Deuteronomy 4:31-41

31 quia Deus misericors Dominus Deus tuus est non dimittet te nec omnino delebit neque obliviscetur pacti in quo iuravit patribus tuis

32 interroga de diebus antiquis qui fuerunt ante te ex die quo creavit Deus hominem super terram a summo caeli usque ad summum eius si facta est aliquando huiuscemodi res aut umquam cognitum est

33 ut audiret populus vocem Dei loquentis de medio ignis sicut tu audisti et vixisti

34 si fecit Deus ut ingrederetur et tolleret sibi gentem de medio nationum per temptationes signa atque portenta per pugnam et robustam manum extentumque brachium et horribiles visiones iuxta omnia quae fecit pro vobis Dominus Deus vester in Aegypto videntibus oculis tuis

35 ut scires quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus et non est alius praeter unum

36 de caelo te fecit audire vocem suam ut doceret te et in terra ostendit tibi ignem suum maximum et audisti verba illius de medio ignis

37 quia dilexit patres tuos et elegit semen eorum post eos eduxitque te praecedens in virtute sua magna ex Aegypto

38 ut deleret nationes maximas et fortiores te in introitu tuo et introduceret te daretque tibi terram earum in possessionem sicut cernis in praesenti die

39 scito ergo hodie et cogitato in corde tuo quod Dominus ipse sit Deus in caelo sursum et in terra deorsum et non sit alius

40 custodi praecepta eius atque mandata quae ego praecipio tibi ut bene sit tibi et filiis tuis post te et permaneas multo tempore super terram quam Dominus Deus tuus daturus est tibi

41 tunc separavit Moses tres civitates trans Iordanem ad orientalem plagam

Deuteronomy 4:31-41 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 4

This chapter contains an exhortation to Israel to keep the commands, statutes, and judgments of God, urged from the superior excellency of them to those of all other nations, De 4:1-8, from the manner in which they were delivered, out of the midst of fire, by a voice of words, but no similitude seen, De 4:9-15, and particularly the Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, from the consideration of the goodness of God to them, in bringing them out of Egypt, De 4:16-20, and the rather Moses is urgent upon them to be diligent in their obedience to the laws of God, because he should quickly be removed from them, De 4:21-24, and should they be disobedient to them, it would provoke the Lord to destroy them, or to carry them captive into other lands, De 4:25-28 though even then, if they repented and sought the Lord, and became obedient, he would be merciful to them, and not forsake them, De 4:29-31 and they are put in mind again of the amazing things God had done for them, in speaking to them out of fire, and they alive; in bringing them out of another nation, and driving out other nations to make room for them; all which he improves, as so many arguments to move them to obedience to the divine commands, De 4:32-40 and then notice is taken of the three cities of refuge, separated on this side Jordan, De 4:41-43, and the chapter is concluded with observing, that this is the law, and these the testimonies, Moses declared and repeated to the children of Israel in the country of Sihon and Og, who were delivered into their hands, and their lands possessed by them, which laid them under fresh obligations to yield obedience to God, De 4:44-49.