Devarim 10

1 0 At that time Hashem said unto me, Carve thee shnei luchot avanim like unto the first, and come up unto Me into the mount, and make thee an aron etz.

2 And I will write on the luchot the devarim that were in haluchot harishonim which thou didst brake, and thou shalt put them in the aron.

3 And I made an aron of sheetim wood, and hewed shnei luchot avanim like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the shnei luchot in mine hand.

4 And He wrote on the luchot, according to the first writing, the Aseres HaDibros (Ten Commandments), which Hashem spoke unto you in the mount out of the midst of the eish in the Yom HaKahal; and Hashem gave them unto me.

5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the luchot in the aron which I had made; and there they are, as Hashem commanded me.

6 And the Bnei Yisroel took their journey from Be’erot (Wells) of the Bnei Yaakan to Moserah; there Aharon died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar bno ministered in the office of kohen in his place.

7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Yotvatah, an eretz of rivers of waters.

8 At that time Hashem separated the shevet (tribe) of Levi, to bear the Aron Brit Hashem, to stand before Hashem to minister unto Him, and to bless in Shmo, unto yom hazeh.

9 Therefore Levi hath no chelek nor nachalah with his brethren; Hashem is his nachalah, according as Hashem Eloheicha promised him.

10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, arba’im yamim and arba’im lailah; and Hashem listened unto me at that time also, and Hashem would not destroy thee.

11 And Hashem said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess ha’aretz, which I swore unto their avot to give unto them.

12 And now, Yisroel, what doth Hashem Eloheicha require of thee, but to fear Hashem Eloheicha, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Hashem Eloheicha with all thy lev and with all thy nefesh,

13 To be shomer over the mitzvot Hashem, and His chukkot, which I command thee today for thy good?

14 Behold, the Shomayim and Shomei HaShomayim (the Highest Heaven) belongs to Hashem Eloheicha; Ha’Aretz also, with all that therein is.

15 Yet Hashem had a delight in Avoteicha to love them, and He chose their zera after them, even you above kol ha’amim, as it is yom hazeh.

16 Circumcise therefore the arlat (foreskin) of your lev, and be no more stiffnecked.

17 For Hashem Eloheichem is Elohei HaElohim, and Adonei HaAdonim, HaEl HaGadol, HaGibbor v’HaNorah, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh shochad (bribe):

18 He doth execute the mishpat for the yatom and almanah, and loveth the ger, in giving him lechem and simlah (clothing).

19 Love ye therefore the ger; for ye were gerim in Eretz Mitzrayim.

20 Thou shalt fear Hashem Eloheicha; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou have thy deveykus, and swear by Shmo.

21 He is thy tehillah (praise), and He is Eloheicha, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

22 Avoteicha went down into Mitzrayim with shivim nefesh; and now Hashem Eloheicha hath made thee as the kokhavim of Shomayim for multitude.

Devarim 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

God's mercies to Israel after their rebellion. (1-11) An exhortation to obedience. (12-22)

Verses 1-11 Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations. There were four things in and by which the Lord showed himself reconciled to Israel. God gave them his law. Thus God has intrusted us with Bibles, sabbaths, and sacraments, as tokens of his presence and favour. God led them forward toward Canaan. He appointed a standing ministry among them for holy things. And now, under the gospel, when the pouring forth of the Spirit is more plentiful and powerful, the succession is kept up by the Spirit's work on men's hearts, qualifying and making some willing for that work in every age. God accepted Moses as an advocate or intercessor for them, and therefore appointed him to be their prince and leader. Moses was a type of Christ, who ever lives, pleading for us, and has all power in heaven and in earth.

Verses 12-22 We are here taught our duty to God in our principles and our practices. We must fear the Lord our God. We must love him, and delight in communion with him. We must walk in the ways in which he has appointed us to walk. We must serve him with all our heart and soul. What we do in his service we must do cheerfully, and with good will. We must keep his commandments. There is true honour and pleasure in obedience. We must give honour to God; and to him we must cleave, as one we love and delight in, trust in, and from whom we have great expectations. We are here taught our duty to our neighbour. God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves. Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, Ro. 8:5-9 . Let us, without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty. Blessed Spirit! Oh for thy purifying, persevering, and renewing influences, that being called out of the state of strangers, such as our fathers were, we may be found among the number of the children of God, and that our lot may be among the saints.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 10

In this chapter an account is given of an order to Moses to hew two tables of stone, on which the Lord would write the words that were on the first, and to make an ark and put them into it, all which was accordingly done, De 10:1-5 and of some of the journeys of the children of Israel, De 10:6,7 and of the separation of the tribe of Levi to the service of the sanctuary, De 10:8,9 and of Moses's stay in the mount forty days and nights, and his success there, and the direction he had to lead on the people of Israel towards Canaan's land, De 10:10,11 and who by various arguments are exhorted to fear the Lord, and serve him, and keep his commands, De 10:12-22.