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Deuteronomy 31:6
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4 aAnd the Lord will do to them bas He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them.  
5 aThe Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.  
6 aBe strong and of good courage, bdo not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, cHe is the One who goes with you. dHe will not leave you nor forsake you.”  
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, a“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.  
8 And the Lord, aHe is the One who goes before you. bHe will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”  

The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years

9 So Moses wrote this law aand delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, bwho bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.  
10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the ayear of release, bat the Feast of Tabernacles,  
11 when all Israel comes to aappear before the Lord your God in the bplace which He chooses, cyou shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  
12 aGather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law,  
13 and that their children, awho have not known it, bmay hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”  

Prediction of Israel’s Rebellion

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, a“Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that bI may inaugurate him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting.  
15 Now athe Lord appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.  
16 And the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, you will1 rest with your fathers; and this people will arise and bplay the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will cforsake Me and dbreak My covenant which I have made with them.  
17 Then My anger shall be aaroused against them in that day, and bI will forsake them, and I will chide My face from them, and they shall be1 devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, d‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is enot among us?’  
18 And aI will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.  
19 “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be aa witness for Me against the children of Israel.  
20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves aand grown fat, bthen they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.  
21 Then it shall be, awhen many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for bI know the inclination cof their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.”  
22 Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.
23 aThen He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, b“Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”  
24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished,
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
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Deuteronomy 31:1-30

Moses encourages the people, and Joshua. (1-8) The law to be read every seventh year. (9-13) The Israelites' apostacy foretold, A song given to be witness against them. (14-22) The law delivered to the Levites. (22-30)

Verses 1-8 Moses assures Israel of the constant presence of God with them. This is applied by the apostle to all God's spiritual Israel, to encourage their faith and hope; unto us is this gospel preached, as well as unto them; he will never fail thee, nor forsake thee, hebrews 13:5 . Moses commends Joshua to them for a leader; one whose wisdom, and courage, and affection they had long known; one whom God had appointed to be their leader; and therefore would own and bless. Joshua is well pleased to be admonished by Moses to be strong and of good courage. Those shall speed well, who have God with them; therefore they ought to be of good courage. Through God let us do valiantly, for through him we shall do victoriously; if we resist the devil, he will flee from us.

Verses 9-13 Though we read the word in private, we must not think it needless to hear it read in public. This solemn reading of the law must be done in the year of release. The year of release was typical of gospel grace, which is called the acceptable year of the Lord; for our pardon and liberty by Christ, engage us to keep his commandments. It must be read to all Israel, men, women, children, and to the strangers. It is the will of God that all people should acquaint themselves with his word. It is a rule to all, therefore should be read to all. Whoever has read of the pains taken by many persons to get scraps of the Scriptures, when a whole copy could not be obtained, or safely possessed, will see how thankful we should be for the thousands of copies amongst us. They will also understand the very different situation in which the Israelites were placed for many ages. But the heart of man is so careless, that all will be found too little, to keep up a knowledge of the truths, precepts, and worship of God.

Verses 14-22 Moses and Joshua attended the Divine Majesty at the door of the tabernacle. Moses is told again that he must shortly die; even those who are most ready and willing to die, need to be often reminded of its coming. The Lord tells Moses, that, after his death, the covenant he had taken so much pains to make between Israel and their God, would certainly be broken. Israel would forsake Him; then God would forsake Israel. Justly does he cast those off who so unjustly cast him off. Moses is directed to deliver them a song, which should remain a standing testimony for God, as faithful to them in giving them warning, and against them, as persons false to themselves in not taking the warning. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of men's hearts, and meets them by reproofs and correction. Ministers who preach the word, know not the imaginations of men; but God, whose word it is, knows perfectly.

Verses 23-30 The solemn delivery of the book of the law to the Levites, to be deposited in, or rather by the side, of the ark, is again related. The song which follows in the next chapter is delivered to Moses, and by him to the people. He wrote it first, as the Holy Spirit taught him; and then spake it in the hearing of all the people. Moses tells them plainly, I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves. Many a sad thought, no doubt, it occasioned to this good man; but his comfort was, that he had done his duty, and that God would be glorified in their dispersion, if not in their settlement, for the foundation of God stands sure.


 
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