mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 4.xml

<div2 id="Deu.v" n="v" next="Deu.vi" prev="Deu.iv" progress="83.24%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="Deu.v-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.v-p1">In this chapter we have, I. A most earnest and
pathetic exhortation to obedience, both in general, and in some
particular instances, backed with a great variety of very pressing
arguments, repeated again and again, and set before them in the
most moving and affectionate manner imaginable, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.1-Deut.4.40" parsed="|Deut|4|1|4|40" passage="De 4:1-40">ver. 1-40</scripRef>. II. The appointing of the cities
of refuge on that side Jordan, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.41-Deut.4.43" parsed="|Deut|4|41|4|43" passage="De 4:41-43">ver.
41-43</scripRef>. III. The particular description of the place
where Moses delivered the following repetition of the law,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.44-Deut.4.49" parsed="|Deut|4|44|4|49" passage="De 4:44-49">ver. 44</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4" parsed="|Deut|4|0|0|0" passage="De 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.v-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.1-Deut.4.40" parsed="|Deut|4|1|4|40" passage="De 4:1-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.4.1-Deut.4.40">
<h4 id="Deu.v-p1.6">Exhortations and Arguments. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.v-p2">1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the
statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do
<i>them,</i> that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.1">Lord</span> God of your fathers giveth
you.   2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish <i>ought</i> from it, that ye may keep
the commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.2">Lord</span> your
God which I command you.   3 Your eyes have seen what the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.3">Lord</span> did because of Baal-peor: for
all the men that followed Baal-peor, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.4">Lord</span> thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
  4 But ye that did cleave unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.5">Lord</span> your God <i>are</i> alive every one of you
this day.   5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and
judgments, even as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.6">Lord</span> my God
commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to
possess it.   6 Keep therefore and do <i>them;</i> for this
<i>is</i> your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this
great nation <i>is</i> a wise and understanding people.   7
For what nation <i>is there so</i> great, who <i>hath</i> God
<i>so</i> nigh unto them, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.7">Lord</span> our God <i>is</i> in all <i>things that</i>
we call upon him <i>for?</i>   8 And what nation <i>is there
so</i> great, that hath statutes and judgments <i>so</i> righteous
as all this law, which I set before you this day?   9 Only
take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou
forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart
from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons,
and thy sons' sons;   10 <i>Specially</i> the day that thou
stoodest before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.8">Lord</span> thy God in
Horeb, when the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.9">Lord</span> said unto me,
Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words,
that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live
upon the earth, and <i>that</i> they may teach their children.
  11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the
mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness,
clouds, and thick darkness.   12 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.10">Lord</span> spake unto you out of the midst of the
fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only
<i>ye heard</i> a voice.   13 And he declared unto you his
covenant, which he commanded you to perform, <i>even</i> ten
commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.   14
And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.11">Lord</span> commanded me at that
time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in
the land whither ye go over to possess it.   15 Take ye
therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of
similitude on the day <i>that</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.12">Lord</span> spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of
the fire:   16 Lest ye corrupt <i>yourselves,</i> and make you
a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male
or female,   17 The likeness of any beast that <i>is</i> on
the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
  18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground,
the likeness of any fish that <i>is</i> in the waters beneath the
earth:   19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and
when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, <i>even</i>
all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and
serve them, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.13">Lord</span> thy God
hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.   20 But
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.14">Lord</span> hath taken you, and brought
you forth out of the iron furnace, <i>even</i> out of Egypt, to be
unto him a people of inheritance, as <i>ye are</i> this day.  
21 Furthermore the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.15">Lord</span> was angry
with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan,
and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.16">Lord</span> thy God giveth thee <i>for</i> an
inheritance:   22 But I must die in this land, I must not go
over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
  23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.17">Lord</span> your God, which he made
with you, and make you a graven image, <i>or</i> the likeness of
any <i>thing,</i> which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.18">Lord</span> thy
God hath forbidden thee.   24 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.19">Lord</span> thy God <i>is</i> a consuming fire,
<i>even</i> a jealous God.   25 When thou shalt beget
children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long
in the land, and shall corrupt <i>yourselves,</i> and make a graven
image, <i>or</i> the likeness of any <i>thing,</i> and shall do
evil in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.20">Lord</span> thy
God, to provoke him to anger:   26 I call heaven and earth to
witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish
from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye
shall not prolong <i>your</i> days upon it, but shall utterly be
destroyed.   27 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.21">Lord</span>
shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in
number among the heathen, whither the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.22">Lord</span> shall lead you.   28 And there ye
shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which
neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.   29 But if from
thence thou shalt seek the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.23">Lord</span> thy
God, thou shalt find <i>him,</i> if thou seek him with all thy
heart and with all thy soul.   30 When thou art in
tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, <i>even</i>
in the latter days, if thou turn to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.24">Lord</span> thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his
voice;   31 (For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.25">Lord</span> thy
God <i>is</i> a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither
destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware
unto them.   32 For ask now of the days that are past, which
were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the
earth, and <i>ask</i> from the one side of heaven unto the other,
whether there hath been <i>any such thing</i> as this great thing
<i>is,</i> or hath been heard like it?   33 Did <i>ever</i>
people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire,
as thou hast heard, and live?   34 Or hath God assayed to go
<i>and</i> take him a nation from the midst of <i>another</i>
nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and
by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors,
according to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.26">Lord</span> your
God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?   35 Unto thee it
was showed, that thou mightest know that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.27">Lord</span> he <i>is</i> God; <i>there is</i> none else
beside him.   36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice,
that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he showed thee his
great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the
fire.   37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he
chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with
his mighty power out of Egypt;   38 To drive out nations from
before thee greater and mightier than thou <i>art,</i> to bring
thee in, to give thee their land <i>for</i> an inheritance, as
<i>it is</i> this day.   39 Know therefore this day, and
consider <i>it</i> in thine heart, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.28">Lord</span> he <i>is</i> God in heaven above, and upon
the earth beneath: <i>there is</i> none else.   40 Thou shalt
keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command
thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children
after thee, and that thou mayest prolong <i>thy</i> days upon the
earth, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.v-p2.29">Lord</span> thy God giveth
thee, for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p3">This most lively and excellent discourse is
so entire, and the particulars of it are so often repeated, that we
must take it altogether in the exposition of it, and endeavour to
digest it into proper heads, for we cannot divide it into
paragraphs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p4">I. In general, it is the use and
application of the foregoing history; it comes in by way of
inference from it: <i>Now therefore harken, O Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.1" parsed="|Deut|4|1|0|0" passage="De 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. This use we should make of
the review of God's providences concerning us, we should by them be
quickened and engaged to duty and obedience. The histories of the
years of ancient times should in like manner be improved by us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p5">II. The scope and drift of his discourse is
to persuade them to keep close to God and to his service, and not
to forsake him for any other god, nor in any instance to decline
from their duty to him. Now observe what he says to them, with a
great deal of divine rhetoric, both by way of exhortation and
direction, and also by way of motive and argument to enforce his
exhortations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p6">1. See here how he charges and commands
them, and shows them <i>what is good, and what the Lord requires of
them.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p7">(1.) He demands their diligent attention to
the word of God, and to the statutes and judgments that were taught
them: <i>Hearken, O Israel.</i> He means, not only that they must
now give him the hearing, but that whenever the book of the law was
read to them, or read by them, they should be attentive to it.
"Hearken to the statutes, as containing the great commands of God
and the great concerns of your own souls, and therefore challenging
your utmost attention." At Horeb God had <i>made them hear his
words</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.10" parsed="|Deut|4|10|0|0" passage="De 4:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>),
hear them with a witness; the attention which was then constrained
by the circumstances of the delivery ought ever after to be engaged
by the excellency of the things themselves. What God so <i>spoke
once,</i> we should <i>hear twice,</i> hear often.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p8">(2.) He charges them to preserve the divine
law pure and entire among them, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.2" parsed="|Deut|4|2|0|0" passage="De 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Keep it pure, and do not add to
it; keep it entire, and do not diminish from it. Not in practice,
so some: "You shall not add by committing the evil which the law
forbids, nor diminish by omitting the good which the law requires."
Not in opinion, so others: "You shall not add your own inventions,
as if the divine institutions were defective, nor introduce, much
less impose, any rites of religious worship other than what God has
appointed; nor shall you diminish, or set aside, any thing that is
appointed, as needless or superfluous." God's work is perfect,
nothing can be put to it, nor taken from it, without making it the
worse. See <scripRef id="Deu.v-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.14" parsed="|Eccl|3|14|0|0" passage="Ec 3:14">Eccl. iii. 14</scripRef>.
The Jews understand it as prohibiting the alteration of the text or
letter of the law, even in the least jot or tittle; and to their
great care and exactness herein we are very much indebted, under
God, for the purity and integrity of the Hebrew code. We find a
fence like this made about the New Testament in the close of it,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.18-Rev.22.19" parsed="|Rev|22|18|22|19" passage="Re 22:18,19">Rev. xxii. 18, 19</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p9">(3.) He charges them to keep God's
<i>commandments</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.2" parsed="|Deut|4|2|0|0" passage="De 4:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), to <i>do them</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.5 Bible:Deut.4.14" parsed="|Deut|4|5|0|0;|Deut|4|14|0|0" passage="De 4:5,14"><i>v.</i> 5, 14</scripRef>), to <i>keep and do them</i>
(<scripRef id="Deu.v-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.6" parsed="|Deut|4|6|0|0" passage="De 4:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), to <i>perform
the covenant,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.13" parsed="|Deut|4|13|0|0" passage="De 4:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Hearing must be in order to doing, knowledge in
order to practice. God's commandments were the way they must keep
in, the rule they must keep to; they must govern themselves by the
moral precepts, perform their devotion according to the divine
ritual, and administer justice according to the judicial law. He
concludes his discourse (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.40" parsed="|Deut|4|40|0|0" passage="De 4:40"><i>v.</i>
40</scripRef>) with this repeated charge: <i>Thou shalt keep his
statutes and his commandments which I command thee.</i> What are
laws made for but to be observed and obeyed?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p10">(4.) He charges them to be very strict and
careful in their observance of the law (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.9" parsed="|Deut|4|9|0|0" passage="De 4:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Only take heed to thyself, and
keep thy soul diligently;</i> and (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.15" parsed="|Deut|4|15|0|0" passage="De 4:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), <i>Take you therefore good heed
unto yourselves;</i> and again (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.23" parsed="|Deut|4|23|0|0" passage="De 4:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), <i>Take heed to yourselves.</i>
Those that would be religious must be very cautious, and walk
circumspectly. Considering how many temptations we are compassed
about with, and what corrupt inclinations we have in our own
bosoms, we have great need to look about us and to keep our hearts
with all diligence. Those cannot walk aright that walk carelessly
and at all adventures.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p11">(5.) He charges them particularly to take
heed of the sin of idolatry, that sin which of all others they
would be most tempted to by the customs of the nations, which they
were most addicted to by the corruption of their hearts, and which
would be most provoking to God and of the most pernicious
consequences to themselves: <i>Take good heed,</i> lest in this
matter <i>you corrupt yourselves,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.15-Deut.4.16" parsed="|Deut|4|15|4|16" passage="De 4:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. Two sorts of idolatry he
cautions them against:—[1.] The worship of images, however by
them they might intend to worship the true God, as they had done in
the golden calf, so changing the <i>truth of God into a lie</i> and
his <i>glory into shame.</i> The second commandment is expressly
directed against this, and is here enlarged upon, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.15-Deut.4.18" parsed="|Deut|4|15|4|18" passage="De 4:15-18"><i>v.</i> 15-18</scripRef>. "Take heed <i>lest
you corrupt yourselves,</i>" that is, "lest you debauch
yourselves;" for those that think to make images of God form in
their minds such notions of him as must needs be an inlet to all
impieties; and it is intimated that it is a spiritual adultery.
"And take heed lest you destroy yourselves. If any thing ruin you,
this will be it. Whatever you do, make no similitude of God, either
in a human shape, <i>male of female,</i> or in the shape of any
<i>beast or fowl, serpent or fish;</i>" for the heathen worshipped
their gods by images of all these kinds, being either not able to
form, or not willing to admit, that plain demonstration which we
find, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.8.6" parsed="|Hos|8|6|0|0" passage="Ho 8:6">Hos. viii. 6</scripRef>: <i>The
workman made it, therefore it is not God.</i> To represent an
infinite Spirit by an image, and the great Creator by the image of
a creature, is the greatest affront we can put upon God and the
greatest cheat we can put upon ourselves. As an argument against
their making images of God, he urges it very much upon them that
when God made himself known to them at Horeb he did it by a voice
of words which sounded in their ears, to teach them that <i>faith
comes by hearing,</i> and God in the word is nigh us; but no image
was presented to their eye, for to see God as he is is reserved for
our happiness in the other world, and to see him as he is not will
do us hurt and no good in this world. You saw <i>no similitude</i>
(<scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.12" parsed="|Deut|4|12|0|0" passage="De 4:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), <i>no manner
of similitude,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.15" parsed="|Deut|4|15|0|0" passage="De 4:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. Probably they expected to have seen some similitude,
for they were ready to <i>break through unto the Lord to gaze,</i>
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.19.21" parsed="|Exod|19|21|0|0" passage="Ex 19:21">Exod. xix. 21</scripRef>. But all they
saw was <i>light</i> and <i>fire,</i> and nothing that they could
make an image of, God an infinite wisdom so ordering his
manifestation of himself because of the <i>peril of idolatry.</i>
It is said indeed of Moses that he <i>beheld the similitude of the
Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.12.8" parsed="|Num|12|8|0|0" passage="Nu 12:8">Num. xii. 8</scripRef>), God
allowing him that favour because he was above the temptation of
idolatry; but for the people who had lately come from admiring the
idols of Egypt, they must see no resemblance of God, lest they
should have pretended to copy it, and so should have received the
second commandment in vain; "for" (says bishop Patrick) "they would
have thought that this forbade them only to make any representation
of God besides that wherein he showed himself to them, in which
they would have concluded it lawful to represent him." Let this be
a caution to us to take heed of making images of God in our fancy
and imagination when we are worshipping him, lest thereby we
corrupt ourselves. There may be idols in the heart, where there are
none in the sanctuary. [2.] The worship of the sun, moon, and
stars, is another sort of idolatry which they were cautioned
against, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.19" parsed="|Deut|4|19|0|0" passage="De 4:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. This
was the most ancient species of idolatry and the most plausible,
drawing the adoration to those creatures that not only are in a
situation above us, but are most sensibly glorious in themselves
and most generally serviceable to the world. And the plausibleness
of it made it the more dangerous. It is intimated here,
<i>First,</i> How strong the temptation is to sense; for the
caution is, <i>Lest thou shouldest be driven to worship them</i> by
the strong impulse of a vain imagination and the impetuous torrent
of the customs of the nations. The heart is supposed to <i>walk
after the eye,</i> which, in our corrupt and degenerate state, it
is very apt to do. "<i>When thou seest the sun, moon, and
stars,</i> thou wilt so admire their height and brightness, their
regular motion and powerful influence, that thou wilt be strongly
tempted to give that glory to them which is due to him that made
them, and made them what they are to us—gave them their beings,
and made them blessings to the world." It seems there was need of a
great deal of resolution to arm them against this temptation, so
weak was their faith in an invisible God and an invisible world.
<i>Secondly,</i> Yet he shows how weak the temptation would be to
those that would use their reason; for these pretended deities, the
<i>sun, moon, and stars,</i> were only blessings which the Lord
their God, whom they were obliged to worship, had imparted to all
nations. It is absurd to worship them, for they are man's servants,
were made and ordained to give light on earth; and shall we serve
those that were made to serve us? The sun, in Hebrew is called
<i>shemesh,</i> which signifies a <i>servant,</i> for it is the
minister-general of this visible world, and holds the candle to all
mankind; let it not then be worshipped as a lord. Moreover, they
are God's gifts; he has imparted them; whatever benefit we have by
them, we owe it to him; it is therefore highly injurious to him to
give that honour and praise to them which is due to him only.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p12">(6.) He charges them to teach their
children to observe the laws of God: <i>Teach them to thy sons, and
thy sons' sons</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.9" parsed="|Deut|4|9|0|0" passage="De 4:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), <i>that they may teach their children,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.10" parsed="|Deut|4|10|0|0" passage="De 4:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. [1.] Care must be taken
in general to preserve the entail of religion among them, and to
transmit the knowledge and worship of God to posterity; for the
kingdom of God in Israel was designed to be perpetual, if they did
not forfeit the privilege of it. [2.] Parents must, in order
hereunto, particularly take care to teach their own children the
fear of God, and to train them up in an observance of all his
commandments.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p13">(7.) He charges them never to forget their
duty: <i>Take heed lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your
God,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.23" parsed="|Deut|4|23|0|0" passage="De 4:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>.
Though God is ever mindful of the covenant, we are apt to forget
it; and this is at the bottom of all our departures from God. We
have need therefore to watch against all those things which would
put the covenant out of our minds, and to watch over our own
hearts, lest at any time we let it slip; and so we must take heed
lest at any time we forget our religion, lest we lose it or leave
it off. Care and caution, and holy watchfulness, are the best helps
against a bad memory. These are the directions and commands he
gives them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p14">2. Let us see now what are the motives or
arguments with which he backs these exhortations. How does he order
the cause before them, and fill his mouth with arguments! He has a
great deal to say on God's behalf. Some of his topics are indeed
peculiar to that people, yet applicable to us. But, upon the whole,
it is evident that religion has reason on its side, the powerful
charms of which all that are irreligious wilfully stop their ears
against.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p15">(1.) He urges the greatness, glory, and
goodness, of God. Did we consider what a God he is with whom we
have to do, we should surely make conscience of our duty to him and
not dare to sin against him. He reminds them here, [1.] That the
Lord Jehovah is the <i>one and only living and true God.</i> This
they must <i>know and consider,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.39" parsed="|Deut|4|39|0|0" passage="De 4:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>. There are many things which we
know, but are not the better for, because we do not consider them,
we do not apply them to ourselves, nor draw proper inferences from
them. This is a truth so evident that it cannot but be known, and
so influential that, if it were duly considered, it would
effectually reform the world, <i>That the Lord Jehovah he is
God,</i> an infinite and eternal Being, self-existent and
self-sufficient, and the fountain of all being, power, and
motion—that he is <i>God in heaven above,</i> clothed with all the
glory and Lord of all the hosts of the upper world, and that he is
God <i>upon earth beneath,</i> which, though distant from the
throne of his glory, is not out of the reach of his sight or power,
and though despicable and mean is not below his care and
cognizance. And <i>there is none else,</i> no true and living God
but himself. All the deities of the heathen were counterfeits and
usurpers; nor did any of them so much as pretend to be universal
monarchs in heaven and earth, but only local deities. The
Israelites, who worshipped no other than the supreme
<i>Numen—Divinity,</i> were for ever inexcusable if they either
changed their God or neglected him. [2.] That he is a <i>consuming
fire, a jealous God,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.24" parsed="|Deut|4|24|0|0" passage="De 4:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. Take heed of offending him, for, <i>First,</i> He
has a jealous eye to discern an affront; he must have your entire
affection and adoration, and will by no means endure a rival. God's
jealousy over us is a good reason for our godly jealousy over
ourselves. <i>Secondly,</i> He has a heavy hand to punish an
affront, especially in his worship, for therein he is in a special
manner jealous. He is a <i>consuming fire;</i> his wrath against
sinners is so; it is dreadful and destroying, it is a <i>fiery
indignation</i> which will <i>devour the adversaries,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.27" parsed="|Heb|10|27|0|0" passage="Heb 10:27">Heb. x. 27</scripRef>. Fire consumes that only
which is fuel for it, so the wrath of God fastens upon those only
who, by their own sin, have fitted themselves for destruction,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.3.13 Bible:Isa.27.4" parsed="|1Cor|3|13|0|0;|Isa|27|4|0|0" passage="1Co 3:13,Isa 27:4">1 Cor. iii. 13; Isa. xxvii.
4</scripRef>. Even in the New Testament we find the same argument
urged upon us as a reason why we should serve <i>God with
reverence</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.28-Heb.12.29" parsed="|Heb|12|28|12|29" passage="Heb 12:28,29">Heb. xii. 28,
29</scripRef>), because though he is our God, and a rejoicing light
to those that serve him faithfully, yet he is a consuming fire to
those that trifle with him. <i>Thirdly,</i> That yet he is <i>a
merciful God,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.31" parsed="|Deut|4|31|0|0" passage="De 4:31"><i>v.</i>
31</scripRef>. It comes in here as an encouragement to repentance,
but might serve as an inducement to obedience, and a consideration
proper to prevent their apostasy. Shall we forsake a merciful God,
who will never forsake us, as it follows here, if we be faithful
unto him? Whither can we go to better ourselves? Shall we forget
the covenant of our God, who will not <i>forget the covenant of our
fathers?</i> Let us be held to our duty by the bonds of love, and
prevailed with by the mercies of God to cleave to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p16">(2.) He urges their relation to this God,
his authority over them and their obligations to him. "The
commandments you are to keep and do are not mine," says Moses, "not
my inventions, not my injunctions, but they are the commandments of
the Lord, framed by infinite wisdom, enacted by sovereign power. He
is the <i>Lord God of your fathers</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.1" parsed="|Deut|4|1|0|0" passage="De 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), so that you are his by
inheritance: your fathers were his, and you were born in his house.
He is the <i>Lord your God</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.2" parsed="|Deut|4|2|0|0" passage="De 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), so that you are his by your own
consent. He is the <i>Lord my God</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.5" parsed="|Deut|4|5|0|0" passage="De 4:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), so that I treat with you as his
agent and ambassador;" and in his name Moses delivered unto them
all that, and that only, which he had received from the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p17">(3.) He urges the wisdom of being
religious: <i>For this is your wisdom in the sight of the
nations,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.6" parsed="|Deut|4|6|0|0" passage="De 4:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. In
keeping God's commandments, [1.] They would act wisely for
themselves; <i>This is your wisdom.</i> It is not only agreeable to
right reason, but highly conducive to our true interest; this is
one of the first and most ancient maxims of divine revelation.
<i>The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.28.28" parsed="|Job|28|28|0|0" passage="Job 28:28">Job xxviii. 28</scripRef>. [2.] They would answer the
expectations of their neighbours, who, upon reading or hearing the
precepts of the law that was given them, would conclude that
certainly the people that were governed by this law were a wise and
understanding people. Great things may justly be looked for from
those who are guided by divine revelation, and unto whom are
committed the oracles of God. They must needs be wiser and better
than other people; and so they are if they are ruled by the rules
that are given them; and if they are not, though reproach may for
their sakes be cast upon the religion they profess, yet it will in
the end certainly return upon themselves to their eternal
confusion. Those that enjoy the benefit of divine light and laws
ought to conduct themselves so as to support their own reputation
for wisdom and honour (see <scripRef id="Deu.v-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.10.1" parsed="|Eccl|10|1|0|0" passage="Ec 10:1">Eccl. x.
1</scripRef>), that God may be glorified thereby.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p18">(4.) He urges the singular advantages which
they enjoyed by virtue of the happy establishment they were under,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.7-Deut.4.8" parsed="|Deut|4|7|4|8" passage="De 4:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>. Our
communion with God (which is the highest honour and happiness we
are capable of in this world) is kept up by the word and prayer; in
both these Israel were happy above any people under heaven. [1.]
Never were any people so privileged in speaking to God, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.7" parsed="|Deut|4|7|0|0" passage="De 4:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. He was nigh unto them in
all that they called upon him for, ready to answer their enquiries
and resolve them by his oracle, ready to answer their requests and
to grant them by a particular providence. When they had cried unto
God for bread, for water, for healing, they had found him near
them, to succour and relieve them, a very present help, and in the
midst of them (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.1 Bible:Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|1|0|0;|Ps|46|5|0|0" passage="Ps 46:1,5">Ps. xlvi. 1,
5</scripRef>), his ear open to their prayers. Observe,
<i>First,</i> It is the character of God's Israel that on all
occasions they call upon him, in every thing they make their
requests known to God. They do nothing but what they consult him
in, they desire nothing but what they come to him for.
<i>Secondly,</i> Those that call upon God shall certainly find him
within call, and ready to give an answer of peace to every prayer
of faith; see <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.9" parsed="|Isa|58|9|0|0" passage="Isa 58:9">Isa. lviii.
9</scripRef>, "<i>Thou shalt cry,</i> as the child for a nurse,
<i>and he shall say, Here I am,</i> what does my dear child cry
for?" <i>Thirdly,</i> This is a privilege which makes the Israel of
God truly great and honourable. What can go further than this to
magnify a people or a person? Is any name more illustrious than
that of Israel, <i>a prince with God? What nation is there so
great?</i> Other nations might boast of greater numbers, larger
territories, and more ancient incorporations; but none could boast
of such an interest in heaven as Israel had. They had their gods,
but not so nigh to them as Israel's God was; they could not help
them in a time of need, as <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.18.27" parsed="|1Kgs|18|27|0|0" passage="1Ki 18:27">1 Kings
xviii. 27</scripRef>. [2.] Never were any people so privileged in
hearing from God, by the statutes and judgments which were set
before them, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.8" parsed="|Deut|4|8|0|0" passage="De 4:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
This also was the grandeur of Israel above any people. <i>What
nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so
righteous?</i> Observe, <i>First,</i> That all these statutes and
judgments of the divine law are infinitely just and righteous,
above the statutes and judgments of any of the nations. The law of
God is far more excellent that the law of nations. No law so
consonant to natural equity and the unprejudiced dictates of right
reason, so consistent with itself in all the parts of it, and so
conducive to the welfare and interest of mankind, as the
scripture-law is, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.128" parsed="|Ps|119|128|0|0" passage="Ps 119:128">Ps. cxix.
128</scripRef>. <i>Secondly,</i> The having of these statutes and
judgments set before them is the true and transcendent greatness of
any nation or people. See <scripRef id="Deu.v-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.19-Ps.147.20" parsed="|Ps|147|19|147|20" passage="Ps 147:19,20">Ps.
cxlvii. 19, 20</scripRef>. It is an honour to us that we have the
Bible in reputation and power among us. It is an evidence of a
people's being high in the favour of God, and a means of making
them high among the nations. Those that magnify the law shall be
magnified by it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p19">(5.) He urges God's glorious appearances to
them at Mount Sinai, when he gave them this law. This he insists
much upon. Take heed <i>lest thou forget the day that thou stoodest
before the Lord thy God in Horeb,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.10" parsed="|Deut|4|10|0|0" passage="De 4:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Some of them were now alive that
could remember it, though they were then under twenty years of age,
and the rest of them might be said to stand there in the loins of
their fathers, who received the law and entered into covenant
there, not for themselves only, but for their children, to whom God
had an eye particularly in giving the law, that they might teach it
to their children. Two things they must remember, and, one would
think, they could never forget them:—[1.] What they saw at Mount
Sinai, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.11" parsed="|Deut|4|11|0|0" passage="De 4:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. They
saw a strange composition of fire and darkness, both dreadful and
very awful; and they must needs be a striking foil to each other;
the darkness made the fire in the midst of it look the more
dreadful. Fires in the night are the most frightful, and the fire
made the darkness that surrounded it look the more awful; for it
must needs be a strong darkness which such a fire did not disperse.
In allusion to this appearance upon Mount Sinai, God is said to
show himself for his people, and against his and their enemies, in
fire and darkness together, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.8-Ps.18.9" parsed="|Ps|18|8|18|9" passage="Ps 18:8,9">Ps.
xviii. 8, 9</scripRef>. He tells them again (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.36" parsed="|Deut|4|36|0|0" passage="De 4:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>) what they saw, for he would have
them never forget it: <i>He showed thee his great fire.</i> One
flash of lightning, that fire from heaven, strikes an awe upon us;
and some have observed that most creatures naturally turn their
faces towards the lightning, as ready to receive the impressions of
it; but how dreadful then must a constant fire from heaven be! It
gave an earnest of the day of judgment, in which <i>the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed in flaming fire.</i> As he reminds them of what
they saw, so he tells them what they saw not; no manner of
similitude, from which they might form either an idea of God in
their fancies or an image of God in their high places. By what we
see of God sufficient ground is given us to believe him to be a
Being of infinite power and perfection, but no occasion given us to
suspect him to have a body such as we have. [2.] What they heard at
Mount Sinai (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.12" parsed="|Deut|4|12|0|0" passage="De 4:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>):
"<i>The Lord spoke unto you</i> with an intelligible voice, in your
own language, and you heard it." This he enlarges upon towards the
close of his discourse, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.32-Deut.4.33 Bible:Deut.4.36" parsed="|Deut|4|32|4|33;|Deut|4|36|0|0" passage="De 4:32,33,36"><i>v.</i>
32, 33, 36</scripRef>. <i>First, They heard the voice of God,
speaking out of heaven.</i> God manifests himself to all the world
in the works of creation, without speech or language, and yet their
voice is heard (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1-Ps.19.3" parsed="|Ps|19|1|19|3" passage="Ps 19:1-3">Ps. xix.
1-3</scripRef>); but to Israel he made himself known by speech and
language, condescending to the weakness of the church's infant
state. Here was the <i>voice of one crying in the wilderness, to
prepare the way of the Lord. Secondly,</i> They heard it <i>out of
the midst of the fire,</i> which showed that it was God himself
that spoke to them, for who else could dwell with devouring fire?
God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind, which was terrible; but to
Israel out of the fire, which was more terrible. We have reason to
be thankful that he does not thus speak to us, but by men like
ourselves, <i>whose terror shall not make us afraid,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.6-Job.33.7" parsed="|Job|33|6|33|7" passage="Job 33:6,7">Job xxxiii. 6, 7</scripRef>. <i>Thirdly,</i>
They heard it and yet lived, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.33" parsed="|Deut|4|33|0|0" passage="De 4:33"><i>v.</i>
33</scripRef>. It was a wonder of mercy that the fire did not
devour them, or that they did not die for fear, when Moses himself
trembled. <i>Fourthly,</i> Never any people heard the like. He bids
them enquire of former days and distant places, and they would find
this favour of God to Israel without precedent or parallel,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.32" parsed="|Deut|4|32|0|0" passage="De 4:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. This singular
honour done them called for singular obedience from them. It might
justly be expected that they should do more for God than other
people, since God had done so much more for them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p20">(6.) He urges God's gracious appearances
for them, in bringing them out of Egypt, from the iron furnace,
where they laboured in the fire, forming them into a people, and
then taking them to be his own people, a <i>people of
inheritance</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.20" parsed="|Deut|4|20|0|0" passage="De 4:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>); this he mentions again, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.34 Bible:Deut.4.37 Bible:Deut.4.28" parsed="|Deut|4|34|0|0;|Deut|4|37|0|0;|Deut|4|28|0|0" passage="De 4:34,37,28"><i>v.</i> 34, 37, 38</scripRef>. Never did God do
such a thing for any people; the rise of this nation was quite
different from that of all other nations. [1.] They were thus
dignified and distinguished, not for any thing in them that was
deserving or inviting, but because God had a kindness for their
fathers: he chose them. See the reasons of free grace; we are not
beloved for our own sakes, but for his sake who is the great
trustee of the covenant. [2.] They were delivered out of Egypt by
miracles and signs, in mercy to them and in judgment upon the
Egyptians, against whom God stretched out his arm, which was
signified by Moses's stretching out his hand in summoning the
plagues. [3.] They were designed for a happy settlement in Canaan,
<scripRef id="Deu.v-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.38" parsed="|Deut|4|38|0|0" passage="De 4:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>. Nations must
be driven out from before them, to make room for them, to show how
much dearer they were to God than any other people were. Egyptians
and Canaanites must both be sacrificed to Israel's honour and
interest. Those that stand in Israel's light, in Israel's way,
shall find it is at their peril.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p21">(7.) He urges God's righteous appearance
against them sometimes for their sins. He specifies particularly
the matter of Peor, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.3-Deut.4.4" parsed="|Deut|4|3|4|4" passage="De 4:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>. This had happened very lately: their eyes had seen
but the other day the sudden destruction of those that joined
themselves to Baal-peor and the preservation of those that clave to
the Lord, from which they might easily infer the danger of apostasy
from God and the benefit of adherence to him. He also takes notice
again of God's displeasure against himself: <i>The Lord was angry
with me for your sakes,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.21-Deut.4.22" parsed="|Deut|4|21|4|22" passage="De 4:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>. He mentions this to try
their ingenuousness, whether they would really be troubled for the
great prejudice which they had occasioned to their faithful friend
and leader. Others' sufferings for our sakes should grieve us more
than our own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p22">(8.) He urges the certain advantage of
obedience. This argument he begins with (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.1" parsed="|Deut|4|1|0|0" passage="De 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>That you may live, and go in
and possess the land;</i> and this he concludes with (<scripRef id="Deu.v-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.40" parsed="|Deut|4|40|0|0" passage="De 4:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>): <i>That it may go well
with thee, and with thy children after thee.</i> He reminds them
that they were upon their good behaviour, that their prosperity
would depend upon their piety. If they kept God's precepts, he
would undoubtedly fulfil his promises.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p23">(9.) He urges the fatal consequences of
their apostasy from God, that it would undoubtedly be the ruin of
their nation. This he enlarges upon, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.25-Deut.4.31" parsed="|Deut|4|25|4|31" passage="De 4:25-31"><i>v.</i> 25-31</scripRef>. Here, [1.] He foresees
their revolt from God to idols, that in process of time, when they
had remained long in the land and were settled upon their lees,
they <i>would corrupt themselves, and make a graven image;</i> this
was the sin that would most easily beset them, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.25" parsed="|Deut|4|25|0|0" passage="De 4:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. [2.] He foretells the judgments
of God upon them for this: <i>You shall utterly be destroyed</i>
(<scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.26" parsed="|Deut|4|26|0|0" passage="De 4:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), <i>scattered
among the nations,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.27" parsed="|Deut|4|27|0|0" passage="De 4:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>. And their sin should be made their punishment
(<scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.28" parsed="|Deut|4|28|0|0" passage="De 4:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>): "<i>There
shall you serve gods, the work of men's hands,</i> be compelled to
serve them, whether you will or no, or, through your own
sottishness and stupidity, you will find no better succours to
apply yourselves in your captivity." Those that cast off the duties
of religion in their prosperity cannot expect the comforts of it
when they come to be in distress. Justly are they then sent to the
<i>gods whom they have served,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.10.14" parsed="|Judg|10|14|0|0" passage="Jdg 10:14">Judg. x. 14</scripRef>. [3.] Yet he encourages them to
hope that God would reserve mercy for them in the latter days, that
he would by his judgments upon them bring them to repentance, and
take them again into covenant with himself, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.29-Deut.4.31" parsed="|Deut|4|29|4|31" passage="De 4:29-31"><i>v.</i> 29-31</scripRef>. Here observe,
<i>First,</i> That whatever place we are in we may <i>thence seek
the Lord our God,</i> though ever so remote from our own land or
from his holy temple. There is no part of this earth that has a
gulf fixed between it and heaven. <i>Secondly,</i> Those, and those
only, shall find God to their comfort, who seek him with all their
heart, that is, who are entirely devoted to him, earnestly desirous
of his favour and solicitous to obtain it. <i>Thirdly,</i>
Afflictions are sent to engage and quicken us to see God, and, by
the grace of God working with them, many are thus reduced to their
right mind, "When these things shall come upon thee, it is to be
hoped that thou wilt <i>turn to the Lord thy God,</i> for thou
seest what comes of turning from him;" see <scripRef id="Deu.v-p23.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.11-Dan.9.12" parsed="|Dan|9|11|9|12" passage="Da 9:11,12">Dan. ix. 11, 12</scripRef>. <i>Fourthly,</i> God's
faithfulness to his covenant encourages us to hope that he will not
reject us, though we be driven to him by affliction. If we at
length remember the covenant, we shall find that he has not
forgotten it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p24">Now let all these arguments be laid
together, and then say whether religion has not reason on its side.
None cast off the government of their God but those that have first
abandoned the understanding of a man.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.v-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.41-Deut.4.49" parsed="|Deut|4|41|4|49" passage="De 4:41-49" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.4.41-Deut.4.49">
<p class="passage" id="Deu.v-p25">41 Then Moses severed three cities on this side
Jordan toward the sunrising;   42 That the slayer might flee
thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him
not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he
might live:   43 <i>Namely,</i> Bezer in the wilderness, in
the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the
Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.   44 And this
<i>is</i> the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
  45 These <i>are</i> the testimonies, and the statutes, and
the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after
they came forth out of Egypt,   46 On this side Jordan, in the
valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the
Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of
Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:   47
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two
kings of the Amorites, which <i>were</i> on this side Jordan toward
the sunrising;   48 From Aroer, which <i>is</i> by the bank of
the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which <i>is</i> Hermon,
  49 And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto
the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.v-p26">Here is, 1. The nomination of the cities of
refuge on that side Jordan where Israel now lay encamped. Three
cities were appointed for that purpose, one in the lot of Reuben,
another in that of Gad, and another in that of the half tribe of
Manasseh, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.41-Deut.4.43" parsed="|Deut|4|41|4|43" passage="De 4:41-43"><i>v.</i>
41-43</scripRef>. What Moses could do for that people while he was
yet with them he did, to give example to the rulers who were
settled that they might observe them the better when he was gone.
2. The introduction to another sermon that Moses preached to
Israel, which we have in the following chapters. Probably it was
preached the next sabbath day after, when the congregation attended
to receive instruction. He had in general exhorted them to
obedience in the former chapter; here he comes to repeat the law
which they were to observe, for he demands a universal but not an
implicit obedience. How can we do our duty if we do not know it?
Here therefore he sets the law before them as the rule they were to
work by, the way they were to walk in, sets it before them as the
glass in which they were to see their natural face, that, looking
into this perfect law of liberty, they might continue therein.
<i>These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments,</i>
the moral, ceremonial, and judicial laws, which had been enacted
before, when Israel had newly come out of Egypt, and were now
repeated, <i>on this side Jordan,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.v-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.44-Deut.4.46" parsed="|Deut|4|44|4|46" passage="De 4:44-46"><i>v.</i> 44-46</scripRef>. The place where Moses gave
them these laws in charge is here particularly described. (1.) It
was over-against Beth-peor, an idol-temple of the Moabites, which
perhaps Moses sometimes looked towards, with a particular caution
to them against the infection of that and other such like dangerous
places. (2.) It was upon their new conquests, in the very land
which they had got out of the hands of Sihon and Og, and were now
actually in possession of, <scripRef id="Deu.v-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.47" parsed="|Deut|4|47|0|0" passage="De 4:47"><i>v.</i>
47</scripRef>. Their present triumphs herein were a powerful
argument for obedience.</p>
</div></div2>