Ver. 23. The whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning— Utterly desolate and laid waste: the allusion is to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone, and to the bitumen and salt wherewith the barren plains of those once fertile cities afterwards abounded. See Hosea 11:8. read more
Ver. 26. And whom he had not given unto them— Houbigant renders this, and with whom they had no society. Le Clerc reads, none of whom had given them any thing. Most of the ancient versions, as well as the margin of our Bibles, agree in the latter interpretation. read more
A. An appeal for faithfulness 29:2-29Moses began his third address to the Israelites with an appeal for them to remain faithful to their suzerain lord and His covenant with them. read more
3. The consequences of disobedience 29:16-29This generation needed to obey the laws of the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:21) under which the nation already lived to experience the maximum benefits of this covenant. The maximum benefits included not only ownership of the land but also the use (occupation) of it. The rebellious Israelite could anticipate physical death (Deuteronomy 29:20). Disobedience to the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:25) would result in the Israelites being driven out of... read more
Exhortations and WarningsIn this chapter the covenant is renewed and enforced with a reminder of God’s goodness and the consequences of disobedience.3. Temptations] i.e. provings or trials: see n Deuteronomy 7:19. 4. The people have not laid these things to heart. For the form of expression see on the ’hardening of Pharaoh’s heart’ (Exodus 4:21). 6. Not eaten bread] but manna. They have been entirely dependent on God, and His care in providing for them should teach them humility and obedience.... read more
(23) And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein.—Can this be a description of the same country of which it was written in Deuteronomy 8:7-9, “A good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness;” and... read more
(24) All nations shall say, Wherefore . . .?—The people of Israel are represented as asking a similar question in Jeremiah 5:19, “And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? Then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land; so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.” Compare also the warning given to Solomon after the completion of the Temple (marginal reference). read more
(26) Whom he had not given.—The latter clause may be a change from plural to singular. “They went and served other gods, gods whom they knew not, and none of whom gave them any portion.” read more
The Secret and the Unrevealed Things Deuteronomy 29:29 There are some things respecting which we ought to be agnostics. They are the secret things which belong to God. There are other things concerning which we ought not to be agnostics. They are the revealed things which belong to us and to our children. I. The things which concern us, which touch our life, lie within the realm of our knowledge; the things which do not touch us, which do not concern our life, concerning which we may hold one... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 29:26
given = divided. read more