Deuteronomy 4:38-48

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
42 ut confugiat ad eas qui occiderit nolens proximum suum nec fuerit inimicus ante unum et alterum diem et ad harum aliquam urbium possit evadere
43 Bosor in solitudine quae sita est in terra campestri de tribu Ruben et Ramoth in Galaad quae est in tribu Gad et Golam in Basan quae est in tribu Manasse
44 ista est lex quam proposuit Moses coram filiis Israhel
45 et haec testimonia et caerimoniae atque iudicia quae locutus est ad filios Israhel quando egressi sunt de Aegypto
46 trans Iordanem in valle contra fanum Phogor in terra Seon regis Amorrei qui habitavit in Esebon quem percussit Moses filii quoque Israhel egressi ex Aegypto
47 possederunt terram eius et terram Og regis Basan duorum regum Amorreorum qui erant trans Iordanem ad solis ortum
48 ab Aroer quae sita est super ripam torrentis Arnon usque ad montem Sion qui est et Hermon

Deuteronomy 4:38-48 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.