Deuteronomy 11:3-13

3 and his miracles. You saw what he did to the king of Egypt and to his entire country. 1
4 You saw how the Lord completely wiped out the Egyptian army, along with their horses and chariots, by drowning them in the Red Sea when they were pursuing you. 2
5 You know what the Lord did for you in the desert before you arrived here.
6 You recall what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab of the tribe of Reuben. In the sight of everyone the earth opened up and swallowed them, along with their families, their tents, and all their servants and animals. 3
7 Yes, you are the ones who have seen all these great things that the Lord has done.
8 "Obey everything that I have commanded you today. Then you will be able to cross the river and occupy the land that you are about to enter.
9 And you will live a long time in the rich and fertile land that the Lord promised to give your ancestors and their descendants.
10 The land that you are about to occupy is not like the land of Egypt, where you lived before. There, when you planted grain, you had to work hard to irrigate the fields;
11 but the land that you are about to enter is a land of mountains and valleys, a land watered by rain.
12 The Lord your God takes care of this land and watches over it throughout the year.
13 "So then, obey the commands that I have given you today; love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart. 4

Deuteronomy 11:3-13 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 4

  • 1. 11.3Exodus 7.8--12.13.
  • 2. 11.4Exodus 14.28.
  • 3. 11.6Numbers 16.31, 32.
  • 4. 11.13-17Leviticus 26.3-5;Deuteronomy 7.12-16; 28.1-14.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. red sea: [See Word List.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.