Deuteronomy 10:5-15

5 I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are as the LORD commanded me.

6 (The children of Yisra'el journeyed from Be'erot Bene-Ya`akan to Moserah. There Aharon died, and there he was buried; and El`azar his son ministered in the Kohen's office in his place.

7 From there they journeyed to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Yotvatah, a land of brooks of water.

8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.

9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD your God spoke to him.)

10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights: and the LORD listened to me that time also; the LORD would not destroy you.

11 The LORD said to me, Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give to them.

12 Now, Yisra'el, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

13 to keep the mitzvot of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good?

14 Behold, to the LORD your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the eretz, with all that is therein.

15 Only the LORD had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day.

Deuteronomy 10:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 10

In this chapter an account is given of an order to Moses to hew two tables of stone, on which the Lord would write the words that were on the first, and to make an ark and put them into it, all which was accordingly done, De 10:1-5 and of some of the journeys of the children of Israel, De 10:6,7 and of the separation of the tribe of Levi to the service of the sanctuary, De 10:8,9 and of Moses's stay in the mount forty days and nights, and his success there, and the direction he had to lead on the people of Israel towards Canaan's land, De 10:10,11 and who by various arguments are exhorted to fear the Lord, and serve him, and keep his commands, De 10:12-22.