Divided - i. e., “whose light God has distributed to the nations for their use and benefit, and which therefore being creatures ministering to man’s convenience must not be worshipped as man’s lords.” read more
Deuteronomy 4:15. Ye saw no similitude in Horeb God, who, in some other places and times, did appear in a human form, now in this most solemn appearance, when he came to give eternal laws for the direction of the Israelites in the worship of himself, and in their duty to their fellow- creatures, purposely avoided all such representations, to show that he abhors all worship by images, of what kind soever, because he is the invisible God, and cannot be represented by any visible image. read more
Deuteronomy 4:16-17. Lest ye corrupt yourselves Corrupt your minds with mean thoughts of God, your hearts by suffering any creature to alienate your affections from him, or your ways by worshipping him in a corrupt manner, or by falling into idolatry. And make you a graven image For worship, or for the representation of God; which he forbids under the penalty of his displeasure. The likeness of any beast, &c. Dr. Chandler observes, that “this is the very picture of Egypt, which had... read more
Deuteronomy 4:19. Lest thou shouldest be driven Strongly inclined; to worship them. Which the Lord hath divided unto all nations Which are not gods, but creatures, made not for worship, but for the use of men; yea, of the meanest and most barbarous people under heaven, and therefore cannot, without great absurdity, be worshipped, especially by you, who are so much advanced above other nations in wisdom and in knowledge, and in this, that you are my peculiar people. read more
Warning to be obedient (4:1-43)The reason Moses outlined Israel’s history was to show on the one hand that God’s promises did not fail, and on the other that his judgment on disobedience was certain. In view of this, the people were to keep all God’s laws and commandments without altering them to suit themselves. If they modelled their national life in Canaan on these laws, they would benefit themselves and be an example to others (4:1-8).In order that Israel might not forget his laws, God had... read more
yourselves = your souls. Hebrew. nephesh. See Deuteronomy 4:9 above and App-13 . read more
graven image. Hebrew. p esl = a sculpture (Exodus 20:4 ). figure. Hebrew semel = only here, 2Ch 33:7 , 2 Chronicles 33:15 , and Ezekiel 8:3 , Ezekiel 8:5 . likeness = form. Hebrew. tablinith = model. read more
host of heaven: sun, moon, and stars. This sin foreknown. 2 Kings 17:18 ; 2 Kings 23:4 . Compare Amos 5:26 with Acts 7:42 , Acts 7:43 . read more
"Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that Jehovah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire; lest ye corrupt yourselves and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flieth in the heavens, the likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters under the earth; and... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:19
Lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven , etc. The worship of the heavenly bodies, especially star-worship, prevailed among the Canaanites and many of the Semitic tribes, but was not confined to them; the Egyptians also reverenced the sun as Re, the moon as Isis, and the stars as the symbols of deities. The Israelites were thus, both from past associations and from what they might encounter in Canaan, exposed to the danger of being seduced into idolatry. Shouldest be driven : shouldest... read more