Deuteronomy 8:2-12

2 Remember how the Lord your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands.

3 He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says. ¹

4 During these forty years your clothes have not worn out, nor have your feet swollen up.

5 Remember that the Lord your God corrects and punishes you just as parents discipline their children. ²

6 So then, do as the Lord has commanded you: live according to his laws and obey him.

7 The Lord your God is bringing you into a fertile land - a land that has rivers and springs, and underground streams gushing out into the valleys and hills;

8 a land that produces wheat and barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and honey.

9 There you will never go hungry or ever be in need. Its rocks have iron in them, and from its hills you can mine copper.

10 You will have all you want to eat, and you will give thanks to the Lord your God for the fertile land that he has given you.

11 "Make certain that you do not forget the Lord your God; do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today. ³

12 When you have all you want to eat and have built good houses to live in

Deuteronomy 8:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 8

In this chapter Moses repeats the exhortation to observe the commands of God, and urges the Israelites to it, from the consideration of the great and good things God had done for them in the wilderness, and even in those instances which were chastisements, and were of an humbling nature, De 8:1-6, and on the consideration of the blessings of the good land they were going to possess, De 8:7-9 for which blessings they are exhorted to be thankful, and are cautioned against pride of heart through them, and forgetfulness of God, and of his goodness to them while in the wilderness, and when brought into the land of Canaan, which they were to ascribe to his power and goodness, and not their own, De 8:10-18, and the chapter is concluded with a warning against idolatry, lest they perish through it as the nations before them, De 8:19,20.

Cross References

• 1. 8.3Matthew 4.4;Luke 4.4.
• 2. +28.5Wisdom 11.9, 10.
• 3. 8.11-16Hosea 13.5, 6.