad shepherds, either Syrians by birth as Abraham, or by long residence as Jacob. When they were established as a nation in the possession of the promised land, they were indebted to God's unmerited goodness for their distinguished privileges, and in token of gratitud...
Read full commentary →

The Song of Moses Introduced

And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

View commentary (2 sources)

KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended</strong>—Moses publicly recited the entire song (Deuteronomy 32) to the assembled nation. The phrase <em>be-ozne kol-qahal Israel</em> (בְּאָזְנֵי כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'in the ears of all the assembly of Israel') emphasizes comprehensive audience and oral delivery. <strong>Until th...
Read full commentary →

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(30) **And Moses spake . . . the words of this song.**—The exodus of Israel begins and ends with a song of Moses. The song of Exodus 15 is usually referred to as the “Song of Moses,” and is thought to be intended in Revelation 15:3-4. But there is a remarkable resemblance between Revelation 15:3 and Deuteronomy 32:3-4, which see. **Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Text Courtesy of BibleS...
Read full commentary →

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study