Deuteronomy 8:10-20

10 You will have all you want to eat, and you will give thanks to the Lord your God for the fertile land that he has given you.

11 "Make certain that you do not forget the Lord your God; do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today. ¹

12 When you have all you want to eat and have built good houses to live in

13 and when your cattle and sheep, your silver and gold, and all your other possessions have increased,

14 be sure that you do not become proud and forget the Lord your God who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves.

15 He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you.

16 In the desert he gave you manna to eat, food that your ancestors had never eaten. He sent hardships on you to test you, so that in the end he could bless you with good things.

17 So then, you must never think that you have made yourselves wealthy by your own power and strength.

18 Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.

19 Never forget the Lord your God or turn to other gods to worship and serve them. If you do, then I warn you today that you will certainly be destroyed.

20 If you do not obey the Lord, then you will be destroyed just like those nations that he is going to destroy as you advance.

Deuteronomy 8:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 8

In this chapter Moses repeats the exhortation to observe the commands of God, and urges the Israelites to it, from the consideration of the great and good things God had done for them in the wilderness, and even in those instances which were chastisements, and were of an humbling nature, De 8:1-6, and on the consideration of the blessings of the good land they were going to possess, De 8:7-9 for which blessings they are exhorted to be thankful, and are cautioned against pride of heart through them, and forgetfulness of God, and of his goodness to them while in the wilderness, and when brought into the land of Canaan, which they were to ascribe to his power and goodness, and not their own, De 8:10-18, and the chapter is concluded with a warning against idolatry, lest they perish through it as the nations before them, De 8:19,20.

Cross References

• 1. 8.11-16Hosea 13.5, 6.