Deuteronomy 29:17

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 29:17

And ye have seen their abominations and their idols ,.... Or, "their abominations, even their idols"; for the same are meant by both: it is common in Scripture to call the idols of the Gentiles abominations, without any other explanation of them; see 1 Kings 11:5 ; because they are abominable to God, and ought to be so to men: the word for idols has the signification of dung, and may be rendered dunghill gods, either referring to such that were bred and lived in dung, as the beetle,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:10-21

Apostasy in heart a root of bitterness. In the midst of this paragraph there is an expression of which the writer to the Hebrews makes use as a warning. It is found in the eighteenth verse: "Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." In the Epistle to the Hebrews 12:10 , the sacred writer says, "Looking diligently … lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." The root bearing gall and wormwood which Moses deprecates is,... 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 29:16-17

These verses are not a parenthesis, as in the Authorized Version. Deuteronomy 29:18 is connected, not with Deuteronomy 29:15 , but with Deuteronomy 29:17 ; there should be a full stop at the end of Deuteronomy 29:15 . Their idols ; literally, their blocks or logs ( גִלוּלִים , from גָלַל , to roll something too heavy to be carried), a term of contempt used frequently in Scripture of idols. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:16-21

The lying hope. We have here— I. INEXCUSABLE UNBELIEF . ( Deuteronomy 29:16-18 .) The man who, turning from Jehovah, went after the gods by the nations, was doubly inexcusable. 1. The true God had been revealed to him. 2. The worthlessness of heathen idols had been demonstrated. He had the light, and could compare it with the darkness of the nations around. If not himself, a witness of God's mighty works in Egypt and in the desert, he had heard of them from his... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 29:17

Idols - See the margin, “dungy gods;” i. e. clods or stocks which can be rolled about (compare Leviticus 26:30). read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 29:1-29

The covenant renewed (29:1-30:20)Israel’s lack of understanding of God and his ways meant that the people needed constant reminders of the covenant’s purpose, meaning and requirements. Moses gave them such a reminder in this his farewell address to the nation, acting as God’s representative in the renewal of the covenant as he had done at the establishment of the covenant at Sinai (Horeb) (29:1-9). The renewed oath of allegiance that the people swore before entering Canaan was binding on future... read more

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