Deuteronomy 31:19-29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:14-21

Here, I. Moses and Joshua are summoned to attend the divine majesty at the door of the tabernacle, Deut. 31:14. Moses is told again that he must shortly die; even those that are most ready and willing to die have need to be often reminded of the approach of death. In consideration of this, he must come himself to meet God; for whatever improves our communion with God furthers our preparation for death. He must also bring Joshua with him to be presented to God for a successor, and to receive... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:22-30

Here, I. The charge is given to Joshua, which God has said (Deut. 31:14) he would give him. The same in effect that Moses had given him. The same in effect that Moses had given him (Deut. 31:7): Be strong and of a good courage, Deut. 31:23. Joshua had now heard from God so much of the wickedness of the people whom he was to have the conduct of as could not but be a discouragement to him: ?Nay,? says God, ?how bad soever they are, thou shalt go through thy understanding, for I will be with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:19

Now, therefore, write ye this song for you ,.... Which was now dictated by the Lord, and given to Moses and Joshua to write, which is recorded in Deuteronomy 32:1 , and teach it the children of Israel ; teach them by it, instructing them in the meaning of it: thus it was usual in ancient times to write things in verses, that they might be the more pleasingly attended to and regarded, and be longer retained in memory; and especially this practice was used with children, and still is: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:20

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers ,.... To give it to them, and put them into the possession of it, even the land of Canaan, often thus described, and as it is by the following character: that floweth with milk and honey ; aboundeth with all good things; see Exodus 3:8 , and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat ; that is, after they have for a considerable time enjoyed the good things of the land, and they abound... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:21

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them ,.... As did in the times of the judges, in the Babylonish captivity, and do now in their present exile: that this song shall testify against them as a witness ; which so clearly points at their sins, with all their aggravated circumstances, and describes so fully their calamities, distresses, and punishment for them: for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed ; which shows that it respects... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:22

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day ,.... The same day it was dictated to him by divine inspiration; he wrote it, as Josephus says F4 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 44. ,"in hexameter verse, which he left in the holy Bible or book (the Pentateuch), containing (as he adds) a prophecy of things future, according to which all things have been done, and are done; and in nothing of it has he erred from the truth;'which is a very just account of it, and worthy of observation: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:23

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge ,.... It may be a question who gave this charge, the Lord or Moses; according to the connection of the words with the preceding, it seems to be the latter; for the immediate antecedent to the relative he is Moses, and so the Septuagint interpreters understand it; but then they are obliged to read some following clauses different from the original, as, instead of "I swear", they read "the Lord sware"; and the last clause they read, "and he shall be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:24

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book ,.... In this book of Deuteronomy, and which concluded the Pentateuch: until they were finished ; all the words of the law, and the whole five books of Moses, excepting some few verses, Deuteronomy 34:1 , which were added by another hand, Joshua or Ezra. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:25

That Moses commanded the Levites ,.... These were not the common Levites, but the priests who were also Levites, to whom the law was given, Deuteronomy 31:9 ; and none but they might touch the ark, or go so near it as, they are bid to do, to put the law on the side of it; so Aben Ezra; it follows: which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord ; as the priests are said to do; see Gill on Deuteronomy 31:9 ; for though in journeying the Kohathites carried it, yet not until it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:26

Take this book of the law ,.... Not Deuteronomy only, but the whole Pentateuch: and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God ; not in the ark, for there were nothing there but the two tables of stone with the ten commands on them, 1 Kings 8:9 ; but on one side of it; the Targum of Jonathan says, it was"put in a chest (or box) on the right side of the ark of the covenant;'which is very probable. Jarchi observes, that the wise men of Israel are divided about it... read more

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