Deuteronomy 31:9

The Reading of the Law

9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹

Deuteronomy 31:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:9

And Moses wrote this law
The book of Deuteronomy, or the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, which he had now finished, and which all of them together are sometimes called the law, ( Galatians 4:21 ) ;

and delivered it unto the priests, the sons of Levi;
who were the teachers of the law, as Aben Ezra observes; see ( Malachi 2:7 ) ; and therefore it was proper to put it into their hands, to instruct the people in it, and that the people might apply to them in any matter of difficulty, or when they wanted to have any particular law explained to them:

which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord;
for though they were the Levites, and particularly the Kohathites, who in journeying carried the ark; see ( Numbers 4:5-15 ) ( 10:21 ) ; yet sometimes it was borne by the priests; see ( Joshua 3:13-17 ) ( 6:6 ) ( 1 Samuel 4:4 ) ;

and unto all the elders of Israel;
the judges and civil magistrates in the respective tribes; for as there were in the book of the law several things which belonged to the priests to perform, and all of them they were to instruct in, so there were others which were to be the rule of judgment to judges, and all civil magistrates, and which they were to take care were put in execution; and therefore it was proper that they should have a copy of this law, and which must be here understood; for it cannot be thought that one and the same copy should be given both to the priests and to all the elders. The Jews say Moses wrote thirteen copies of the law, twelve for the twelve tribes, and one to be put into the ark, to convict of fraud or corruption, should any be made ^F19.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 Debarim Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 244. 2.

Deuteronomy 31:9 In-Context

7 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.

8 The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

10 Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,

11 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.

Cross References

• 1. (Nehemiah 8:1–8)