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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Loth to part (we say) bids oft farewell. Moses does so to the children of Israel: not because he was loth to go to God, but because he was loth to leave them, fearing that when he had left them they would leave God. He had finished what he had to say to them by way of counsel and exhortation: here he calls them together to give them a word of encouragement, especially with reference to the wars of Canaan, in which they were now to engage. It was a discouragement to them that Moses was to be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-13

The law was given by Moses; so it is said, John 1:17. He was not only entrusted to deliver it to that generation, but to transmit it to the generations to come; and here it appears that he was faithful to that trust. I. Moses wrote this law, Deut. 31:9. The learned bishop Patrick understands this of all the five books of Moses, which are often called the law; he supposes that though Moses had written most of the Pentateuch before, yet he did not finish it till now; now he put his last hand to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of a good courage ,.... The Septuagint version is,"play the men, and be strong;'be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, trusting and relying on him that goes before you; and so take heart, and be of good courage, and act the manly part; the apostle seems to refer to this passage, 1 Corinthians 16:13 , fear not, nor be afraid of them ; their enemies, though so numerous, so mighty, and some of them of a gigantic stature, and their cities strong and well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:7

And Moses called unto Joshua ,.... Who might be at some distance from him, with the tribe to which he belonged. The Targum of Jonathan adds,"out of the midst of the people:" and said unto him, in the sight of all Israel ; now assembled together, and what follows was said in their hearing, to make him the more respectable to them: be strong and of a good courage ; the same that is said to the people in Deuteronomy 31:6 , and which was still more necessary in him, who was to be their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:8

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee ,.... The Word of the Lord, his Shechinah, according to the above Targum, and so in the next clause; the same that brought Israel out of Egypt, had gone before them in the wilderness, and now would go before Joshua and them into the land of Canaan: he will be with thee ; to guide and direct, to assist and strengthen, to protect and defend, to give success to his arms, and victory over his enemies: he will not fail thee, neither forsake... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9

And Moses wrote this law ,.... The book of Deuteronomy, or the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, which he had now finished, and which all of them together are sometimes called the law, Galatians 4:21 , and delivered it unto the priests, the sons of Levi ; who were the teachers of the law, as Aben Ezra observes; see Malachi 2:7 ; and therefore it was proper to put it into their hands, to instruct the people in it, and that the people might apply to them in any matter of difficulty,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:10

And Moses commanded them ,.... The priests and the elders, to whom the law was delivered: saying ; as follows: at the end of every seven years ; every seventh year was a year of rest to the land, and of remission of debts to poor debtors: at the close of this year or going out of it, according to the Misnah F20 Sotah, c. 7. sect. 8. , even on the eighth year coming in, the following was to be done, namely, the reading of the law; and so Jarchi interprets it of the first year... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:11

When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God ,.... As all the males were obliged to do three times in the year, and one of those times was the feast of tabernacles, and so a proper season for the reading of the law; see Exodus 23:14 ; in the place which the Lord shall choose ; the city of Jerusalem, and the temple there: thou shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing ; the book of Deuteronomy, as Jarchi, or it may be the whole Pentateuch: who were to read... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:12

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children ,.... At the three grand festivals in other years, only males were obliged to appear; women might if they would, but they were not bound to it; but at this time all of every age and sex were to be summoned and assembled together; and it is said F26 Bartenora in Misn. Megillah, c. 1. sect. 3. , when the king read in the book of the law, all the people were obliged to come and bring their families, as it is said Deuteronomy 31:12 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong - חזקו chizku , the same word that is used Exodus 4:21 ; (note), Exodus 9:15 ; (note), for hardening Pharaoh's heart. See the notes there. The Septuagint, in this and the following verse, have, Ανδριζου και ισχυε , Play the man, and be strong; and from this St. Paul seems to have borrowed his ideas, 1 Corinthians 16:13 ; : Στηκετε εν τῃ πιστει· ανδριζεσθε, κρατιουσθε : Stand firm in the faith; play the man - act like heroes; be vigorous. read more

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