Deuteronomy 29:17-27

17 vidistis abominationes et sordes id est idola eorum lignum et lapidem argentum et aurum quae colebant

18 ne forte sit inter vos vir aut mulier familia aut tribus cuius cor aversum est hodie a Domino Deo vestro ut vadat et serviat diis illarum gentium et sit inter vos radix germinans fel et amaritudinem

19 cumque audierit verba iuramenti huius benedicat sibi in corde suo dicens pax erit mihi et ambulabo in pravitate cordis mei et adsumat ebria sitientem

20 et Dominus non ignoscat ei sed tunc quam maxime furor eius fumet et zelus contra hominem illum et sedeant super eo omnia maledicta quae scripta sunt in hoc volumine et deleat nomen eius sub caelo

21 et consumat eum in perditionem ex omnibus tribubus Israhel iuxta maledictiones quae in libro legis huius ac foederis continentur

22 dicetque sequens generatio et filii qui nascentur deinceps et peregrini qui de longe venerint videntes plagas terrae illius et infirmitates quibus eam adflixerit Dominus

23 sulphure et salis ardore conburens ita ut ultra non seratur nec virens quippiam germinet in exemplum subversionis Sodomae et Gomorrae Adamae et Seboim quas subvertit Dominus in ira et furore suo

24 et dicent omnes gentes quare sic fecit Dominus terrae huic quae est haec ira furoris eius inmensa

25 et respondebunt quia dereliquerunt pactum Domini quod pepigit cum patribus eorum quando eduxit eos de terra Aegypti

26 et servierunt diis alienis et adoraverunt eos quos nesciebant et quibus non fuerant adtributi

27 idcirco iratus est furor Domini contra terram istam ut induceret super eam omnia maledicta quae in hoc volumine scripta sunt

Deuteronomy 29:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 29

This chapter begins with an intimation of another covenant the Lord was about to make with the people of Israel, De 29:1; and, to prepare their minds to an attention to it, various things which the Lord had done for them are recited, De 29:2-9; the persons are particularly mentioned with whom the covenant would now be made, the substance of which is, that they should be his people, and he their God, De 29:10-15; and since they had seen the idols in Egypt and other countries, with which they might have been ensnared, they are cautioned against idolatry and idolaters, as being most provoking to the Lord, De 29:16-21; which would bring destruction not only on particular persons, but upon their whole land, to the amazement of posterity; who, inquiring the reason of it, will be told, it was because they forsook the covenant of God, and particularly were guilty of idolatry, which, whether privately or openly committed, would be always punished, De 29:22-29.