Deuteronomy 11

12. A land which the Lord thy God careth for--that is, watering it, as it were, with His own hands, without human aid or mechanical means.

14. the first rain and the latter rain--The early rain commenced in autumn, that is, chiefly during the months of September and October, while the latter rain fell in the spring of the year, that is, during the months of March and April. It is true that occasional showers fell all the winter; but, at the autumnal and vernal seasons, they were more frequent, copious, and important; for the early rain was necessary, after a hot and protracted summer, to prepare the soil for receiving the seed; and the latter rain, which shortly preceded the harvest, was of the greatest use in invigorating the languishing powers of vegetation ( Jeremiah 5:24 , Joel 2:23 , Amos 4:7 , 5:7 ).

15-17. I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle--Undoubtedly the special blessing of the former and the latter rain [ Deuteronomy 11:14 ] was one principal cause of the extraordinary fertility of Canaan in ancient times. That blessing was promised to the Israelites as a temporal reward for their fidelity to the national covenant [ Deuteronomy 11:13 ]. It was threatened to be withdrawn on their disobedience or apostasy; and most signally is the execution of that threatening seen in the present sterility of Palestine. MR. LOWTHIAN, an English farmer, who was struck during his journey from Joppa to Jerusalem by not seeing a blade of grass, where even in the poorest localities of Britain some wild vegetation is found, directed his attention particularly to the subject, and pursued the inquiry during a month's residence in Jerusalem, where he learned that a miserably small quantity of milk is daily sold to the inhabitants at a dear rate, and that chiefly asses' milk. "Most clearly," says he, "did I perceive that the barrenness of large portions of the country was owing to the cessation of the early and latter rain, and that the absence of grass and flowers made it no longer the land ( Deuteronomy 11:9 ) flowing with milk and honey."

18-25. lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind

24. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours--not as if the Jews should be lords of the world, but of very place within the promised land. It should be granted to them and possessed by them, on conditions of obedience:
from the wilderness--the Arabah on the south;
Lebanon--the northern limit;
Euphrates--their boundary on the east. Their grant of dominion extended so far, and the right was fulfilled to Solomon.
even unto the uttermost sea--the Mediterranean.