This and the following chapter contain the address of Moses to the people on the solemn renewal of the covenant. Consult the marginal references for proof of historical statements or explanation of obscure words. read more
Deuteronomy 29:1. These are the words of the covenant Having thus repeated and enlarged upon the laws formerly delivered at Horeb, shown this new generation the covenant they were under, and the time and manner of their renewing it after they had entered Canaan; and having thus pathetically expatiated on the blessings and curses annexed to it, Moses summoned again the whole assembly, to press them to a careful obedience by considerations of the most powerful nature. Besides the covenant... read more
Deuteronomy 29:2. Ye have seen all that the Lord did Some of them had seen, when they were young, the plagues which God had brought upon Pharaoh and his people, in order to accomplish their deliverance; and others from them had understood these things, which is often termed seeing, both in the Scriptures and elsewhere. read more
The covenant renewed (29:1-30:20)Israel’s lack of understanding of God and his ways meant that the people needed constant reminders of the covenant’s purpose, meaning and requirements. Moses gave them such a reminder in this his farewell address to the nation, acting as God’s representative in the renewal of the covenant as he had done at the establishment of the covenant at Sinai (Horeb) (29:1-9). The renewed oath of allegiance that the people swore before entering Canaan was binding on future... read more
covenant. See 2 Kings 23:2 . children = sons. read more
Moses called. This begins his sixth address. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 . read more
Both this and the following chapters are part of the ratification of the Sinai Covenant that took place on the plains of Moab, shortly before Israel would enter Canaan, the purpose being that of securing the succession to Leadership in the person of Joshua. A great part of the ceremony was already completed in the previous two chapters, and this through Deuteronomy 30 is concerned principally with the pronouncements of the curses and blessings, these two chapters being actually a kind of... read more
Ver. 1. These are the words of the covenant— Houbigant connects this verse with the last chapter, and begins the present chapter with the 2nd verse: for it is plain, says he, that Moses enters upon another subject in these words, and Moses called unto all Israel, &c. Michaelis is of the same opinion. By the words, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb, is meant, that the curses in the 28th chapter are not explicative of those in the preceding chapter, but different from them,... read more
Ver. 2. Ye have seen all that the Lord did— Not all of those whom Moses addresses had seen the miracles in Egypt; but he directs his discourse to the whole nation, to all Israel, and so, as well to those who had seen those miracles, as to those who had heard an account of them from their fathers: which hearing, or receiving by report, is often called seeing in Scripture. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:2-9
Seeing, yet not seeing. The Israelites had seen God's mighty works ( Deuteronomy 29:9 ), yet God had not given them a heart to perceive, nor eyes to see ( Deuteronomy 29:4 ). I. NATURAL SIGHT WITHOUT SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT . Moses accuses the people of blindness to the facts of their own history. These facts included: 1. God's mighty works in Egypt; here, as in Deuteronomy 4:34 ; Deuteronomy 7:19 , classified as temptations, signs, and wonders ( Deuteronomy 7:2 ,... read more