Deuteronomy 31:22

22 Therefore Moses wrote the song, and he taught it to the sons of Israel. (And so Moses wrote down this song, and he taught it to the Israelites.)

Deuteronomy 31:22 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:22

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day
The same day it was dictated to him by divine inspiration; he wrote it, as Josephus says F4,

``in hexameter verse, which he left in the holy Bible or book (the Pentateuch), containing (as he adds) a prophecy of things future, according to which all things have been done, and are done; and in nothing of it has he erred from the truth;''

which is a very just account of it, and worthy of observation:

and taught it the children of Israel;
instructed them in the meaning of it, directed them to repeat it frequently, to lay it up in their memories, and often meditate upon it; as being a divine composition, and of great importance, as the consideration of it will make appear.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 44.

Deuteronomy 31:22 In-Context

20 For I shall lead him into the land, for which I swore to his fathers, flowing with milk and honey; and when they have eaten, and be full-filled, and be made fat, they shall turn to alien gods, and they shall serve them; and they shall backbite me, and shall make void my covenant. (For I shall lead them into the land, for which I swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey; and when they have eaten, and be filled full, and be made fat, then they shall turn to foreign, or to other, gods, and they shall serve them; and they shall backbite me, and they shall make void, or shall break, my covenant.)
21 After that many evils and tormentings have found them, this song shall answer to him for (a) witnessing, which song no forgetting shall do away from the mouth of thy seed. For I know the thoughts thereof today, what things it shall do, before that I bring it into the land which I promised to it. (And after that many evils and torments have found them, this song shall speak against them as a witness, which no forgetting shall do away from the mouths of their descendants. For I know their thoughts today, and what things they shall do, before that I bring them into the land which I promised them.)
22 Therefore Moses wrote the song, and he taught it to the sons of Israel. (And so Moses wrote down this song, and he taught it to the Israelites.)
23 And the Lord commanded to Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, Be thou comforted (Be thou encouraged), and be thou strong; for thou shalt lead the sons of Israel into the land which I promised (them), and I shall be with thee.
24 Therefore after that Moses had written the words of this law in a book, and fulfilled them (and finished them),
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.