Deuteronomy 4:2-9

2 "1You shall not add to the word which 2I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
3 "3Your eyes have seen what * the LORD has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed * Baal-peor, the LORD your God has destroyed them from among you.
4 "But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.
5 "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments 4just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where * you are entering to possess it.
6 "So keep and do them, 5for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
7 "For 6what great nation is there that has a god 7so near to it as is the LORD our God 8whenever we call on Him?
8 "Or what great nation is there that has 9statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
9 "Only 10give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart 11all the days of your life; but 12make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

Deuteronomy 4:2-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 4

This chapter contains an exhortation to Israel to keep the commands, statutes, and judgments of God, urged from the superior excellency of them to those of all other nations, De 4:1-8, from the manner in which they were delivered, out of the midst of fire, by a voice of words, but no similitude seen, De 4:9-15, and particularly the Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, from the consideration of the goodness of God to them, in bringing them out of Egypt, De 4:16-20, and the rather Moses is urgent upon them to be diligent in their obedience to the laws of God, because he should quickly be removed from them, De 4:21-24, and should they be disobedient to them, it would provoke the Lord to destroy them, or to carry them captive into other lands, De 4:25-28 though even then, if they repented and sought the Lord, and became obedient, he would be merciful to them, and not forsake them, De 4:29-31 and they are put in mind again of the amazing things God had done for them, in speaking to them out of fire, and they alive; in bringing them out of another nation, and driving out other nations to make room for them; all which he improves, as so many arguments to move them to obedience to the divine commands, De 4:32-40 and then notice is taken of the three cities of refuge, separated on this side Jordan, De 4:41-43, and the chapter is concluded with observing, that this is the law, and these the testimonies, Moses declared and repeated to the children of Israel in the country of Sihon and Og, who were delivered into their hands, and their lands possessed by them, which laid them under fresh obligations to yield obedience to God, De 4:44-49.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18
  • 2. Deut 4:5, 14, 40
  • 3. Numbers 25:1-9
  • 4. Leviticus 26:46; Leviticus 27:34
  • 5. Deuteronomy 30:19, 20; Deuteronomy 32:46, 47; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 2 Timothy 3:15
  • 6. Deuteronomy 4:32-34; 2 Samuel 7:23
  • 7. Psalms 34:17, 18; Psalms 145:18; Psalms 148:14; Isaiah 55:6
  • 8. Psalms 34:18; Psalms 85:9
  • 9. Psalms 89:14; Psalms 97:2; Psalms 119:144, 160, 172
  • 10. Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11, 14, 19; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 23:19
  • 11. Deuteronomy 6:2; Deuteronomy 12:1; Deuteronomy 16:3
  • 12. Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:7, 20-25; Deuteronomy 11:19; Deuteronomy 32:46; Psalms 78:5, 6; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4

Footnotes 1

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