Deuteronomy 9:1-7

1 audi Israhel tu transgredieris hodie Iordanem ut possideas nationes maximas et fortiores te civitates ingentes et ad caelum usque muratas

2 populum magnum atque sublimem filios Enacim quos ipse vidisti et audisti quibus nullus potest ex adverso resistere

3 scies ergo hodie quod Dominus Deus tuus ipse transibit ante te ignis devorans atque consumens qui conterat eos et deleat atque disperdat ante faciem tuam velociter sicut locutus est tibi

4 ne dicas in corde tuo cum deleverit eos Dominus Deus tuus in conspectu tuo propter iustitiam meam introduxit me Dominus ut terram hanc possiderem cum propter impietates suas istae deletae sint nationes

5 neque enim propter iustitias tuas et aequitatem cordis tui ingredieris ut possideas terras eorum sed quia illae egerunt impie te introeunte deletae sunt et ut conpleret verbum suum Dominus quod sub iuramento pollicitus est patribus tuis Abraham Isaac et Iacob

6 scito igitur quod non propter iustitias tuas Dominus Deus tuus dederit tibi terram hanc optimam in possessionem cum durissimae cervicis sis populus

7 memento et ne obliviscaris quomodo ad iracundiam provocaveris Dominum Deum tuum in solitudine ex eo die quo es egressus ex Aegypto usque ad locum istum semper adversum Dominum contendisti

Deuteronomy 9:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 9

In this chapter the Israelites are assured of the ejection of the Canaanites, though so great and mighty, to make room for them, De 9:1-3, and they are cautioned not to attribute this to their own righteousness, but to the wickedness of the nations which deserved to be so treated, and to the faithfulness of God in performing his promise made to their fathers, De 9:4-6, and that it might appear that it could not be owing to their righteousness, it is affirmed and proved that they had been a rebellious and provoking people from their coming out of Egypt to that time, as was evident from their idolatry at Horeb; a particular account of which is given, and of the displeasure of the Lord at it, De 9:7-21, and of their murmurings, with which they provoked the Lord at other places, De 9:22-24, and the chapter is closed with an account of the prayer of Moses for them at Horeb, to avert the wrath of God from them for their making and worshipping the golden calf, De 9:25-29.