Verse 5
5. Obey my voice… keep my covenant These two expressions denote the twofold idea of giving obedient attention to each new word that Jehovah speaks, and at the same time guard sacredly the terms of the covenant as already established, or about to be established in fuller form .
A peculiar treasure unto me The Hebrew word סגלה is happily rendered by peculiar treasure, for it denotes more than the mere word property or possessions. In Malachi 3:17, it is translated jewels, and in 1 Chronicles 29:3, it means a special private quantity of gold and silver which Solomon amassed for himself, and so, also, probably, in Ecclesiastes 2:8, where mention is made of “the peculiar treasure of kings . ” In all other places (Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalms 135:4) the word represents Israel as a peculiarly precious possession of Jehovah. Comp. Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9.
Above all people Or, from all the peoples, as being chosen out from all the peoples of the earth . Being thus selected out of the nations, Israel would be esteemed above the other peoples, who, nevertheless, were all possessions of God, for it is added, as if to offset the idea that Israel’s God was merely a national deity, all the earth is mine, for Jehovah God is its creator and ruler .
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