Bible Commentaries

DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 8

Israel is exhorted to obedience, Deuteronomy 8:1, and to remember God’s judgments and mercies, Deuteronomy 8:2-6. The excellency of the land they were going into, Deuteronomy 8:7-9. Not to forget the Lord in their fulness and prosperity, Deuteronomy 8:10-16; nor ascribe their wealth to their own power, Deuteronomy 8:17, but to God, Deuteronomy 8:18. God threatens to destroy idolaters, Deuteronomy 8:19,20.

That ye may live, i.e. live comfortably and happily, as life is oft taken, as Genesis 17:18 Proverbs 3:2; as, on the contrary, troubles or afflictions are called death, Exodus 10:17 2 Corinthians 11:23.

All the way, i.e. all the events which befell thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience.

To know what was in thine heart, i.e. that thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, apostacy, rebellion, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use, both to them and to the church of God, in all succeeding ages.

i.e. By every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely soever it may seem to be for nourishment, as appears in the manna; seeing it is not the creature, but only God’s command and blessing upon it, that makes it sufficient for the support of life.

Thy raiment did not wear away through age, which they must needs have done without a miracle;

neither did thy foot swell, notwithstanding thy long and hard travels, which also was miraculous.

i.e. Unwillingly, being constrained by thy necessity; moderately, in judgment remembering mercy; and for thy reformation, not for thy destruction. Compare Proverbs 3:11,12 Heb 12:5, &c.

Depths, i.e. deep wells, or springs, or lakes, which were divers and large.

Of olive oil, Heb. of the olive tree of oil, i.e. not of wild and barren, but of fruitful olive trees, which yield plenty of oil.

Where are mines of iron in a manner as plentiful as stones, and upon which travellers must tread, as in other parts they do upon stones;

and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass, to wit, in great plenty. These are mentioned, because they had none such in Egypt whence they came.

i.e. Solemnly praise him for thy food; which is a debt both of gratitude and justice, because it is from his providence and favour that thou receivest both thy food and refreshment and strength by it. The more unworthy and absurd is that too common profaneness of them, who, professing to believe a God and his providence, from whom all their comforts come, grudge to own him at their meals, either by desiring his blessing before them, or by offering due praise to God after them.

Thine heart be lifted up; as if thou didst receive and enjoy these things either by thy own wisdom, and valour, and industry, Deuteronomy 8:17, or for thy own merit, Deuteronomy 9:4. See Hosea 13:6 1 Corinthians 4:7.

That he night humble thee, by keeping thee in a constant dependence upon him for every day’s food, and convincing thee what an impotent, helpless, and beggarly creature thou art in thyself, having nothing whereon to subsist, but from hand to mouth, and being supported wholly by the alms of Divine goodness given to thee from day to day. The mercies of God, if duly considered, are as powerful an argument or mean to humble us as the greatest afflictions, because they increase our debts to God, and manifest our dependence upon him, and insufficiency without him; and by making God great, they make us little in our own eyes; though this clause, as well as that which follows, may have respect to their afflictions, mentioned Deuteronomy 8:15.

At thy latter end, i.e. that after he hath purged and prepared thee by afflictions, he may give thee, and thou mayst receive and enjoy, his blessings with less disadvantage, whilst by the remembrance of former afflictions thou art made thankful for them, and more cautious not to abuse and forfeit them again.

To get wealth; so this word is used, Numbers 24:18 Job 20:18 Proverbs 31:29.