Deuteronomy29
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1These are the words of the covenant which Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
2And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that Jehovah did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
3the great trials which thine eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders:
4but Jehovah hath not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
5And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxed old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxed old upon thy foot.
6Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.
7And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:
8and we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of the Manassites.
9Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
10Ye stand this day all of you before Jehovah your God; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel,
11your little ones, your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water;
12that thou mayest enter into the covenant of Jehovah thy God, and into his oath, which Jehovah thy God maketh with thee this day;
13that he may establish thee this day unto himself for a people, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he spake unto thee, and as he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
14Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath,
15but with him that standeth here with us this day before Jehovah our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day
16(for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed;
17and ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them);
18lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from Jehovah our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
19and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry.
20Jehovah will not pardon him, but then the anger of Jehovah and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie upon him, and Jehovah will blot out his name from under heaven.
21And Jehovah will set him apart unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.
22And the generation to come, your children that shall rise up after you, and the foreigner that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses wherewith Jehovah hath made it sick;
23and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
24even all the nations shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?
25Then men shall say, Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,
26and went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods that they knew not, and that he had not given unto them:
27therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curse that is written in this book;
28and Jehovah rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as at this day.
29The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 29.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Moses calls Israel's mercies to remembrance. (1–9). The Divine wrath on those who flatter themselves in their wickedness. (10–21). The ruin of the Jewish nation. (22–28). Secret things belong unto God. (29).
vv1-9
Both former mercies, and fresh mercies, should be thought on by us as motives to obedience. The hearing ear, and seeing eye, and the understanding heart, are the gift of God. All that have them, have them from him. God gives not only food and raiment, but wealth and large possessions, to many to whom he does not give grace. Many enjoy the gifts, who have not hearts to perceive the Giver, nor the true design and use of the gifts. We are bound, in gratitude and interest, as well as in duty and faithfulness, to keep the words of the covenant.
vv10-21
The national covenant made with Israel, not only typified the covenant of grace made with true believers, but also represented the outward dispensation of the gospel. Those who have been enabled to consent to the Lord's new covenant of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, and to give up themselves to be his people, should embrace every opportunity of renewing their open profession of relation to him, and their obligation to him, as the God of salvation, walking according thereto. The sinner is described as one whose heart turns away from his God; there the mischief begins, in the evil heart of unbelief, which inclines men to depart from the living God to dead idols. Even to this sin men are now tempted, when drawn aside by their own lusts and fancies. Such men are roots that bear gall and wormwood. They are weeds which, if let alone, overspread the whole field. Satan may for a time disguise this bitter morsel, so that thou shalt not have the natural taste of it, but at the last day, if not before, the true taste shall be discerned. Notice the sinner's security in sin. Though he hears the words of the curse, yet even then he thinks himself safe from the wrath of God. There is scarcely a threatening in all the book of God more dreadful than this. Oh that presumptuous sinners would read it, and tremble! for it is a real declaration of the wrath of God, against ungodliness and unrighteousness of man.
vv22-28
Idolatry would be the ruin of their nation. It is no new thing for God to bring desolating judgments on a people near to him in profession. He never does this without good reason. It concerns us to seek for the reason, that we may give glory to God, and take warning to ourselves. Thus the law of Moses leaves sinners under the curse, and rooted out of the Lord's land; but the grace of Christ toward penitent, believing sinners, plants them again in their land; and they shall no more be pulled up, being kept by the power of God.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
בְּרִית: a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
כָּרַת: to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 29Paul cites this lack of eyes to see/ears to hear regarding Israel's judicial blindness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Alludes directly to this verse's warning against a 'root of bitterness' (gall and wormwood) springing up.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel account of the miracle of clothes and shoes not wearing out during the wilderness wanderings.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
St. Paul's doxology on the unsearchable judgments of God mirrors the 'secret things' boundary.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Affirms that the hearing ear and seeing eye are the special workmanship and gift of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with brimstone and burning, used as a covenant pattern.
Supported by JFB
Nations asking why the Lord did this to this land, directly echoing the language of verses 23-24.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the old covenant made at Sinai/Moab with the promised New Covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The promised remedy where God circumcises the heart to love Him, contrasting with the uncircumcised heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The New Covenant promise where God will put His law in their inward parts, giving understanding.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains that man does not live by bread alone, but by God's supernatural wilderness provisions.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes the wilderness manna as 'corn of heaven' and angels' food, replacing common bread.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical account of defeating Sihon and Og and possessing their lands before crossing Jordan.
Supported by JFB
Highlights that the covenant is made with the living generation, not just the deceased ancestors.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Detailed division of the conquered Transjordanian territory to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
Supported by JFB