9 And Moses H4872 wrote H3789 this law, H8451 and delivered H5414 it unto the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 which bare H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 and unto all the elders H2205 of Israel. H3478
And G1161 they said, G2036 Moses G3475 suffered G2010 to write G1125 a bill G975 of divorcement, G647 and G2532 to put her away. G630 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 For G4314 the hardness G4641 of your G5216 heart G4641 he wrote G1125 you G5213 this G5026 precept. G1785
And said H559 unto them, Ye are the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of the Levites: H3881 sanctify H6942 yourselves, both ye and your brethren, H251 that ye may bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 unto the place that I have prepared H3559 for it. For because ye did it not at the first, H7223 the LORD H3068 our God H430 made a breach H6555 upon us, for that we sought H1875 him not after the due order. H4941 So the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 sanctified H6942 themselves to bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478 And the children H1121 of the Levites H3881 bare H5375 the ark H727 of God H430 upon their shoulders H3802 with the staves H4133 thereon, as Moses H4872 commanded H6680 according to the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068
And it came to pass, when the people H5971 removed H5265 from their tents, H168 to pass over H5674 Jordan, H3383 and the priests H3548 bearing H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 before H6440 the people; H5971 And as they that bare H5375 the ark H727 were come H935 unto Jordan, H3383 and the feet H7272 of the priests H3548 that bare H5375 the ark H727 were dipped H2881 in the brim H7097 of the water, H4325 (for Jordan H3383 overfloweth H4390 all his banks H1415 all the time H3117 of harvest,) H7105 That the waters H4325 which came down H3381 from above H4605 stood H5975 and rose up H6965 upon an H259 heap H5067 very H3966 far H7368 from the city H5892 Adam, H121 that is beside H6654 Zaretan: H6891 and those that came down H3381 toward the sea H3220 of the plain, H6160 even the salt H4417 sea, H3220 failed, H8552 and were cut off: H3772 and the people H5971 passed over H5674 right against Jericho. H3405 And the priests H3548 that bare H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 stood H5975 firm H3559 on dry ground H2724 in the midst H8432 of Jordan, H3383 and all the Israelites H3478 passed over H5674 on dry ground, H2724 until all the people H1471 were passed H5674 clean H8552 over H5674 Jordan. H3383
Moses H4872 therefore wrote H3789 this song H7892 the same day, H3117 and taught H3925 it the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And he gave Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 a charge, H6680 and said, H559 Be strong H2388 and of a good courage: H553 for thou shalt bring H935 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 into the land H776 which I sware H7650 unto them: and I will be with thee. And it came to pass, when Moses H4872 had made an end H3615 of writing H3789 the words H1697 of this law H8451 in a book, H5612 until they were finished, H8552 That Moses H4872 commanded H6680 the Levites, H3881 which bare H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Take H3947 this book H5612 of the law, H8451 and put H7760 it in the side H6654 of the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 your God, H430 that it may be there for a witness H5707 against thee.
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).