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Deuteronomy
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE FIFTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED
D E U T E R O N O M Y.
THIS
book is a repetition of very much both of the history and of the laws
contained in the three foregoing books, which repetition Moses
delivered to Israel (both by word of mouth, that it might affect, and
by writing, that it might abide) a little before his death. There is no
new history in it but that of the death of Moses in the last chapter,
nor any new revelation to Moses, for aught that appears, and therefore
the style here is not, as before, The Lord spoke unto Moses,
saying. But the former laws are repeated and commented upon,
explained and enlarged, and some particular precepts added to them,
with copious reasonings for the enforcing of them: in this Moses was
divinely inspired and assisted, so that this is as truly the word of
the Lord by Moses as that which was spoken to him with an audible voice
out of the tabernacle of the congregation,
The Greek interpreters call it Deuteronomy, which signifies the
second law, or a second edition of the law, not with
amendments, for there needed none, but with additions, for the further
direction of the people in divers cases not mentioned before. Now,
I. It was much for the honour of the divine law that it should be thus
repeated; how great were the things of that law which was thus
inculcated, and how inexcusable would those be by whom they were
counted as a strange thing!
Hos. viii. 12.
II. There might be a particular reason for the repeating of it now; the
men of that generation to which the law was first given were all dead,
and a new generation had sprung up, to whom God would have it repeated
by Moses himself, that, if possible, it might make a lasting impression
upon them. Now that they were just going to take possession of the land
of Canaan, Moses must read the articles of agreement to them, that they
might know upon what terms and conditions they were to hold and enjoy
that land, and might understand that they were upon their good
behaviour in it.
III. It would be of great use to the people to have those parts of the
law thus gathered up and put together which did more immediately
concern them and their practice; for the laws which concerned the
priests and Levites, and the execution of their offices, are not
repeated: it was enough for them that they were once delivered. But,
in compassion to the infirmities of the people, the laws of more common
concern are delivered a second time. Precept must be upon precept,
and line upon line,
Isa. xxviii. 10.
The great and needful truths of the gospel should be often pressed upon
people by the ministers of Christ. To write the same things
(says Paul,
to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. What God
has spoken once we have need to hear twice, to hear many times, and it
is well if, after all, it be duly perceived and regarded. In three
ways this book of Deuteronomy was magnified and made honourable:–
1. The king was to write a copy of it with his own hand, and to read
therein all the days of his life,
2. It was to be written upon great stones plastered, at their passing
over Jordan,
3. It was to be read publicly every seventh year, at the feast of
tabernacles, by the priests, in the audience of all Israel,
&c. The gospel is a kind of Deuteronomy, a second law, a remedial law,
a spiritual law, a law of faith; by it we are under the law of Christ,
and it is a law that makes the comers thereunto perfect.
This book of Deuteronomy begins with a brief rehearsal of the most
remarkable events that had befallen the Israelites since they came from
Mount Sinai. In the fourth chapter we have a most pathetic exhortation
to obedience. In the twelfth chapter, and so on to the twenty-seventh,
are repeated many particular laws, which are enforced
with promises and threatenings, blessings and curses, formed into a
covenant,
Care is taken to perpetuate the remembrance of these things among them
(ch. xxxi.),
particularly by a song
(ch. xxxii.),
and so Moses concludes with a blessing,
All this was delivered by Moses to Israel in the last month of his
life. The whole book contains the history but of two months; compare
the latter of which was the thirty days of Israel’s mourning for Moses;
see how busy that great and good man was to do good when he knew that
his time was short, how quick his motion when he drew near his rest.
Thus we have more recorded of what our blessed Saviour said and did in
the last week of his life than in any other. The last words of eminent
persons make or should make deep impressions. Observe, for the honour
of this book, that when our Saviour would answer the devil’s
temptations with, It is written, he fetched all his quotations
out of this book,
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