Deuteronomy10
New American Standard
1“At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first two, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
2Then I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed to pieces, and you shall put them in the ark.’
3So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first two, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.
4Then He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.
5Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and they are there, just as the Lord commanded me.”
6(Now the sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and there he was buried, and his son Eleazar served as priest in his place.
7From there they set out to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.
8At that time the Lord singled out the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to serve Him and to bless in His name, until this day.
9Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God spoke to him.)
10“I, moreover, stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights like the first time, and the Lord listened to me that time also; the Lord was not willing to destroy you.
11Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, proceed on your journey ahead of the people, so that they may go in and take possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’
12“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
14Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.
15Yet the Lord set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day.
16So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.
17For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.
18He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing.
19So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
20You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.
21He is your glory and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.
22Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's mercies to Israel after their rebellion. (1–11). An exhortation to obedience. (12–22).
vv1-11
Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations. There were four things in and by which the Lord showed himself reconciled to Israel. God gave them his law. Thus God has intrusted us with Bibles, sabbaths, and sacraments, as tokens of his presence and favour. God led them forward toward Canaan. He appointed a standing ministry among them for holy things. And now, under the gospel, when the pouring forth of the Spirit is more plentiful and powerful, the succession is kept up by the Spirit's work on men's hearts, qualifying and making some willing for that work in every age. God accepted Moses as an advocate or intercessor for them, and therefore appointed him to be their prince and leader. Moses was a type of Christ, who ever lives, pleading for us, and has all power in heaven and in earth.
vv12-22
We are here taught our duty to God in our principles and our practices. We must fear the Lord our God. We must love him, and delight in communion with him. We must walk in the ways in which he has appointed us to walk. We must serve him with all our heart and soul. What we do in his service we must do cheerfully, and with good will. We must keep his commandments. There is true honour and pleasure in obedience. We must give honour to God; and to him we must cleave, as one we love and delight in, trust in, and from whom we have great expectations. We are here taught our duty to our neighbour. God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves. Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, Ro 8:5–9. Let us, without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty. Blessed Spirit! Oh for thy purifying, persevering, and renewing influences, that being called out of the state of strangers, such as our fathers were, we may be found among the number of the children of God, and that our lot may be among the saints.
Key Words
עֵת: time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
פָּסַל: to carve, whether wood or stone
שְׁנַיִם: two; also (as ordinal) twofold
לוּחַ: probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
אֶבֶן: a stone
רִאשׁוֹן: first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
Deuteronomy 10Paul explains the spiritual reality of inward circumcision versus the mere physical, literal sign.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Confirms circumcision of the heart in the spirit is the true mark of God's people.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Historical confirmation that nothing remained in the ark except the two stone tables.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The parallel itinerary that poses a chronological difficulty regarding the journey order.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Records Aaron's death and Eleazar succeeding him in the high priest's office.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the core requirement of what the Lord requires: walking humbly and fearing God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The command to hew two tables of stone like the first after the golden calf sin.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Later Deuteronomy passage promising that God will circumcise their hearts to love Him.
Supported by John Calvin
Peter echoes the truth that God is no respecter of persons.
Supported by John Calvin
Christ bears the supreme title of Lord of lords and King of kings.
Supported by John Calvin
Command not to vex strangers, remembering Israel's own experience as strangers in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Command to place the testimony of the law inside the wooden ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains the legal provisions for Levi's lack of inheritance, having the Lord as their portion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses recalls falling down before the Lord forty days and nights to intercede.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Traces the literal count of seventy persons who originally went down into Egypt.
Supported by John Calvin