Deuteronomy 11:13-17

13 "It shall come about, 1if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, 2to love the LORD your God and to serve Him 3with all your heart and all your soul,
14 that 4He will give the rain for your land in its season, the 5early and late rain *, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.
15 "6He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and 7you will eat and be satisfied.
16 "8Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them.
17 "Or 9the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will 10shut up the heavens 11so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and 12you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:13-17 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 12

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

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. So some ancient versions; M.T. reads "I"
  • [b]. I.e. autumn
  • [c]. I.e. spring
  • [d]. So some ancient versions; M.T. reads "I"
  • [e]. Lit "Watch yourselves"
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