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The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 31:25
The Levites, which bare the ark; i.e. the priests whose business it was to guard and to carry the ark of the covenant; "the priests the sons of Levi," as in Deuteronomy 31:9. According to Numbers 4:4, etc; it was the Ko…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 31:26
In the side of the ark; at or by the side of the ark. According to the Targum of Jonathan, it was in a coffer by the right side of the ark that the book was placed; but the Talmudists say it was put within the ark, alon…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 31:27
I know thy rebellion; rather, rebelliousness, i.e. tendency to rebel. In Numbers 17:1-13 :25 (10), the people are described as בְנֵי מְרִי, "sons of rebelliousness;" Authorized Version, "rebels."
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 31:28
Call heaven and earth to record against them (cf. Deuteronomy 32:1). These words; the words of his charge, and especially the song he had composed, and which it would be the business of these officers to teach to the co…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 31:29
Ye will utterly corrupt yourselves; literally, corrupting, ye will corrupt ( הַשְׁחַת תשׁחִתוּן, sc. דַרֵכֵיֶכם); i.e. your ways (cf. for the phrase, Genesis 6:12). The latter days; the after-time, the future, as in Deu…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:1-2
Moses begins with a solemn appeal to heaven and earth, concerning the truth and importance of what he was about to say. His doctrine is the gospel, the speech of God, the doctrine of Christ; the doctrine of grace and me…
The Song of Moses. (b. c. 1451.)
THE SONG OF MOSES. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A commanding preface or introduction to this song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32:1-2. He begins, 1. With a solemn appeal to heaven and earth concerning the truth and importance of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1-14
The fatherhood of God. In this first section of the Divine song, the predominating idea is God's fatherhood. It comes out in Deuteronomy 32:6 in express terms; it is implied in the care that is attributed to him for his…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1-3
Beneficial teaching. Moses was directed to instruct the people by composing for their use a song (Deuteronomy 31:19, Deuteronomy 31:21). A song is: 1. Memorable. 2. Easily handed down from mouth to mouth. 3. Of singular…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1-52
EXPOSITION SONG OF MOSES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH. In accordance with the Divine injunction, Moses composed an ode, which he recited in the hearing of the people, and committed to writing, to remain with them as a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
Heaven and earth are summoned to hearken to his words, both because of their importance, and because heaven and earth were interested, so to speak, as witnesses of the manifestation of God's righteousness and faithfulne…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1-4
God the believer's Rock. "Forms change: principles neverse" So have we had often to remark in discovering in and developing from this book the everlasting principles which are therein set in archaic forms. The song of M…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1-6
God's vicegerent as poet. The true poet is God's messenger. He that sings not of truth and goodness is not a genuine poet; he is but a rhymester. As the swan is said to sing sweetly only in the act of dying, so, on the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain. The Hebrew verb here and in Deuteronomy 33:28 is properly rendered by" drop;" it expresses the gentle falling of a genial shower or the soft distillation of dew. The clause is best ta…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:3-6
“He is a Rock.” This is the first time God is called so in Scripture. The expression denotes that the Divine power, faithfulness, and love, as revealed in Christ and the gospel, form a foundation which cannot be changed…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:3
I will publish the name of the Lord; literally, I will call, i.e. proclaim, or celebrate, etc. Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The hearers of the song are summoned to join in the celebration of the Divine majesty. Th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:4
God the Rock. (Cf. Deuteronomy 32:15, Deuteronomy 32:18, Deuteronomy 32:31, Deuteronomy 32:37.) This name for God occurs chiefly in this song of Moses, and in the compositions of David and of later psalmists. It was a n…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:4-7
God's righteousness and man's iniquity. The sin of man is only fully seen in contrast with God's righteousness and love. The light is needed to bring out the depth of the shadow. It reveals the "spot." I. GOD'S FAVOR TO…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:5-14
Ungrateful men interrogated. In almost every clause of this paragraph there is some specific allusion, for the elucidation of which the reader will refer to the Exposition. The commentary of Dr. Jameson thereon is very…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:7-14
Moses gives particular instances of God's kindness and concern for them. The eagle's care for her young is a beautiful emblem of Christ's love, who came between Divine justice and our guilty souls, and bare our sins in…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:7-14
Moses, having in general represented God to them as their great benefactor, whom they were bound in gratitude to observe and obey, in these verses gives particular instances of God's kindness to them and concern for the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:7-14
History's testimony for God. A defective character often results from mental indolence. Men do not use their faculties. Did they consider, reflect, and ponder, they would be bettor men. To call into activity all our pow…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:8
The world ruled for the benefit of the Church. What this verse asserts is that in the providential distribution of the nations, and assignment to them of their special territories, respect was had from the beginning to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:10
God's fatherly care of Israel. In the desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; literally, in the land of the desert, in the waste (the formless waste; the word used is that rendered, Genesis 1:2, "without form"…