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The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:36-43
The final revelation of God's supremacy. In this inspired song—an epitome of the Bible—Moses looks adown the long vista of history, and discerns what will be the outcome of the whole, viz. to establish on a safe basis t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:37
The Lord would show his people the utter worthlessness of idols, and bring them to acknowledge him as the only true God. Their gods; the idols to which Israel had turned, the strange gods which they had foolishly and si…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:39-43
This conclusion of the song speaks, 1. Glory to God. No escape can be made from his power. 2. It speaks terror to his enemies. Terror indeed to those who hate him. The wrath of God is here revealed from heaven against t…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:39-43
This conclusion of the song speaks three things: I. Glory to God, Deuteronomy 32:39. "See now upon the whole matter, that I, even I, am he. Learn this from the destruction of idolaters, and the inability of their idols…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I am, even I am he. The Hebrew is more expressive, See now that I, I am; LXX; ἴδετε ἴδετε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι (cf. Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 48:12; John 8:24, John 18:5). Their own experience of the utter impot…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:42
My sword shall devour flesh; literally, shall eat flesh; "the edge of the sword is called its mouth, because, like a mouth, it is said to eat and devour" (Gesenius). From the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Differ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:43
"As this song commenced with an appeal to heaven and earth to give glory to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:1-3), so it very suitably closes with an appeal to the heathen to rejoice with his people on account of the acts of th…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:44-47
Here is the solemn delivery of this song to Israel, with a charge to mind all the good words Moses had said unto them. It is not a trifle, but a matter of life and death: mind it, and you are made for ever; neglect it,…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:44-52
Here is, I. The solemn delivery of this song to the children of Israel, Deuteronomy 32:44-45. Moses spoke it to as many as could hear him, while Joshua, in another assembly, at the same time, delivered it to as many as…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:44-47
Moses, having composed this song, came, accompanied by Joshua, and they together spoke it in the hearing of the people; after which Moses took occasion to urge upon them anew the importance of keeping the commandments o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:44
Hoshea the son of Nun. Moses invariably writes this name Jehoshuah (Jehovah is help; cf. Numbers 13:1-33; Deuteronomy 31:3, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:14, Deuteronomy 31:20, etc.). The use of Hoshea here is due to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:44-47
Religion a reality. The bulk of men treat religion as if it were a fancy or a myth. They deem it useful for the sick, the aged, and the dying. But for the healthful man and the active man of business it is voted a bore.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:44-47
Life at stake! This paragraph-concerning which Keil is probably right in his surmise, that it proceeds from an editor's hand—sets before us in a quiet and incidental way, one of the most important transitions Israel had…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:46
(Cf. Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19.)
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:47
It is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life; these are not mere empty words; they are of vital import (cf. Deuteronomy 30:20).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:47
Your life. The doing or not doing of God's will, the obeying or not obeying of God's Word, is a matter of life and death to us. This is the simple and solemn and uniform testimony of Scripture from its first page to its…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Now Moses had done his work, why should he desire to live a day longer? God reminds him of the sin of which he had been guilty, for which he was kept from entering Canaan. It is good for the best of men to die repenting…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Death immediately in view. The utterance of the sublime song which we have just treated on, was the last recorded public act of Moses. His work is all but done. He receives an intimation that the time is nigh at hand fo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Obedient unto death. In Moses, Faith had achieved one of her most signal triumphs. From early youth to latest manhood, he had acted and "endured as seeing him who is invisible." No earthly or visible honor had ever ench…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Moses' end (see Deuteronomy 34:1-12.).—J.O. HOMILIES BY R.M. EDGAR
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Death a judgment even to the most faithful servants of God. After the solemn address to the people, God gives a personal address to Moses. It is about his approaching death. He is to see the land, but not to enter it, b…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:48-52
On the day on which Moses rehearsed this song in the hearing of the people, his death was announced to him by God, and the command was again given to him to ascend Mount Nebo, thence to survey the Promised Land, and the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:49
Abarim (cf. Numbers 21:10, Numbers 21:20). Nebo (cf. Numbers 32:3, Numbers 32:38). An idol Nebo was worshipped by the Moabites (Isaiah 46:1).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:50
And be thou gathered unto thy people. "To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This signifies," saith R. Isaac, "that he should be associated and joined to the souls of the just who are called his people. For the people of Moses…