And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply ,.... Having good pasture for them in so fruitful a land: and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied ; by trading with other nations: and all that thou hast is multiplied ; children, servants, and substance. read more
Then thine heart be lifted up ,.... As the heart is apt to be when riches increase; hence the advice in 1 Timothy 6:17 . and thou forget the Lord thy God ; from whom all good things come, and who can take them away when he pleases, and therefore should be ever kept in mind, for ever looked to and trusted in for the continuance of them; yet such is the evil heart of man, and such the stupefying nature of riches, that they bring on forgetfulness of the author of them, lead off from... read more
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness ,.... The wilderness of Paran, which was great and large, reaching from Sinai to Kadesh, eleven days' journey, and terrible to the sight, nothing being to be seen but dry rocks and barren mountains; see Deuteronomy 1:19 , and especially for what follows: wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions; fiery serpents, such as bit the Israelites, of which see Numbers 21:6 and scorpions, a kind of serpents, venomous and mischievous, which... read more
Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna ,.... Even all the forty years they were in it, Exodus 16:35 which thy fathers knew not; when they first saw it, Exodus 16:15 . that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee ; they were kept humble, being dependent on God for their daily bread, having nothing in the wilderness to support themselves with; and this tried them, whether they would trust in God for their daily supply, and be thankful for it, or not: to do thee good at... read more
And thou say in thine heart ,.... These words are in connection with the former part of the Deuteronomy 8:14 , and thou forget the Lord thy God ; the author and giver of all the good things enjoyed, and think within themselves, though they might not express it in words at length: my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth ; so ascribing that to themselves, their labour, and diligence, which ought to be ascribed to the bounty and blessing of God; see Hosea 12:8 ... read more
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God ,.... That he was the author of their beings, the God of their lives and mercies; what great and good things he had done for them in Egypt, and in the wilderness; and particularly in putting them into the possession of such a fruitful country, abounding with all that heart could wish for: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth ; for though men may have seeming opportunities for getting wealth, may have capacities for the management of... read more
Who led thee through that - terrible wilderness - See the account of their journeying in the notes, Exodus 16:1 ; (note), etc.; Numbers 21 (note), etc. Fiery serpents - Serpents whose bite occasioned a most violent inflammation, accompanied with an unquenchable thirst, and which terminated in death. See on Numbers 21:6 ; (note). read more
Who fed thee - with manna - See this miracle described in Exodus 16:13 ; (note), etc. read more
God - giveth thee power to get wealth - Who among the rich and wealthy believes this saying? Who gives wisdom, understanding, skill, bodily strength, and health? Is it not God? And without these, how can wealth be acquired? Whose is providence? Who gives fertility to the earth? And who brings every proper purpose to a right issue? Is it not God? And without these also can wealth be acquired? No. Then the proposition in the text is self-evident: it is God that giveth power to get wealth, and... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:10-20
Moses, having mentioned the great plenty they would find in the land of Canaan, finds it necessary to caution them against the abuse of that plenty, which was a sin they would be the more prone to new that they came into the vineyard of the Lord, immediately out of a barren desert. I. He directs them to the duty of a prosperous condition, Deut. 8:10. They are allowed to eat even to fulness, not to surfeiting no excess; but let them always remember their benefactor, the founder of their feast,... read more