Deuteronomy 11:7-17

7 but your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did.
8 "You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, 1so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross to possess it;
9 2so that you may prolong your days on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, 3a land flowing with milk and honey.
10 "For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden.
11 "But 4the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,
12 a land for which the LORD your God cares; 5the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.
13 "It shall come about, 6if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, 7to love the LORD your God and to serve Him 8with all your heart and all your soul,
14 that 9He will give the rain for your land in its season, the 10early and late rain *, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.
15 "11He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and 12you will eat and be satisfied.
16 "13Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them.
17 "Or 14the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will 15shut up the heavens 16so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and 17you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 11

In this chapter, the exhortation to love the Lord, and keep his commands, is repeated and urged again and again from various considerations; as not only from the chastisement of Pharaoh and the wicked Egyptians, but of such Israelites who offended the Lord, and transgressed his law, De 12:1-7, from the goodness and excellency of the land they were going to inherit, De 11:8-11, from the blessing of rain that would come upon it, and be productive of all good things for man and beast, in case of obedience, and a restraint of it in case of disobedience, De 11:12-17, from the continuance of them and their offspring in the land, should they be careful to observe the commands themselves, and teach them their children, De 11:18-21, and from the extensiveness of their conquests and dominions, De 11:22-25 and from the different issue and effects of their conduct and behaviour, a blessing upon them if obedient, but a curse if disobedient, De 11:26-28 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal; the situation of which places is described when they should come into the land of Canaan, of which they are assured, De 11:29-32.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Deut 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6, 7
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:16, 33; Deuteronomy 6:2; Proverbs 10:27
  • 3. Exodus 3:8
  • 4. Deuteronomy 8:7
  • 5. 1 Kings 9:3
  • 6. Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 7:12
  • 7. Deuteronomy 11:1
  • 8. Deuteronomy 4:29
  • 9. Leviticus 26:4; Deuteronomy 28:12
  • 10. Joel 2:23; James 5:7
  • 11. Psalms 104:14
  • 12. Deuteronomy 6:11
  • 13. Job 31:27
  • 14. Deuteronomy 6:15; Deuteronomy 9:19
  • 15. 1 Kings 8:35; 2 Chronicles 6:26; 2 Chronicles 7:13
  • 16. Deuteronomy 28:24
  • 17. Deuteronomy 4:26

Footnotes 8

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