Deuteronomy 4:25-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:1-40

This most lively and excellent discourse is so entire, and the particulars of it are so often repeated, that we must take it altogether in the exposition of it, and endeavour to digest it into proper heads, for we cannot divide it into paragraphs. I. In general, it is the use and application of the foregoing history; it comes in by way of inference from it: Now therefore harken, O Israel, Deut. 4:1. This use we should make of the review of God's providences concerning us, we should by them be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:25

When thou shall beget children, and children's children ,.... Children and grandchildren, and several ages and generations have passed: and shalt have remained long in the land ; many years and even ages, or have grown old F8 נושנ־תאם "inveteraveritis", Montanus: "veteres facti fueritis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "senueritis", Vatablus. in it: now they were in their infancy, and as such they were about to enter into it; during the times of the judges, they were in their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:26

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day ,.... Should they be guilty of such a sin, since they were so strongly and publicly cautioned against it; and even the heaven and the earth were called upon as witnesses of the law being set before them, which so expressly forbids it, Deuteronomy 30:19 . that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it ; though they were now about to go over Jordan and inherit the land of Canaan, yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:27

And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations ,.... As they were by both captivities; the ten tribes were dispersed among the cities of the Medes, and the two tribes throughout the empire of Babylon: and ye shall be left few in number among the Heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you ; or be "men of number" F9 מתי מספר "viri numeri", Montanus, Drusius. , so few that they might be easily numbered; which intimates that it should be other wise with them than when in Egypt;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:28

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone ,.... Idols made by men, cut out of wood and stone; these they should be enticed into the service of, or compelled to serve; which was still more brutish and stupid than to worship the sun, moon, and stars, which were not the works of men's hand, but the glorious works of the eternal God. But since in their captivities they were not subject to idolatry, but were cured of it thereby, another sense of the words is given by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God ,.... By prayer and supplication, acknowledging and confessing sin, and desiring that God would be gracious and forgive it, and bring them out of their miserable condition; even if out of those depths of affliction and distress, and though scattered about in the world, and in the uttermost parts of it: thou shalt find him ; to be a God hearing and answering prayer, gracious and merciful, ready to help and deliver: if they seek him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:30

When thou art in tribulation ,.... In a strange land, in the power of a foreign enemy, and used ill: and all these things are come upon thee ; captivity, thraldom, hard labour, and want of the necessaries of life: even in the latter days : in their present captivity for the rejection of the Messiah: if thou turn to the Lord thy God ; as the Jews will when they are converted and brought to a sense of their sin, and of their need of Christ, and seek to him as their Saviour, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:31

For the Lord thy God is a merciful God ,.... In Christ, in whom he has proclaimed his name as such, of which Moses had a comfortable view, Exodus 34:6 and therefore could attest it from his own knowledge and experience: he will not forsake thee ; though in a strange country, but bring them from thence into their own land again, and favour them with his gracious presence in his house and ordinances: neither destroy thee ; from being a people; and in a very wonderful manner are they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:26

I call heaven and earth to witness against you - A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all nations in the world. So Virgil, Aen., lib. xii., ver. 176, etc. Tum pius Aeneas stricto sic ense precatur: Esto nunc Sol testis et haec mihi terra vocanti - Fontesque fluviosque voco, quaeque aetheris alti Relllgio, et quae caeruleo sunt numina ponto, etc read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 4:27

The Lord shall scatter you among the nations - This was amply verified in their different captivities and dispersions. read more

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