Bible Commentaries

DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 9

Israel’s march over Jordan to possess Canaan, Deuteronomy 9:1-3. But must not ascribe it to their own righteousness, Deuteronomy 9:4-6. A rehearsal of their manifold provocations at Horeb, Deuteronomy 9:8, at Taberah, Deuteronomy 9:22, and at Kadesh-barnea, Deuteronomy 9:23.

This day, i.e. shortly, within a little time, the word day being oft put for time, as John 8:56 1 Corinthians 4:5 Revelation 16:14, within two months; for Moses spake this on the first day of the eleventh month, Deuteronomy 1:3, and they passed over Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, Joshua 4:19. Nations, i.e. the land of those nations; for that only they were to possess, but as for the nations or people they were not to possess, but to destroy them. Thus they are said to inherit Gad, Jeremiah 49:1, i.e. the country and cities of Gad, as it is there explained.

Greater and mightier than thyself: this he adds, partly that they might not be surprised when they find them to be such; partly that they might not trust to their own strength, but wholly rely upon God’s help, for the destroying of them, and, after the work was done, might ascribe the praise and glory of it to God alone, and not to themselves.

Fenced up to heaven, as the spies reported, Deuteronomy 1:28. See on Genesis 11:4.

Either from the spies, or rather from common fame, for this seems to be a proverb used. in those times.

Quickly; without great difficulty or long wars.

Neither for thy upright heart, nor holy life, which are the two things which God above all things regards, 1 Chronicles 29:17 Psalms 15:1,2; and consequently he excludes all merit. And surely they who did not deserve this earthly Canaan, could not merit the kingdom of glory. That he may perform the word which he sware; to show my faithfulness in accomplishing that promise which I graciously made and confirmed with my oath. By which words it is implied, that this land was not given to them for the righteousness of their fathers, though they were righteous and holy persons, and much less for their own righteousness, which they had not, as it follows.

Rebellious and perverse, and so destitute of all pretence of righteousness; such were the people, but there were divers particular persons amongst them truly righteous and holy, and yet even their righteousness is denied to be the procuring cause of this land.

When your miraculous deliverance out of Egypt was fresh in memory; when God had but newly manifested himself to you in so stupendous and dreadful a manner, and had taken you into covenant with himself; when God was actually conferring further mercies upon you.

i.e. I wholly abstained from all meat and drink. Compare 1 Kings 13:8,9,17 2 Kings 6:22.

Immediately and miraculously, which was done not only to procure the greater reverence to the law, but also to signify that it was the work of God alone to write this law upon the tables of men’s hearts. See Jeremiah 31:33 2 Corinthians 3:3,7.

In the day of the assembly, i.e. when the people were gathered by God’s command to the bottom of Mount Sinai, to hear and receive God’s ten commandments from his own mouth.

Let me alone; stop not the course of my fury by thy intercession.

Not by an unbridled passion, but in zeal for God’s honour, and by the direction of God’s Spirit, to signify to the people, that the covenant between God and them contained in those tables was broken and made void, and they were now quite cast out of God’s favour, and could expect nothing from him but fiery indignation and severe justice. See Poole "Exodus 32:19".

I fell down, in way of humiliation and supplication, on your behalf.

The Lord was very angry with Aaron, though he was only accessory, as being persuaded, and in a manner compelled, to comply with your desire.

Your sin, i.e. the object and matter of your sin, as sin is taken Isaiah 31:7.

I cast the dust thereof into the brook, that there might be no monument or remembrance of it left.

Forty days and forty nights; the same mentioned before, Deuteronomy 9:18, as appears,

1. By comparing this with Exodus, where this history is more fully related, and where this is said to be done twice only.

2. By the occasion and matter of Moses’s prayer here following, which is the same with the former.

3. By the words here following,

as I fell down at first, which show that this was the second time of his so doing.

Through thy greatness, i.e. through the greatness of thy power, which appeared most eminently in that work, as is noted, Deuteronomy 9:29.

Thy servants, i.e. the promise made and sworn to thy servants, which was mentioned above, Deuteronomy 9:5.

Thy people, whom thou hast chosen to thyself out of all mankind, and publicly owned them for thine, and hast purchased and redeemed them from the Egyptians.