Deuteronomy 29:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:10-29

It appears by the length of the sentences here, and by the copiousness and pungency of the expressions, that Moses, now that he was drawing near to the close of his discourse, was very warm and zealous, and very desirous to impress what he said upon the minds of this unthinking people. To bind them the faster to God and duty, he here, with great solemnity of expression (to make up the want of the external ceremony that was used (Exod. 24:4-8), concludes a bargain (as it were) between them and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:23

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt , and burning ,.... That is, is become exceeding barren, as all such land is where there are sulphureous mines, or salt pits, or burning mountains; not that this would be, or has been the case of the land of Judea in a strict literal sense; only these are expressions made use of to show the barrenness of it, which is its case at this day, not through the nature of its soil being changed, but through the slothfulness of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:10-28

The land of promise becoming accursed. Moses has tried the principle of gratitude with the Israelites, urging obedience from a sense of the great goodness of the Lord. And now he turns to the other principle of fear , which cannot be dispensed with in religion, £ and urges obedience out of respect for the Promised Land, since if they are disobedient it will be turned to a land accursed. The land will in such a ease become a witness to the curse of God, instead of continuing a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:14-28

The government of God all-embracing. The detective force in God's kingdom is perfect. Escape through the meshes of his Law is an impossibility. Every defaulter is within the custody of the Omniscient Eye. Arraignment, conviction, and execution proceed (sometimes leisurely) with the precision and certitude of irresistible law. In this paragraph— I. WE LEARN THE ORGANIC UNITY OF THE NATION . Every individual is a member of the community—an integral part of the kingdom. " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:16-29

The summons to renew the covenant is enforced by a fresh exposition of the evil and danger of apostasy from the Lord. This is introduced by a reference to the experience which the people already had of idolatry in Egypt, and among the nations with whom they had come in contact during their march through the wilderness, from which they must have learned the utter worthlessness of all idols, that they were no gods, but only wood and stone, read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:22-24

Future generations and foreign visitants, seeing the calamities with which the rebels had been visited, nay, all nations, should ask, in astonishment and horror, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? It is evident from this that Moses contemplates, and in fact here predicts, a defection, not of individuals or families merely, but of the nation as a whole from the Lord, and the punishment which came in consequence upon the nation. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:22-28

Historical witnesses to the wrath of God. The chapter preceding this is shaded, yea, dark indeed. Nevertheless, it is an exact forecast of the state of Israel at this very day. In fact, the comparison between the state of the land of Palestine and the words of the Book, suggests two lines of instructive thought. I. HOW MANIFESTLY , IN THE DESOLATION OF THE HOLY LAND , IS SEEN THE EFFECT OF THE WRATH OF GOD ! To this even Volney bears witness. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:22-28

The stranger's wonder. The state of the Holy Land— I. AN EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH OF REVELATION . The sterility of Palestine has been urged in disproof of Bible representations of its former fruitfulness and plenty. It should rather be remembered that, were the Holy Land in a less desolate state than it is, Bible predictions would not have been fulfilled—revelation would have been discredited. II. A WONDER TO THE STRANGER . " Great God! " exclaims Volney, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:23

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, etc.; rather, sulfur and salt , a burning the whole land thereof , it shall not be sown , etc. The words "sulfur," etc; are in apposition to the "plagues and sicknesses" of Deuteronomy 29:22 , and thus so far depend on the "see." The description here is taken from the country around the Dead Sea, to which there is an express allusion in the close of the verse (cf. Genesis 19:23 , etc.). As this country, which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 29:23

The description is borrowed from the local features of the Dead Sea and its vicinity. The towns of the vale of Siddim were fertile and well watered (compare Genesis 13:10) until devastated by the wrath of God Genesis 19:24-25. The ruin of Israel and its land should be of the like sort (compare Leviticus 26:31-32; Psalms 107:34; Zephaniah 2:9). The desolate state of Palestine at present, and the traces of former fertility and prosperity, are attested by every traveler. read more

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