Deuteronomy 11:8-17

8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
9 and so that you may live long in the land the LORD swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden.
11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
12 It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—
14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.
15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.
17 Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:8-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 11

In this chapter, the exhortation to love the Lord, and keep his commands, is repeated and urged again and again from various considerations; as not only from the chastisement of Pharaoh and the wicked Egyptians, but of such Israelites who offended the Lord, and transgressed his law, De 12:1-7, from the goodness and excellency of the land they were going to inherit, De 11:8-11, from the blessing of rain that would come upon it, and be productive of all good things for man and beast, in case of obedience, and a restraint of it in case of disobedience, De 11:12-17, from the continuance of them and their offspring in the land, should they be careful to observe the commands themselves, and teach them their children, De 11:18-21, and from the extensiveness of their conquests and dominions, De 11:22-25 and from the different issue and effects of their conduct and behaviour, a blessing upon them if obedient, but a curse if disobedient, De 11:26-28 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal; the situation of which places is described when they should come into the land of Canaan, of which they are assured, De 11:29-32.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Ezra 9:10
  • 2. Dt 31:6-7,23; Joshua 1:7
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 4:40; Proverbs 10:27
  • 4. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 5. S Exodus 3:8
  • 6. Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 37:25
  • 7. Ezekiel 36:4
  • 8. Deuteronomy 8:7; Nehemiah 9:25
  • 9. 1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 9:3
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 6:17
  • 11. S Deuteronomy 10:12
  • 12. Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 17:24
  • 13. S Leviticus 26:4; Deuteronomy 28:12; Acts 14:17
  • 14. Psalms 147:8; Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 5:24; Joel 2:23; James 5:7
  • 15. Psalms 104:14
  • 16. S Leviticus 26:5; Deuteronomy 6:11
  • 17. Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 29:18; Job 31:9,27
  • 18. Deuteronomy 6:15; Deuteronomy 9:19
  • 19. 1 Kings 8:35; 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Chronicles 6:26; 2 Chronicles 7:13
  • 20. S Leviticus 26:20
  • 21. Deuteronomy 4:26; Deuteronomy 28:12,24
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