Deuteronomy 11:5-15

5 and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place;

6 and what he did to Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, the son of Re'uven; how the eretz opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Yisra'el:

7 but your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which he did.

8 Therefore shall you keep all the mitzvah which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land, where you go over to possess it;

9 and that you may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their seed, a land flowing with milk and honey.

10 For the land, where you go in to possess it, isn't as the land of Mitzrayim, from whence you came out, where you sowed your seed, and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs;

11 but the land, where you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, [and] drinks water of the rain of the sky,

12 a land which the LORD your God cares for: the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year.

13 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my mitzvot which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, and your new wine, and your oil.

15 I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall eat and be full.

Deuteronomy 11:5-15 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.