Deuteronomy 4:1-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:10

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord in Horeb ,.... Above all things Moses would have them take care not to forget the day the law was given from Mount Sinai, which was so awful and solemn, when they saw the fire, the smoke, the lightning, and heard the thunder and the sound of the trumpet; all which were very shocking and terrifying: and though the men of this generation were but young then, being under twenty years of age, yet many of them were old enough to observe these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:11

And ye came near and stood under the mountain ,.... At the foot of it, in the lower part of the mountain, as the Targum of Jonathan, and agrees with Exodus 19:17 . and the mountain burnt with fire unto the midst of heaven ; the flame and smoke went up into the middle of the air: with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness; which thick darkness was occasioned partly by the smoke, which went up like the smoke of a furnace, and partly by the thick clouds, which were on the mount, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:12

And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire ,.... For the Lord descended on Mount Sinai in a cloud, in fire, and was in the thick darkness, from whence he delivered out the ten commands: ye heard the voice of the words ; distinctly and plainly, not only the sound of them, but the words themselves, and so as to understand what was meant by them: but saw no similitude ; not any likeness of the person speaking, by which they could form any idea of him in their minds, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:13

And he declared unto you his covenant ,.... So the law was called, because it contained, on the part of God, things which he would have done or avoided, to which were annexed promises of long life and happiness in the land he gave them; and they, on their part, agreed to hearken to it, and obey it, Exodus 24:3 , which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments ; which see at large in Exodus 20:1 , and in this book afterwards repeated, Deuteronomy 5:6 , and he wrote them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:14

And the Lord commanded me at that time ,.... When the ten commandments were delivered on Mount Sinai, and Moses was ordered to come up to God in the mount: to teach you statutes and judgments ; laws ceremonial and judicial, besides the ten commands given them: that ye may do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it ; the land of Canaan, which was on the other side of Jordan, and over which they must go in order to possess it; and when they came there, they were to hold the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:1

Hearken - unto the statutes - Every thing that concerned the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments - all that concerned matters of civil right and wrong. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:2

Ye shall not add - Any book, chapter, verse or word, which I have not spoken; nor give any comment that has any tendency to corrupt, weaken, or destroy any part of this revelation. Neither shall ye diminish - Ye shall not only not take away any larger portion of this word, but ye shall not take one jot or tittle from the Law; it is that word of God that abideth for ever. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:6

Keep - and do them; for this is your wisdom - There was no mode of worship at this time on the face or the earth that was not wicked, obscene, puerile, foolish, or ridiculous, except that established by God himself among the Israelites. And every part of this, taken in its connection and reference, may be truly called a wise and reasonable service. The nations - and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people - Almost all the nations in the earth showed that they had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:9

Only take heed to thyself - Be circumspect and watchful. Keep thy soul diligently - Be mindful of thy eternal interests. Whatever becomes of the body, take care of the soul. Lest thou forget - God does his work that they may be had in everlasting remembrance; and he that forgets them, forgets his own mercies. Besides, if a man forget the work of God on his soul, he loses that work. Lest they depart from thy heart - It is not sufficient to lay up Divine things in the memory, they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:1

Verse 1 1.Now, therefore, hearken, O Israel. He requires the people to be teachable, in order that they may learn to serve God; for the beginning of a good and upright life is to know what is pleasing to God. From hence, then, does Moses commence commanding them to be attentive in seeking direction from the Law; and then admonishing them to prove by their whole life that they have duly profited in the Law. The promise which is here inserted, only invites them to unreserved obedience through... read more

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