Deuteronomy 4:32-38

32 "Indeed, 1ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the 2day that God created man on the earth, and inquire 3from one end of the heavens to the other *. 4Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?
33 "5Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived?
34 "6Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation 7by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and 8by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
35 "To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; 9there is no other besides * Him.
36 "10Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice 11to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.
37 "12Because * He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. And He 13personally brought you from Egypt by His great power,
38 driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and 14to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 4:32-38 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 14

  • 1. Deuteronomy 32:7; Job 8:8
  • 2. Genesis 1:27; Isaiah 45:12
  • 3. Deuteronomy 28:64; Matthew 24:31
  • 4. Deuteronomy 4:7; 2 Samuel 7:23
  • 5. Exodus 20:22; Deuteronomy 5:24, 26
  • 6. Exodus 14:30; Deuteronomy 33:29
  • 7. Deuteronomy 7:19
  • 8. Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 6:21; Psalms 136:12
  • 9. Exodus 8:10; Exodus 9:14; Deuteronomy 4:39; Deuteronomy 32:12, 39; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 43:10-12; Isaiah 44:6-8; Isaiah 45:5-7; Mark 12:32
  • 10. Exodus 19:9, 19; Exodus 20:18, 22; Deuteronomy 4:33; Nehemiah 9:13; Hebrews 12:25
  • 11. Deuteronomy 8:5
  • 12. Deuteronomy 7:7, 8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 33:3
  • 13. Exodus 33:14; Isaiah 63:9
  • 14. Numbers 32:4; Numbers 34:14, 15

Footnotes 5

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