Deuteronomy10
New International Version
1At that time the Lord said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain. Also make a wooden ark.
2I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the ark.”
3So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.
4The Lord wrote on these tablets what he had written before, the Ten Commandments he had proclaimed to you on the mountain, out of the fire, on the day of the assembly. And the Lord gave them to me.
5Then I came back down the mountain and put the tablets in the ark I had made, as the Lord commanded me, and they are there now.
6(The Israelites traveled from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest.
7From there they traveled to Gudgodah and on to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water.
8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today.
9That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as the Lord your God told them.)
10Now I had stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, as I did the first time, and the Lord listened to me at this time also. It was not his will to destroy you.
11“Go,” the Lord said to me, “and lead the people on their way, so that they may enter and possess the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”
12And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
14To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
15Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.
16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
17For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
18He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.
19And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
20Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
21He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
22Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
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