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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-13

The law was given by Moses; so it is said, John 1:17. He was not only entrusted to deliver it to that generation, but to transmit it to the generations to come; and here it appears that he was faithful to that trust. I. Moses wrote this law, Deut. 31:9. The learned bishop Patrick understands this of all the five books of Moses, which are often called the law; he supposes that though Moses had written most of the Pentateuch before, yet he did not finish it till now; now he put his last hand to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:13

And that their children, which have not known anything ,.... Of God and of his law and of their duty to God, to their parents, and the rest of their fellow creatures: may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God ; hear the law of God, learn the meaning of it, and so be brought up in the fear, nurture, and admonition of the Lord, and serve him their Creator in the days of their youth: as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it ; this being a means to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 31:13

Verse 13 13.And that their children, which have not known anything. Again, we see that their present assembly is not referred to, but that which was to be repeated every seven years, in order that their posterity might be retained in the path of duty. Another use, then, of this recitation is adduced; that many who, from their age, could not be witnesses of the first promulgation, might thence learn how God was to be served. The possession of the land is again set before them, that God’s bounty... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:1-13

A new generation receiving the heritage of the past. The closing scene of Moses' life is drawing nigh. The time is at hand when he and Israel must part, and the leadership must be undertaken by another. As far as can be done, two things have to be ensured—viz, the conservation of Israel's Law, and the conduct of the people to their goal. "God buries his ministers, but he carries on his work." Hence Moses first addresses all the people; then he turns to Joshua, confirming him as the future... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:3-23

Joshua. Joshua a type of Jesus, the true Leader into the rest of God ( Hebrews 4:8 ). God has given him, as formerly he gave the son of Nun, for "a Leader and Commander to the people" ( Isaiah 55:4 ). I. THE MAN . Joshua as leader was: 1. Divinely appointed (verse 3). 2. Divinely led . "He doth go before thee" (verse 8). The captain had a higher Captain ( Joshua 5:14 ). 3. Divinely assisted . "He will be with thee" (verse 8). Our Leader is Emmanuel—"God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-13

Moses turns next to the priests and the elders, and to them he commits the Law which he had written, with the injunction to read it to the people at the end of every seven years during the festival of the year of release, viz. at the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Leviticus 23:34 ), when they appeared before the Lord. At the end of every seven years (cf. Deuteronomy 15:1 ). The Law was committed to the priests and elders, not merely to preserve it in safe keeping, but that they might see to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-13

Importance of knowing the Word of God. In resigning his commission into other hands, Moses had a double duty to discharge. There had been, in fact, a twofold responsibility resting on him more or less till the close of his life, which after his death would be divided. He was not only the leader of the people, but also the receiver, transcriber, and guardian of the Law. As the nation became consolidated, this double work would certainly become too heavy for one man to discharge. Hence he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-13

The literary executors of Moses. It must have been a solemn act on the part of Moses, after having nominated Joshua as his successor in the leadership of Israel, to summon the priests and the elders, that they might be the custodians of his manuscripts, and deal with them as he desired. It was to the ministers of religion, and to the rulers elected by the people and ordained of God, that he gave this important charge. Of course they could not, as nowadays, publish in multiplied copies the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:9-26

The authorship of the book. A clear testimony to the Mosaic authorship of the Book of Deuteronomy. The book, as Moses gave it to the priests, has plainly been re-edited, with the additions of Moses' song, Moses' blessing, and the account of his death; but only the wantonness of criticism can see "a different hand or hands" in Deuteronomy 12-26, from that employed upon the earlier chapters, or discern probability in the assumption that De 4:44-26:19 once constituted a separate book. The... read more

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