Deuteronomy 29:5

5 For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

Deuteronomy 29:5 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:5

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness
From the time of their coming out of Egypt unto that day, which though not quite complete, is given as a round number. Eupolemus ^F4, an Heathen writer, confirms this date of the ministry of Moses among the Israelites; he says, Moses performed the office of a prophet forty years:

your clothes are not waxen old upon you:
were not worn out; all those forty years they had been in the wilderness, they had never wanted clothes fitting for them, according to their age and stature, and which decayed not; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 8:4);

and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot;
which were necessary to wear in travelling, and especially in a rugged wilderness; and yet, thought they had been always in use during so long a time, were not worn out, which was really miraculous; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 8:4).

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447.

Deuteronomy 29:5 In-Context

3 all the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs, and the amazing wonders.

4 But to this day the LORD has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!

5 For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the LORD your God.

7 “When we came here, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.