Deuteronomy 9:8-29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:7-29

That they might have no pretence to think that God brought them to Canaan for their righteousness, Moses here shows them what a miracle of mercy it was that they had not long ere this been destroyed in the wilderness: ?Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God (Deut. 9:7); so far from purchasing his favour, thou hast many a time laid thyself open to his displeasure.? Their fathers? provocations are here charged upon them; for, if God had dealt with their fathers according... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:8

Also in Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath ,.... The word "also" shows that they had provoked him before, but this instance is given as a very notorious one; here they made the golden calf and worshipped it, while Moses was on the mount with God, receiving instructions from him for their good. Near to this place a rock had been smitten for them, from whence flowed water for the refreshment of them and their cattle; here the Lord appeared in the glory of his majesty to them, and from hence,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:9

When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone ,.... The tables of the law, the same law which forbid idolatry, and which they had lately heard from the mouth of God himself: even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you ; which they had agreed unto, and solemnly promised they would observe and do, Exodus 24:7 , then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights ; and this long stay was one reason of their falling into idolatry, not knowing what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:10

And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone, written with the finger of God ,.... The letters were of his devising and forming, the writing was his, the engraving them on the stones was his own doing; and which was done to show its original, to stamp a divine authority on it, and to denote its duration; see Exodus 31:18 . and on them was written according to all the words which the Lord spake with you in the mount ; the ten commands, exactly in the same order, and in the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:11

And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights ,.... The time of Moses's stay in the mount, when it was just up, and not before: that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant , as in Deuteronomy 9:9 . Aben Ezra observes, that this shows that the day the tables were given to Moses the calf was made. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:12

And the Lord said unto me ,.... The omniscient God, who knew what was doing in the camp of Israel, though Moses did not, of which he informs him: arise, get thee down quickly from hence ; from the mount where he was; and the word "arise" does not suppose him to be sitting or lying along, neither of which postures would have been suitable, considering in whose presence he was; but is only expressive of urgency and haste of his departure; it is not used in Exodus 32:7 . for thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:13

Furthermore the Lord spake unto me, saying ,.... After he had given him the two tables, and before his departure from the mount: I have seen this people ; took notice of them, their ways, and their works: and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people ; unwilling to submit to, and bear the yoke of my commandments; see Exodus 32:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:14

Let me alone, that I may destroy them ,.... Do not say one word to me on their behalf, or entreat me to spare them, and not destroy them: and blot out their name from under heaven ; that no such nation may be heard of, or known by the name of Israel: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they ; of his family, whereby the Lord's promise to Abraham would not have been made void, but equally firm and sure, since this mightier and greater nation would have been of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:15

So I turned and came down from the mount ,.... As the Lord commanded: and the mount burned with fire ; as it had for six weeks past, ever since the Lord's descent upon it; and so it continued, for the words may be rendered, "and the mount was burning" F2 בער "de monte ardente", V. L. Heb. "burning", Ainsworth. ; and yet this did not deter the Israelites from idolatry: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands : one table in one hand, and the other in the other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 9:16

And I looked ,.... When he was come down from the mount, and was nigh the camp: and, behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God ; that plainly appeared by what they had done, and at which he was amazed; and therefore a behold is prefixed to it, it being such a gross sin, having so much impiety and ingratitude, and stupidity in it: and made you a molten calf ; that he saw with his eyes, and them dancing about it; see Exodus 32:19 . ye had turned aside quickly out of the way... read more

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