Matthew Poole and continuators on Deuteronomy 31

1 AND Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

(i. e.) Proceeded or continued to speak, An usual Hebrew phrase. Or, went to the place where he had assembled the people that he might speak to them.

2 And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day: I can no more go out and come in : also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

(i. e.) Perform the Office of a Leader or Governour, either because I now find a decay of my mind and body: which seems not well to agree with Deut. 34. 7. or because I foresee the time of my death approaches.

Marginal references: chap. 34▪; Num. [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] ▪ Chap. 3. 2▪

4 And the LORD shall do unto them, as he did to Sihon, and to Og, kings of the Amorite, and unto the land of them whom he destroyed.

Which he gave to you to possess.

Marginal references: Numb. 21. 24, 33.

5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face , that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

(i. e.) Into your power. See on Deut. 1. 8.

Marginal references: Chap. 7. [illegible: 1+ letters].

9 And Moses wrote this law , and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi , which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel .

Largely so called, the whole Law or Doctrine delivered unto Moses contained in these five books.

That they might keep it carefully and religiously, and bring it forth upon occasion, and read it, and instruct the people out of it.

To wit, sometimes in great solemnities, as Ios. 3. 13, 17. and 6. 12. 1 King. 8. 3. though the Levites also might bear it, as appears from Numb. 3. and 4. and 10. 1 Chron. 15. 2.

Who were Assistants to the Priests, and overseers to take care that the Law should be kept, and read, and observed.

10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release , in the feast of tabernacles,

When they were freed from debts and troubles, and cares of worldly matters, and thereby fitter to attend upon God and his service.

Marginal references: Chap. 15. 1.

11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall chuse, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Thy self in part, for the Jews tell us that the King was in person to read some part of it, or at least, thou shalt cause it to be read by the Priests or Levites, for he could not read it himself in the hearing of all Israel, but this was to be done by several persons, and to the people met in several congregations. See Nehem. 8. 1, &c.

Marginal references: Josh. 8. 34, 35.

12 Gather the people together , men, and women , and children , and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn , and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

Not into one place, where all could not hear, but into divers Assemblies or Synagogues.

Who hereby are required to go to Ierusalem at this solemnity, as they were permitted to do in other solemnities, when the Males onely were enjoyned to go, Exod. 23. 17.

To wit, such of them as could understand, as appears from Neh. 8. 2, 3.

(i. e.) The Proselytes, though others also were admitted.

That they may then certainly and constantly do so, though they had also other opportunities to do so, as upon the Sabbath-days, Act. 15. 21. and other solemn feasts, yea even in their private houses.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy dayes approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present your selves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge . And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Either properly so called, for though the Priests onely might ordinarily enter there, yet others might go in upon a call and command from God, which here they had: or in the court of the Tabernacle, at the door of which God stood in the cloudy pillar, v. 15. the Court coming here under the name of the Tabernacle, as elsewhere it comes under the name of the Temple.

Immediately from my self for his greater encouragement, and to gain him more authority with the people.

Marginal references: Num. 27. 19.

16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land , whither they go to be amongst them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

The death of men, both good and bad, is oft called a sleep, because they shall certainly awake out of it by resurrection. See Psal. 76. 5. Dan. 12. 2. 1 Thess. 4. 13, &c. 2 Pet. 3. 4.

God certainly foresees all things to come, yea, even those which depend upon the wills of men, or contingencies of the things, as this unquestionably did.

(i. e.) Of the Canaanites, who now are possessours, but shortly will be turned out of their possessions, and become as strangers in their own land. This aggravates their folly to worship such Gods as could neither preserve their friends, nor annoy their enemies.

Marginal references: Heb. lie down.

17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not amongst us?

(i. e.) Withdraw my favour and help.

Marginal references: Psal. 104. 29.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word].

19 Now therefore write ye this song for you▪ and teach it the children of Israel, put it in their mouths , that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Which is contained Deut. 32. and is put into a song that it be better learned, and more fixed in their minds and memories.

Cause them to learn it, and sing it one to another, to oblige them to more circumspection and watchfulness.

Of my kindness in giving them so many blessings, of my patience in bearing so long with them, of my clemency in giving them such fair and plain warnings, and my justice in punishing such an unthankful perverse and incorrigible people.

21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and▪ troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testifie against them as a witness: for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination, which they go about even now , before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

This seems not to be a precept that they should remember it, but a prediction, that God would give them sad occasion to remember it, by bringing upon them the dreadful calamities mentioned in it.

Either their inward inclinations to Idolatry, which they do not check, as they ought, but rather entertain with delight, and some of them do not onely cherish it in their hearts, but as far as they can and dare, secretly practise it, as may be gathered from Amos 5. 25. Act. 7. 43. or their secret purposes to allow themselves therein, when they are settled in their land, which were clearly known to God, though it may be not fully evident to themselves.

Marginal references: Heb. before.; Heb. do.

23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them : and I will be with thee.

This wickedness of theirs which I now foresee and foretell shall not hinder me from bringing them into Canaan.

Marginal references: Josh. 1. 6.

25 That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

(i. e.) The Priests ver. 9. who also were Levites.

26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee :

(i. e.) In the outside, in a little chest fixed to it, for nothing but the Tables of stone were contained in the Ark, 1 King. 8. 9. Here it was kept for greater security and reverence.

(i. e.) Against thy people, to whom he here turns his speech that they might be more affected with it.