11 When all Israel H3478 is come H935 to appear H7200 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the place H4725 which he shall choose, H977 thou shalt read H7121 this law H8451 before all Israel H3478 in their hearing. H241
And the king H4428 went up H5927 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and all the men H376 of Judah H3063 and all the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 with him, and the priests, H3548 and the prophets, H5030 and all the people, H5971 both small H6996 and great: H1419 and he read H7121 in their ears H241 all the words H1697 of the book H5612 of the covenant H1285 which was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
And afterward H310 he read H7121 all the words H1697 of the law, H8451 the blessings H1293 and cursings, H7045 according to all that is written H3789 in the book H5612 of the law. H8451 There was not a word H1697 of all that Moses H4872 commanded, H6680 which Joshua H3091 read H7121 not before all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 with the women, H802 and the little ones, H2945 and the strangers H1616 that were conversant H1980 among H7130 them.
And the feast H2282 of harvest, H7105 the firstfruits H1061 of thy labours, H4639 which thou hast sown H2232 in the field: H7704 and the feast H2282 of ingathering, H614 which is in the end H3318 of the year, H8141 when thou hast gathered H622 in thy labours H4639 out of the field. H7704 Three H7969 times H6471 in the year H8141 all thy males H2138 shall appear H7200 before H6440 the Lord H113 GOD. H3068
For I will cast out H3423 the nations H1471 before H6440 thee, and enlarge H7337 thy borders: H1366 neither shall any man H376 desire H2530 thy land, H776 when thou shalt go up H5927 to appear H7200 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 thrice H6471 H7969 in the year. H8141
Three H7969 times H6471 in a year H8141 shall all thy males H2138 appear H7200 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the place H4725 which he shall choose; H977 in the feast H2282 of unleavened bread, H4682 and in the feast H2282 of weeks, H7620 and in the feast H2282 of tabernacles: H5521 and they shall not appear H7200 before H6440 the LORD H3068 empty: H7387 Every man H376 shall give as he is able, H4979 H3027 according to the blessing H1293 of the LORD H3068 thy God H430 which he hath given H5414 thee.
And all the people H5971 gathered themselves together H622 as one H259 man H376 into the street H7339 that was before H6440 the water H4325 gate; H8179 and they spake H559 unto Ezra H5830 the scribe H5608 to bring H935 the book H5612 of the law H8451 of Moses, H4872 which the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 to Israel. H3478 And Ezra H5830 the priest H3548 brought H935 the law H8451 before H6440 the congregation H6951 both of men H376 and women, H802 and all that could hear H8085 with understanding, H995 upon the first H259 day H3117 of the seventh H7637 month. H2320 And he read H7121 therein before H6440 the street H7339 that was before H6440 the water H4325 gate H8179 from the morning H216 until midday, H4276 H3117 before the men H582 and the women, H802 and those that could understand; H995 and the ears H241 of all the people H5971 were attentive unto the book H5612 of the law. H8451 And Ezra H5830 the scribe H5608 stood H5975 upon a pulpit H4026 of wood, H6086 which they had made H6213 for the purpose; H1697 and beside H681 him stood H5975 Mattithiah, H4993 and Shema, H8087 and Anaiah, H6043 and Urijah, H223 and Hilkiah, H2518 and Maaseiah, H4641 on his right hand; H3225 and on his left hand, H8040 Pedaiah, H6305 and Mishael, H4332 and Malchiah, H4441 and Hashum, H2828 and Hashbadana, H2806 Zechariah, H2148 and Meshullam. H4918 And Ezra H5830 opened H6605 the book H5612 in the sight H5869 of all the people; H5971 (for he was above all the people;) H5971 and when he opened H6605 it, all the people H5971 stood up: H5975 And Ezra H5830 blessed H1288 the LORD, H3068 the great H1419 God. H430 And all the people H5971 answered, H6030 Amen, H543 Amen, H543 with lifting up H4607 their hands: H3027 and they bowed H6915 their heads, and worshipped H7812 the LORD H3068 with their faces H639 to the ground. H776 Also Jeshua, H3442 and Bani, H1137 and Sherebiah, H8274 Jamin, H3226 Akkub, H6126 Shabbethai, H7678 Hodijah, H1941 Maaseiah, H4641 Kelita, H7042 Azariah, H5838 Jozabad, H3107 Hanan, H2605 Pelaiah, H6411 and the Levites, H3881 caused the people H5971 to understand H995 the law: H8451 and the people H5971 stood in their place. H5977 So they read H7121 in the book H5612 in the law H8451 of God H430 distinctly, H6567 and gave H7760 the sense, H7922 and caused them to understand H995 the reading. H4744
And on the second H8145 day H3117 were gathered together H622 the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of all the people, H5971 the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 unto Ezra H5830 the scribe, H5608 even to understand H7919 the words H1697 of the law. H8451
They go H3212 from strength H2428 to strength, H2428 every one of them in Zion H6726 appeareth H7200 before God. H430
And G2532 he came G2064 to G1519 Nazareth, G3478 where G3757 he had been G2258 brought up: G5142 and, G2532 as G2596 his G846 custom G1486 was, G2596 he went G1525 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 on G1722 the sabbath G4521 day, G2250 and G2532 stood up G450 for to read. G314 And G2532 there was delivered G1929 unto him G846 the book G975 of the prophet G4396 Esaias. G2268 And G2532 when he had opened G380 the book, G975 he found G2147 the place G5117 where G3757 it was G2258 written, G1125
And G1161 after G3326 the reading G320 of the law G3551 and G2532 the prophets G4396 the rulers of the synagogue G752 sent G649 unto G4314 them, G846 saying, G3004 Ye men G435 and brethren, G80 if G1487 ye have G2076 G1722 G5213 any word G3056 of exhortation G3874 for G4314 the people, G2992 say on. G3004
For G1063 Moses G3475 of G1537 old G744 time G1074 hath G2192 in every G2596 city G4172 them that preach G2784 him, G846 being read G314 in G1722 the synagogues G4864 every G2596 G3956 sabbath day. G4521
Also day H3117 by day, H3117 from the first H7223 day H3117 unto the last H314 day, H3117 he read H7121 in the book H5612 of the law H8451 of God. H430 And they kept H6213 the feast H2282 seven H7651 days; H3117 and on the eighth H8066 day H3117 was a solemn assembly, H6116 according unto the manner. H4941
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 31
Commentary on Deuteronomy 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
De 31:1-8. Moses Encourages the People and Joshua.
1. Moses went and spake—It is probable that this rehearsal of the law extended over several successive days; and it might be the last and most important day on which the return of Moses to the place of assembly is specially noticed. In drawing his discourse towards a conclusion, he adverted to his advanced age; and although neither his physical nor intellectual powers had suffered any decay (De 34:7), yet he knew, by a special revelation, that the time had arrived when he was about to be withdrawn from the superintendence and government of Israel.
2-8. also the Lord hath said—should be "for the Lord hath said" thou shalt not go over this Jordan. While taking a solemn leave of the people, Moses exhorted them not to be intimidated by the menacing opposition of enemies; to take encouragement from the continued presence of their covenanted God; and to rest assured that the same divine power, which had enabled them to discomfit their first assailants on the east of Jordan, would aid them not less effectually in the adventurous enterprise which they were about to undertake, and by which they would obtain possession of "the land which He had sworn unto their fathers to give them."
De 31:9-13. He Delivers the Law to the Priests, to Read It Every Seventh Year to the People.
9-13. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests—The law thus committed to writing was either the whole book of Deuteronomy, or the important part of it contained between the twenty-seventh and thirtieth chapters. It was usual in cases of public or private contract for two copies of the engagement to be made—one to be deposited in the national archives or some secure place for reference, should occasion require. The other was to remain in the hands of the contracting parties (Jer 32:12-14). The same course was followed on this renewal of the covenant between God and Israel. Two written copies of the law were prepared, the one of which was delivered to the public representatives of Israel; namely, the priests and the elders.
the priests, … who bare the ark of the covenant—In all ordinary journeys, it was the common duty of the Levites to carry the ark and its furniture (Nu 4:15); but, on solemn or extraordinary occasions, that office was discharged by the priests (Jos 3:3-8; 6:6; 1Ch 15:11, 12).
all the elders of Israel—They were assistants to the priests and overseers to take care of the preservation, rehearsal, and observance of the law.
10, 11. At the end of every seven years, … thou shalt read this law—At the return of the sabbatic year and during the feast of tabernacles, the law was to be publicly read. This order of Moses was a future and prospective arrangement; for the observance of the sabbatic year did not commence till the conquest and peaceful occupation of Canaan. The ordinance served several important purposes. For, while the people had opportunities of being instructed in the law every Sabbath and daily in their own homes, this public periodical rehearsal at meetings in the courts of the sanctuary, where women and children of twelve years were present (as they usually were at the great festivals), was calculated to produce good and pious impressions of divine truth amid the sacred associations of the time and place. Besides, it formed a public guarantee for the preservation, integrity, and faithful transmission of the Sacred Book to successive ages.
14, 15. the Lord said unto Moses, …call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation—Joshua had been publicly designated to the office of commander by Moses [Nu 27:22, 23]; and God was pleased to confirm his appointment by the visible symbols of His presence and approval. As none but the priests were privileged to enter the sanctuary, it is probable that this significant manifestation of the cloudy pillar was made while the leaders stood at the door of the tabernacle.
16-22. the Lord said unto Moses, … this people will rise up—In this remarkable interview, Moses was distinctly apprised of the infidelity of Israel, their corruptions of the true religion through intercourse with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan (Am 5:26), and their chastisements in consequence of those national defections.
17. Then my anger shall be kindled, … and I will hide my face from them—an announcement of the withdrawal of the divine favor and protection of which the Shekinah was the symbol and pledge. It never appeared in the second temple; and its non-appearance was a prelude of "all the evils that came upon them, because their God was not among them."
19. Now therefore write ye this song—National songs take deep hold of the memories and have a powerful influence in stirring the deepest feelings of a people. In accordance with this principle in human nature, a song was ordered to be composed by Moses, doubtless under divine inspiration, which was to be learnt by the Israelites themselves and to be taught to their children in every age, embodying the substance of the preceding addresses, and of a strain well suited to inspire the popular mind with a strong sense of God's favor to their nation.
26. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark—The second copy of the law (see on De 31:9) was deposited for greater security and reverence in a little chest beside the ark of the covenant, for there was nothing contained within it but the tables of stone (1Ki 8:9). Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, from the testimony of Paul (Heb 9:4), that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this was the copy found in the time of Josiah (2Ki 22:8).