Deuteronomio 4:1

1 Ora, dunque, Israele, da’ ascolto alle leggi e alle prescrizioni che io v’insegno perché le mettiate in pratica, affinché viviate ed entriate in possesso del paese che l’Eterno, l’Iddio de’ vostri padri, vi dà.

Deuteronomio 4:1 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:1

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto
the judgments
The laws of God, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which they are exhorted to attend to and obey, in consideration of the great and good things the Lord had done for them, ever since they came from Horeb, where they were given them; such as providing for them, and feeding them in the wilderness, preserving them from every hurtful thing, and delivering their enemies into their hands, the two kings of the Amorites, which they are put in mind of in the preceding chapters; hence this begins with "therefore hearken"; for nothing is a greater incentive to obedience than the kindness and goodness of God:

which I teach you for to do that ye may live;
the law was taught by Moses, but the Gospel of grace and truth by Jesus Christ; and it was taught by him, as well as it was to be hearkened to by them, in order to yield obedience to it; for not bare hearing, but doing the law, is the principal thing of any avail; and which was to be done, that they might live; not a spiritual and eternal life, which are not by the works of the law, but are had only from Christ, through his grace and righteousness; but a corporeal life, and a comfortable enjoyment of the blessings of it, and particularly that that might be continued to them:

and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers
giveth you;
the land of Canaan, which the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had promised to give to their posterity, and which they were to hold by their obedience to his laws.

Deuteronomio 4:1 In-Context

1 Ora, dunque, Israele, da’ ascolto alle leggi e alle prescrizioni che io v’insegno perché le mettiate in pratica, affinché viviate ed entriate in possesso del paese che l’Eterno, l’Iddio de’ vostri padri, vi dà.
2 Non aggiungerete nulla a ciò che io vi comando, e non ne toglierete nulla; ma osserverete i comandamenti dell’Eterno Iddio vostro che io vi prescrivo.
3 Gli occhi vostri videro ciò che l’Eterno fece nel caso di Baal-Peor: come l’Eterno, il tuo Dio, distrusse di mezzo a te tutti quelli ch’erano andati dietro a Baal-Peor:
4 ma voi che vi teneste stretti all’Eterno, all’Iddio vostro, siete oggi tutti in vita.
5 Ecco, io vi ho insegnato leggi e prescrizioni, come l’Eterno, l’Iddio mio, mi ha ordinato, affinché le mettiate in pratica nel paese nel quale state per entrare per prenderne possesso.
The Riveduta Bible is in the public domain.