Deuteronomy 29:3-13

3 You saw the terrible plagues, the miracles, and the great wonders that the Lord performed.
4 But to this very day he has not let you understand what you have experienced.
5 For forty years the Lord led you through the desert, and your clothes and sandals never wore out.
6 You did not have bread to eat or wine or beer to drink, but the Lord provided for your needs in order to teach you that he is your God.
7 And when we came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight against us. But we defeated them, 1
8 took their land, and divided it among the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. 2
9 Obey faithfully all the terms of this covenant, so that you will be successful in everything you do.
10 "Today you are standing in the presence of the Lord your God, all of you - your leaders and officials, your men,
11 women, and children, and the foreigners who live among you and cut wood and carry water for you.
12 You are here today to enter into this covenant that the Lord your God is making with you and to accept its obligations,
13 so that the Lord may now confirm you as his people and be your God, as he promised you and your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 29:3-13 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.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 29.7 aNumbers 21.21-30; bNumbers 21.31-35.
  • 2. 29.8Numbers 32.33.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.