Deuteronomy29
New Living Translation
1These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites while they were in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Mount Sinai.
2Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the Lord did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to his whole country—
3all the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs, and the amazing wonders.
4But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!
5For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.
6You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.
7“When we came here, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.
8We took their land and gave it to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh as their grant of land.
9“Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do.
10All of you—tribal leaders, elders, officers, all the men of Israel—are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God.
11Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water.
12You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses.
13By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14“But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses.
15I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today.
16“You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left.
17You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold.
18I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.
19“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!
20The Lord will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the Lord will erase their names from under heaven.
21The Lord will separate them from all the tribes of Israel, to pour out on them all the curses of the covenant recorded in this Book of Instruction.
22“Then the generations to come, both your own descendants and the foreigners who come from distant lands, will see the devastation of the land and the diseases the Lord inflicts on it.
23They will exclaim, ‘The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in his intense anger.’
24“And all the surrounding nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why was he so angry?’
25“And the answer will be, ‘This happened because the people of the land abandoned the covenant that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
26Instead, they turned away to serve and worship gods they had not known before, gods that were not from the Lord.
27That is why the Lord’s anger has burned against this land, bringing down on it every curse recorded in this book.
28In great anger and fury the Lord uprooted his people from their land and banished them to another land, where they still live today!’
29“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.
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