Deuteronomy 31:16-29

16 And the LORD said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
17 And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’
18 And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.
19 “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.
20 When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.
21 And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”
22 So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.
23 The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”
24 After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,
25 he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:
26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.
27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!
28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.
29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

Deuteronomy 31:16-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 31

Moses being old, and knowing he should quickly die, and must not go over Jordan with the people of Israel, acquaints them with it, and encourages them and Joshua to go over notwithstanding, and not be afraid of their enemies, since the Lord would go with them, and deliver them into their hands, De 31:1-8; and having written the law, he delivered it to the priests, and ordered that it should be read at the end of every seven years before all the people, that they and theirs might learn it, and fear the Lord, De 31:9-13; and whereas the death of Moses was very near, and the Lord foreseeing the people would quickly fall into idolatry, which would bring great calamities upon them, he directed Moses to write a song, which should be a witness for him, and against them, in ages to come; which Moses accordingly did, De 31:14-22; and Moses having given a charge to Joshua, and finished the writing of the law in a book, gave it to the Levites to put it in the side of the ark, De 31:23-27; and then ordered the chief of the tribes to be gathered together, that he might deliver the song, which by the direction and under the inspiration of God he had written, De 31:28-30; which song is recorded in De 32:1-43.

Cross References 29

  • 1. S Genesis 15:15
  • 2. S Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 4:25-28; Judges 2:12
  • 3. Judges 10:6,13; 1 Kings 9:9; 1 Kings 18:18; 1 Kings 19:10; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 5:19; Jeremiah 19:4
  • 4. Deuteronomy 32:16; Judges 2:14,20; Judges 10:7; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 22:13; Psalms 106:29,40; Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 21:5; Jeremiah 36:7
  • 5. Judges 6:13; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 24:20; Ezra 8:22; Psalms 44:9; Isaiah 2:6
  • 6. Deuteronomy 32:20; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 8:17; Isaiah 45:15; Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 54:8
  • 7. Job 13:24; Psalms 13:1; Psalms 27:9; Psalms 30:7; Psalms 104:29; Isaiah 50:6; Jeremiah 33:5; Ezekiel 39:29; Micah 3:4
  • 8. Jeremiah 4:20; Ezekiel 7:26
  • 9. Numbers 14:42; Hosea 9:12
  • 10. ver 22
  • 11. S Genesis 31:50
  • 12. Deuteronomy 6:10-12
  • 13. Deuteronomy 32:15-17; Psalms 4:2; Psalms 16:4; Psalms 40:4; Jeremiah 13:25; Daniel 3:28; Amos 2:4
  • 14. Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 11:16-17
  • 15. ver 16
  • 16. ver 17; S Deuteronomy 4:30
  • 17. 1 Chronicles 28:9; Hosea 5:3; John 2:24-25
  • 18. ver 19
  • 19. S ver 7
  • 20. Joshua 1:6
  • 21. Deuteronomy 17:18; 2 Kings 22:8
  • 22. Deuteronomy 28:58
  • 23. S ver 9
  • 24. ver 19
  • 25. S Exodus 23:21
  • 26. S Deuteronomy 9:27; Exodus 32:9; Deuteronomy 9:6,24
  • 27. Deuteronomy 4:26; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 32:1; Job 20:27; Isaiah 26:21
  • 28. S Deuteronomy 4:16; Revelation 9:20; Deuteronomy 32:5; Judges 2:19
  • 29. 1 Kings 9:9; 1 Kings 22:23; 2 Kings 22:16; Deuteronomy 28:15
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.