Deuteronomy 29:9-15

9 "1So keep the words of this covenant to do them, 2that you may prosper in all that you do.
10 "You stand today, all of you, before the LORD your God: your chiefs, your tribes, your elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel,
11 your little ones, your wives, and the alien who is within your camps, from 3the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water,
12 that you may enter into the covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath which the LORD your God is making with you today,
13 in order that He may establish you today as His people and that 4He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14 "Now not with you alone am I 5making this covenant and this oath,
15 6but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God and with those who are not with us here today

Deuteronomy 29:9-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 29

This chapter begins with an intimation of another covenant the Lord was about to make with the people of Israel, De 29:1; and, to prepare their minds to an attention to it, various things which the Lord had done for them are recited, De 29:2-9; the persons are particularly mentioned with whom the covenant would now be made, the substance of which is, that they should be his people, and he their God, De 29:10-15; and since they had seen the idols in Egypt and other countries, with which they might have been ensnared, they are cautioned against idolatry and idolaters, as being most provoking to the Lord, De 29:16-21; which would bring destruction not only on particular persons, but upon their whole land, to the amazement of posterity; who, inquiring the reason of it, will be told, it was because they forsook the covenant of God, and particularly were guilty of idolatry, which, whether privately or openly committed, would be always punished, De 29:22-29.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Deuteronomy 4:6; 1 Kings 2:3
  • 2. Joshua 1:7
  • 3. Josh 9:21, 23, 27
  • 4. Genesis 17:7; Exodus 6:7
  • 5. Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:7, 8
  • 6. Acts 2:39
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