And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book ,.... In this book of Deuteronomy, and which concluded the Pentateuch: until they were finished ; all the words of the law, and the whole five books of Moses, excepting some few verses, Deuteronomy 34:1 , which were added by another hand, Joshua or Ezra. read more
That Moses commanded the Levites ,.... These were not the common Levites, but the priests who were also Levites, to whom the law was given, Deuteronomy 31:9 ; and none but they might touch the ark, or go so near it as, they are bid to do, to put the law on the side of it; so Aben Ezra; it follows: which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord ; as the priests are said to do; see Gill on Deuteronomy 31:9 ; for though in journeying the Kohathites carried it, yet not until it was... read more
Take this book of the law ,.... Not Deuteronomy only, but the whole Pentateuch: and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God ; not in the ark, for there were nothing there but the two tables of stone with the ten commands on them, 1 Kings 8:9 ; but on one side of it; the Targum of Jonathan says, it was"put in a chest (or box) on the right side of the ark of the covenant;'which is very probable. Jarchi observes, that the wise men of Israel are divided about it... read more
For I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck ,.... How rebellious they were against the Lord and his laws, and how unwilling they were to admit the yoke of his commandments to be put upon them, and submit to it; this he had an experience of for forty years past: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord ; murmuring at his providences, Exodus 16:8 , speaking against his ministers, Exodus 16:2 ; breaking his laws, particularly being guilty... read more
Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers ,.... The heads of the tribes, the princes, and all other inferior magistrates: that I may speak these words in their ears ; not the words of the law, but of the song which he was ordered to write, and is recorded in the following chapter: and call heaven and earth to record against them ; to bear witness of what he delivered to them, and to bear witness against them should they transgress the laws he gave them; and to... read more
Take this book of the law - The standard copy to which all transcripts must ultimately refer: another copy was put into the bands of the priests. See the note on Deuteronomy 31:9 . read more
While I am yet alive - ye have been rebellious - Such was the disposition of this people to act contrary to moral goodness that Moses felt himself justified in inferring what would take place from what had already happened. Never was a people more fully and faithfully warned, and from this very circumstance we may see that they were under no fatal constraining necessity to commit sin against God; they might have avoided it, but they would not. God was present to help them, till by their... read more
Verse 24 24.And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end. By “the words of this law,” we must understand not only those which are embraced in this book, but in the other three also; and there is an implied antithesis between the two tables written by God’s hand, and the exposition which was afterwards added, lest there should be any obscurity respecting God’s will on account of the brevity with which it was delivered. At the very beginning, indeed, God had set forth whatever it was useful... read more
Verse 27 27.For I know thy rebellion. The reason is given why he passed over the utility of his doctrine, and only cited it as a witness against the Israelites in terms of severity and reproach, viz., because he had found them by experience to be of a “stiffneck,” (of which expression I have spoken elsewhere,) and has no confidence that they will be more tractable hereafter. He argues from the less to the greater; for, if, while such a leader as theirs was alive, they were rebellious, they were... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:22-30
Here, I. The charge is given to Joshua, which God has said (Deut. 31:14) he would give him. The same in effect that Moses had given him. The same in effect that Moses had given him (Deut. 31:7): Be strong and of a good courage, Deut. 31:23. Joshua had now heard from God so much of the wickedness of the people whom he was to have the conduct of as could not but be a discouragement to him: ?Nay,? says God, ?how bad soever they are, thou shalt go through thy understanding, for I will be with... read more