Deu 29:1-8 | Clarke | STEP | A recapitulation of God's gracious dealings with Israel, . An exhortation to obedience, and to enter into covenant with their God, that they and their posterity may be established in the good land, . They are to remember the abominations of Egypt, and to avoid them, , . He who hardens his heart, when he hears these curses, shall be utterly consumed, . Their posterity shall be astonished at the desolations that shall fall upon them, , ; shall inquire the reason, and shall be informed that the Lord has done thus to them because of their disobedience and idolatry, . A caution against prying too curiously into the secrets of the Divine providence, and to be contented with what God has revealed, . Verse 1 These are the words of the covenant - This verse seems properly to belong to the preceding chapter, as a widely different subject is taken up at of this; and it is distinguished as the 69th verse in some of the most correct copies of the Hebrew Bible. Commanded Moses to make - לכרת lichroth, to cut, alluding to the covenant sacrifice which was offered on the occasion and divided, as is explained, (note). Beside the covenant which he made - in Horeb - What is mentioned here is an additional institution to the ten words given on Horeb; and the curses denounced here are different from those denounced against the transgressors of the decalogue.

Deuteronomy 29:1-8

Introduction

A recapitulation of God's gracious dealings with Israel, Deu 29:1-8. An exhortation to obedience, and to enter into covenant with their God, that they and their posterity may be established in the good land, Deu 29:9-15. They are to remember the abominations of Egypt, and to avoid them, Deu 29:16, Deu 29:17. He who hardens his heart, when he hears these curses, shall be utterly consumed, Deu 29:18-21. Their posterity shall be astonished at the desolations that shall fall upon them, Deu 29:22, Deu 29:23; shall inquire the reason, and shall be informed that the Lord has done thus to them because of their disobedience and idolatry, Deu 29:24-28. A caution against prying too curiously into the secrets of the Divine providence, and to be contented with what God has revealed, Deu 29:29.

Verse 1

These are the words of the covenant - This verse seems properly to belong to the preceding chapter, as a widely different subject is taken up at Deu 29:2 of this; and it is distinguished as the 69th verse in some of the most correct copies of the Hebrew Bible.

Commanded Moses to make - לכרת lichroth, to cut, alluding to the covenant sacrifice which was offered on the occasion and divided, as is explained, Gen 15:18 (note).

Beside the covenant which he made - in Horeb - What is mentioned here is an additional institution to the ten words given on Horeb; and the curses denounced here are different from those denounced against the transgressors of the decalogue. Verse 4

The Lord hath not given you a heart, etc. - Some critics read this verse interrogatively: And hath not God given you a heart, etc.? because they suppose that God could not reprehend them for the non-performance of a duty, when he had neither given them a mind to perceive the obligation of it, nor strength to perform it, had that obligation been known. Though this is strictly just, yet there is no need for the interrogation, as the words only imply that they had not such a heart, etc., not because God had not given them all the means of knowledge, and helps of his grace and Spirit, which were necessary; but they had not made a faithful use of their advantages, and therefore they had not that wise, loving, and obedient heart which they otherwise might have had. If they had had such a heart, it would have been God's gift, for he is the author of all good; and that they had not such a heart was a proof that they had grieved his Spirit, and abused the grace which he had afforded them to produce that gracious change, the want of which is here deplored. Hence God himself is represented as grieved because they were unchanged and disobedient: "O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children for ever!" See Deu 5:29 (note), and the note there. Verse 5

Your clothes are not waxen old - See on Deu 8:4 (note). Verse 6

Ye have not eaten bread, etc. - That is, ye have not been supported in an ordinary providential way; I have been continually working miracles for you, that ye might know that I am the Lord. Thus we find that God had furnished them with all the means of this knowledge, and that the means were ineffectual, not because they were not properly calculated to answer God's gracious purpose, but because the people were not workers with God; consequently they received the grace of God in vain. See 2Cor 6:1.