Deuteronomy 32:1,Deuteronomy 32:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

Here is, I. A commanding preface or introduction to this song of Moses, Deut. 32:1, 2. He begins, 1. With a solemn appeal to heaven and earth concerning the truth and importance of what he was about to say, and the justice of the divine proceedings against a rebellious and backsliding people, for he had said (Deut. 31:28) that he would in this song call heaven and earth to record against them. Heaven and earth would sooner hear than this perverse and unthinking people; for they revolt not from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth , the words of my mouth. This song is prefaced and introduced in a very grand and pompous manner, calling on the heavens and earth to give attention; by which they themselves may be meant, by a "prosopopaeia", a figure frequently used in Scripture, when things of great moment and importance are spoken of; and these are called upon to hearken, either to rebuke the stupidity and inattention of men, or to show that these would shed... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1

On the inimitable excellence of this ode much has been written by commentators, critics, and poets - and it is allowed by the best judges to contain a specimen of almost every species of excellence in composition. It is so thoroughly poetic that even the dull Jews themselves found they could not write it in the prose form; and hence it is distinguished as poetry in every Hebrew Bible by being written in its own hemistichs or short half lines, which is the general form of the Hebrew poetry;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1

Verse 1 1.Give ear, O ye heavens. Moses commences in a strain of magnificence, lest the people should disdain this song with their usual pride, or even reject it altogether, being exasperated by its severe censures and reproaches. For we well know how the world naturally longs to be flattered, and that no strain can be gratifying to it unless it tickles and soothes the ear with praise. But Moses here not only inveighs bitterly against the vices of the people, but with the utmost possible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1

EXPOSITION SONG OF MOSES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH . In accordance with the Divine injunction, Moses composed an ode, which he recited in the hearing of the people, and committed to writing, to remain with them as a witness for God against them. With this end in view, the ode is directed principally to a contrasting of the unchanging faithfulness of the Almighty with the anticipated perversity and unfaithfulness of his people. The poem may be divided into six... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-3

Beneficial teaching. Moses was directed to instruct the people by composing for their use a song ( Deuteronomy 31:19 , Deuteronomy 31:21 ). A song is: 1. Memorable. 2. Easily handed down from mouth to mouth. 3. Of singular power to awaken sympathetic feeling (cf. influence of ballads, of Jacobite songs, of the 'Marseillaise,' of popular hymns). The action of song is not violent, but gentle and persuasive. It steals about the heart like rippling water or like sunlight,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-4

God the believer's Rock. "Forms change: principles neverse" So have we had often to remark in discovering in and developing from this book the everlasting principles which are therein set in archaic forms. The song of Moses here recorded will yield us many illustrations of this kind of teaching. Its first four versos suggest three lines of thought. I. THERE IS HERE A REVEALED DOCTRINE CONCERNING GOD . In the last song which the old man utters ere he climbs the mount of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

God's vicegerent as poet. The true poet is God's messenger. He that sings not of truth and goodness is not a genuine poet; he is but a rhymester. As the swan is said to sing sweetly only in the act of dying, so, on the eve of his departure, Moses sings his noblest strains. I. OBSERVE THE POET 'S AUDITORY . He summons heaven and earth to hear. We read in ancient story that when Orpheus made music with his lyre, the wild beasts listened, and the trees and rocks of Olympus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-14

The fatherhood of God. In this first section of the Divine song, the predominating idea is God's fatherhood. It comes out in Deuteronomy 32:6 in express terms; it is implied in the care that is attributed to him for his children of Israel; it passes into the still tenderer idea of motherhood in the illustration of the eagle ( Deuteronomy 32:11 ); and may fairly be taken as the idea dominating the whole. It has been thought that the fatherhood of God is almost altogether a New Testament... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1-42

Song of MosesIf Deuteronomy 32:1-3 be regarded as the introduction, and Deuteronomy 32:43 as the conclusion, the main contents of the song may be grouped under three heads, namely,(1) Deuteronomy 32:4-18, the faithfulness of God, the faithlessness of Israel;(2) Deuteronomy 32:19-33, the chastisement and the need of its infliction by God;(3) Deuteronomy 32:34-42, God’s compassion upon the low and humbled state of His people.The Song differs signally in diction and idiom from the preceding... read more

Deuteronomy 32:1,deuteronomy 32:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 32:1-42

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