Deuteronomy 10 · Adam Clarke
Introduction Moses is commanded to make a second set of tables, Deu 10:1 , Deu 10:2 . He makes an ark, prepares the two tables, God writes on them the ten commandments, and Moses lays them up in the ark, Deu 10:3-5 . The Israelites journey from Beeroth to Mosera, where Aaron dies, Deu 10:6 ; and from thence to Gudgodah and Jotbath, Deu 10:7 . At that time God separated the tribe of Levi for the service of the sanctuary, Deu 10:8 , Deu 10:9 . How long Moses stayed the second time in the mount, Deu 10:10 , Deu 10:11 . What God requires of the Israelites, Deu 10:12-15 . Their heart must be circumcised, Deu 10:16 . God's character and conduct, Deu 10:17 , Deu 10:18 . They are commanded to love the stranger, Deu 10:19 ; to fear, love, and serve God, Deu 10:20 , because he had done such great things for them and their fathers, Deu 10:21 , Deu 10:22 . Verse 1 Hew thee two tables of stone - See the notes on Exo 34:1 .
Verse 3 Shittim wood - See the note on Exo 25:5 , and succeeding verses, and on the parallel places in the margin.
Verse 4 Ten commandments - See the note on Exo 20:1 , etc.
Verse 6 And the children of Israel took their journey, etc. - On this and the three following verses see Kennicott's remarks at the end of this chapter.
Verse 12 Now, Israel, what doth the Lord - require of thee - An answer is immediately given. God requires, 1. That ye fear him as Jehovah your God; him who made, preserves, and governs you. 2. That ye walk in all his ways - that, having received his precepts, all of which are good and excellent, ye obey the whole; walking in God's ways, not your own, nor in the ways of the people of the land. 3. That ye love him - have confidence in him as your father and friend, have recourse to him in all your necessities, and love him in return for his love. 4. That you serve him - give him that worship which he requires, performing it with all your heart - the whole of your affections, and with all your soul - your will, understanding, and judgment. In a word, putting forth your whole strength and energy of body and soul in the sacred work.
Verse 14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens - All these words in the original are in the plural number: הן השמים ושמי השמים hen hashshamayim, ushemey hashshamayim; behold the heavens and the heavens of heavens. But what do they mean? To say that the first means the atmosphere, the second the planetary system, and the third the region of the blessed, is saying but very little in the way of explanation. The words were probably intended to point out the immensity of God's creation, in which we may readily conceive one system of heavenly bodies, and others beyond them, and others still in endless progression through the whole vortex of space, every star in the vast abyss of nature being a sun, with its peculiar and numerous attendant worlds! Thus there may be systems of systems in endless gradation up to the throne of God!
Verse 16 Circumcise - the foreskin of your heart - A plain proof from God himself that this precept pointed out spiritual things, and that it was not the cutting away a part of the flesh that was the object of the Divine commandment, but the purification of the soul, without which all forms and ceremonies are of no avail. Loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, the heart being circumcised to enable them to do it, was, from the beginning, the end, design, and fulfillment of the whole law.
Verse 17 God of gods, and Lord of lords - That is, He is the source whence all being and power proceed; every agent is finite but himself; and he can counteract, suspend, or destroy all the actions of all creatures whensoever he pleases. If he determine to save, none can destroy; if he purpose to destroy, none can save. How absolutely necessary to have such a God for our friend! A great God - mighty - האל הגבר hael haggibbor, the mighty God; this is the very title that is given to our blessed Lord and Savior, Isa 9:6 .
Verse 21 He is thy praise - It is an eternal honor to any soul to be in the friendship of God. Why are people ashamed of being thought religious? Because they know nothing of religion. He who knows his Maker may glory in his God, for without him what has any soul but disgrace, pain, shame, and perdition? How strange is it that those who fear God should be ashamed to own it, while sinners boldly proclaim their relationship to Satan!