WEB
Know therefore today that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and he will bring them down before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you.
BSB
But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.
KJV
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3045
v — know, seeing, observation, care, recognition, instruction, designation, punishment
Derivation: a primitive root;
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.
vb — know
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
1.
a. know, learn to know
b. perceive
c. perceive and see; find out and discern
d. discriminate, distinguish
e. know by experience
f. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
g. consider
h. not know = not expect
2. know a person, be acquainted with
3. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
4.
a. know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
b. be skilful in
5. abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
1. be made known, be or become known, of things
2. make oneself known of pers.
3. be perceived
4. be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
H3117
n-m — day
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be hot;
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV: age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.
n.m — day
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
1. day, opp. night
2. Day as division of time
3. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
4. Pl. days of anyone
5. Days
6. יוֹם = time
7. Phrases
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H3068
n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah
Derivation: from 1961;
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
n.pr.dei — God
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
II.
1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
H430
n-m — gods, God, magistrates
Derivation: plural of 433;
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV: angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.
n.m.pl — gods
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
1. pl. in number.
a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
c. angels
d. gods
2. pl. intensive
a. god or goddess
b. godlike one
c. works of God, or things belongng to him
d. God
3. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
4. אֱלֹהִים = God
H1931
p — he, she, it, self, same, this, that, as, are
Derivation: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא; he a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular;
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.
m — he
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
1. an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
2. It resumes the subj. with emph.
3. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
4. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
5. As an emph. predicate, of God
6. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
7. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
H5674
v — cross, transition, cover
Derivation: a primitive root;
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
KJV: alienate, alter, × at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, shave, cause to (make) sound, × speedily, × sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
vb — pass over
עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on
Qal
1. pass over
2. Pass beyond
3. Pass through, traverse
4.
a. pass along by
b. pass by
c. sweep by, of scourge
d. be past, over, of time
e. pass along (from hand to hand)
5. Pass on, go on
6. Pass away
Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded
Pi.
1. his bull impregnateth
a. cause one to cross river
b. cause something to pass over
c. make over to
d. devote children to (לְ) heathen god
e. pass along (from hand to hand)
2.
a. cause to pass through
b. let pass through
3.
a. cause to pass by
b. let pass by
c. cause arrow to pass beyond
d. cause to pass under rod, for counting
4. cause to pass away, take away
Hiph.
1. cause to pass over, bring over
2. he made to pass across with chains of gold
vb. denom — be arrogant
[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself
H6440
n-m — face, before
Derivation: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from 6437);
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
KJV: accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.
n.m — face
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
I.
1. face, faces
2.
a. presence, person
b. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
3. face of seraphim
4. face of animals
5. face (= surface) of ground
6. as adv.loc. before
7. for other phrases
II. with prepositions
H784
n-f — fire
Derivation: a primitive word;
fire (literally or figuratively)
KJV: burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
n.f — fire
אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire
1. fire, of conflagration
2. of supernatural fire
3. fire for cooking, roasting, parching
4. esp. of altar fire
5. fig. of Yahweh's anger
6. in various combinations
H398
v — eat
Derivation: a primitive root;
to eat (literally or figuratively)
KJV: × at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, × freely, × in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, × quite.
vb — eat
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
1. eat, human subject
2. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
3. fig. of fire, devour, consume
4. of sword, devour, slay
5. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
6. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
1. be eaten by man
2. be devoured by fire, consumed
3. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
1. cause to eat, feed with
2. cause to devoure, obj. sword
H8045
v — desolate
Derivation: a primitive root;
to desolate
KJV: destory(-uction), bring to nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, × utterly.
vb — be exterminated
[שָׁמַד] 90 vb. Niph. be exterminated, destroyed
Hiph. 69
1. annihilate, exterminate
2. destroy
H3665
v — bend, humiliate, vanquish
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
KJV: bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.
vb — be humble
[כָּנַע] vb. be humble, only in der. conj.
Niph.
1. reflex. humble oneself
2. pass. be humbled, subdued
Hiph.
1. humble
2. subdue enemies
H3423
v — occupy, driving, possessing, seize, rob, inherit, expel, impoverish, ruin
Derivation: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root;
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin
KJV: cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, × without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, × utterly.
vb — take possession of
יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess
Qal
1. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting
2. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir
3. = impoverish
Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty
Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession
Hiph.
1. cause to possess or inherit
2. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess
3. = impoverish
4. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy
5. take possession of a land
H6
v — wander, lose, perish, destroy
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
KJV: break, destroy(-uction), not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, × and surely, take, be undone, × utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
vb — perish
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6, 3:9; נֹאבְדָה Jon 1:14 etc.; Inf. abs. אָבֹד Dt 4:26 + 2t.; cstr. אֲבֹד Dt 7:10 Pr 11:10; אֲבָדְךָ Dt 28:20; אָבְדֶ֑ךָ Dt 28:22; אֲבָדְכֶם Jos 23:13; אָבְדָם Ob 12 Pr 28:28; Pt. אֹבֵד Dt 26:5 + 7t.; cstr. אֹבַד Dt 32:28 (bef. ע? v. Di Bö § 378); etc.
1. perish, die, of individuals (mostly late) Nu 17:27 (∥ גוע & (v. 28) מות), (also Dt 26:5? cf. infr.) Jon 1:6, 14 Jb 31:19 cf. 29:13 Pr 31:6 Est 4:14, 16, 16 Mi 4:9 Je 40:15 cf. Is 57:1 Pr 11:10 28:28 Ec 7:15 ψ 119:92; emphasis on morality Jb 4:20 ψ 146:4 Ec 9:6; Saul & Jonath., under fig. of weapons 2 S 1:27; lion Jb 4:11; caravan Jb 6:18 (cf. Di); cf. אָ׳ חָסִיד מִן־הָאָרֶץ Mi 7:2, וְאָ׳ מֶלֶךְ מֵֽעַזָּה Zc 9:5; perish, be exterminated (judgment for sin), of Israel Lv 26:38 Dt 8:19, 19, 20 28:20, 22 30:18, 18 Je 27:10, 15 cf. 6:21, Ob 12 cf. ψ 80:17 Is 27:13; other nations Dt 7:20 Je 10:15 51:18 ψ 2:12 10:16 83:18 cf. 9:4 Am 1:8 Is 41:11 60:12 cf. Jon 3:9 v. also Ex 10:7 Nu 21:29, 30 (JE) Je 48:46; house of Ahab 2 K 9:8; wicked in general Ju 5:31 Jb 4:9 cf. v 7, ψ 37:20 49:11 68:3 (∥ sim. of melting wax), 73:27 92:10; also Pr 19:9 21:28; לָנֶצַח א׳ Jb 20:7; cf. דֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים א׳ ψ 1:6; sq. מֵעַל הָאָ֑רֶץ (of annihilation of Isr.) Dt 4:26, 26 11:17 Jos 23:13, 16 (D); sq. מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל (of Korah’s company) Nu 16:33 (JE); perish, be ruined, destroyed, of inanimate things, e.g. land Je 9:11 (∥ נִצְּתָה כַמִּדְבָּר) cf. 48:8; harvest Jo 1:11; Jonah’s gourd Jon 4:10; riches Je 48:36 Ec 5:13; vessel ψ 31:13; houses Am 3:15 (so oft. As. Dl W); city Ez 26:17 (but del. 𝔊 Co); cf. bamôth Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co; heavens & earth ψ 102:27.
2. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory Jb 18:17 ψ 9:7; name ψ 41:6 (i.e. be forgotten); vigour Jb 30:2; wisdom Is 29:14; cf. אֹבַד עֵצוֹת Dt 32:28; אֱמוּנָה Je 7:28 (∥ נִכְרְתָה); חָזוֹן Ez 12:22; יוֹם Jb 3:3 (i.e. blotted out); לֵב Je 4:9 (i.e. courage fail); תִּקְוָת ψ 9:19 Pr 10:28 11:7 Ez 19:5 37:11 Jb 8:13; so תַּאֲוַת ψ 112:10 (i.e. come to naught); תּוֹחֶלֶת Pr 11:7, sq. מִן + agent La 3:18; תּוֹרָה + עֵצָה sq. מן + persons negligent Je 18:18 Ez 7:26, cf. Je 49:7; esp. א׳ מָנוֹס מִן־ (i.e. they could not escape) Am 2:14 Je 25:35 Jb 11:20 ψ 142:5.
3. be lost, strayed, asses I S 9:3, 20; sheep Je 50:6 Ez 34:4, 16 ψ 119:176 (fig. of erring men); perh. Dt 26:5.
Pi. caus. of Qal.—Pf. אִבַּד 2 K 21:3 + 2 t.; sf. וָֽאַבֶּדְךָ Co Ez 28:16 cf. infr.; אִבַּדְתִּי Je 15:7; וְאִבַּדְתִּ֫י Ez 6:3 (𝔊 Co וְאָֽבְדוּ) etc.; Impf. יְאַבֵּד Ec 9:18; וִֽיאַבֵּד Ec 7:7 Zp 2:13; 1 s. sf. וָאַבֶּדְךָ Ez 28:16 (for וָאֲאַבּ׳ Ew § 72 a Ol § 79 a Kö I 338 Ges § 68 nn; but Co 3 ms.; v. also Co 38 14); תְּאַבְּדוּן Dt 12:2 etc.; Inf. abs. אַבֵּד Dt 12:2 + 3 t.; cstr. id. Ez 22:27 + etc.; Pt. מְאַבְּדִים Je 23:1.
1. cause to perish, destroy, kill, obj. pers. (mostly late) 2 K 11:1 Est 3:9 4:7 8:5 9:24; ∥ הרג 9:6, 12; ∥ הַשְׁמִיד + הרג 3:13 7:4 8:11; ∥ המם Est 9:24; cf. ψ 119:95; obj. נְפָשׁוֹת Ez 22:27 (del. 𝔊 Co); in judgment, subj. י׳ ψ 5:7; cf. Pr 1:32; sq. מִתּוֹךְ Ez 28:16; obj. a people 2 K 13:7 2 K 19:18 = Is 37:19; Jb 12:23; in judgment Dt 11:4 Je 12:17 15:7 Zp 2:13 ψ 9:6 cf. 21:11; obj. inanimate things esp. idols, bamôth etc., Nu 33:52, 52 (J) Dt 12:2, 2 2 K 21:3 Ez 6:3 (but cf. 𝔊 Co supr.); bars of Zion La 2:9 (∥ שִׁבַּר).
2. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with names of idols Dt 12:3; voice of Babylon Je 51:55; memory of dead Is 26:14; substance Pr 29:3; understanding Ec 7:7; good (טוֹבָה q.v.) Ec 9:18.
3. cause to stray, lose; obj. Isr. under fig. of flock Je 23:1 (∥ הֵפִיץ); abs. Ec 3:6 (∥ בַקֵּשׁ).
Hiph. Pf. וְהֶֽאֱבִיד Nu 24:19; הֶאֱבַ֑דְתָּ Jb 14:19 etc.; Impf. אֹבִידָה Je 46:8 (Ges § 68, 2 R.1). Inf. cstr. הַאֲבִיד 2 K 10:19 + etc.; Pt. מַאֲבִיד Dt 8:20.
1. destroy, put to death, in judgment, (subj. י׳) obj. pers. Lv 23:30 (sq. מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ; ∥ כָּרַת v 29); Je 49:38 (sq. מִשָּׁם); Ob 8 (sq. מֵֽאֱדוֹם); obj. nation, Ammon Ez 25:7 (sq. מן־הארצות; ∥ כָּרַת), cf. v 16; Canaanites Dt 8:20 (sq. מִפְּנֵיכֶם); Canaan = Philistines Zp 2:5 (∥ כָּרַת); esp. Isr. Dt 28:51, 63 (∥ הַשְׁמִיד), cf. Js 7:7; also abs. Je 18:7 (∥ לִנְתוֹשׁ וְלִנְתוֹץ); = 1:10 (+ וְלַהֲרוֹס) = 31:28 (+ וּלְהָרֵעַ); animals Ez 32:13 (sq. מֵעַל מַיִם רַבִּים); cf. Dt 7:10; ψ 143:12 (∥ תַּצְמִית); (human subj.), obj. servants of Baal 2 K 10:19, obj. nation Dt 9:3, cf. Nu 24:19 (E; sq. מֵעִֽיר); 2 K 24:2; cf. Je 46:8; obj. inanimate, chariots Mi 5:9; idols Ez 30:13 (del. BCo).
2. fig., obj. name of kings Dt 7:24 (sq. מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם); hope Jb 14:19; voice of mirth etc. Je 25:10 (cf. 51:55 Pi. supr.)
H4118
a adv — hurrying, in a hurry
Derivation: from 4116;
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
KJV: hasteth, hastily, at once, quickly, soon, speedily, suddenly.
adv — quickly
מַהֵר adv. quickly, speedily
adj — hastening
מַהֵר adj. hastening, speedy, swift
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H1696
v — arrange, speak, subdue
Derivation: a primitive root;
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
KJV: answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, × well, × work.
vb — speak
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
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Verses 1–6
Deuteronomy 9:1–6
The call to attention (Deu 9:1), Hear, O Israel, intimates that this was a new discourse, delivered at some distance of time after the former, probably the next sabbath day.
I. Moses represents to the people the formidable strength of the enemies which they were now to encounter, Deu 9:1. The nations they were to dispossess were mightier than themselves, not a rude and undisciplined rout, like the natives of America, that were easily made a prey of. But, should they besiege them, they would find their cities well fortified, according as the art of fortification then was; should they engage them in the field, they would find the people great and tall, of whom common fame had reported that there was no standing before them, Deu 9:2. This representation is much the same with that which the evil spies had made (Num 13:28, Num 13:33), but made with a very different intention: that was designed to drive them from God and to discourage their hope in him; this to drive them to God and to engage their hope in him, since no power less than that which is almighty could secure and prosper them.
II. He assures them of victory, by the presence of God with them, notwithstanding the strength of the enemy, Deu 9:3. "Understand therefore what thou must trust to for success, and which way thou must look; it is the Lord thy God that goes before thee, not only as thy captain, or commander-in-chief, to give direction, but as a consuming fire, to do execution among them. Observe, He shall destroy them, and then thou shalt drive them out. Thou canst not drive them out, unless he destroy them and bring them down. But he will not destroy them and bring them down, unless thou set thyself in good earnest to drive them out." We must do our endeavour in dependence upon God's grace, and we shall have that grace if we do our endeavour.
III. He cautions them not to entertain the least thought of their own righteousness, as if that had procured them this favour at God's hand: "Say not. For my righteousness (either with regard to my good character or in recompence for any good service) the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land (Deu 9:4); never think it is for thy righteousness or the uprightness of thy heart, that it is in consideration either of thy good conversation or of they good disposition," Deu 9:5. And again (Deu 9:6) it is insisted on, because it is hard to bring people from a conceit of their own merit, and yet very necessary that it be done: "Understand (know it, and believe it, and consider it) that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this land for thy righteousness. Hadst thou been to come to it upon that condition, thou wouldst have been for ever shut out of it, for thou art a stiff-necked people." Note, Our gaining possession of the heavenly Canaan, as it must be attributed to God's power and not to our own might, so it must be ascribed to God's grace and not to our own merit: in Christ we have both righteousness and strength; in him therefore we must glory, and not in ourselves, or any sufficiency of our own.
IV. He intimates to them the true reasons why God would take this good land out of the hands of the Canaanites, and settle it upon Israel, and they are borrowed from his own honour, not from Israel's deserts. 1. He will be honoured in the destruction of idolaters; they are justly looked upon as haters of him, and therefore he will visit their iniquity upon them. It is for the wickedness of these nations that God drives them out, Deu 9:4, and again, Deu 9:5. All those whom God rejects are rejected for their own wickedness: but none of those whom he accepts are accepted for their own righteousness. 2. He will be honoured in the performance of his promise to those that are in covenant with him: God swore to the patriarchs, who loved him and left all to follow him, that he would give this land to their seed; and therefore he would keep that promised mercy for thousands of those that loved him and kept his commandments; he would not suffer his promise to fail. It was for their fathers' sakes that they were beloved, Rom 11:28. Thus boasting is for ever excluded. See Eph 1:9, Eph 1:11.
Cross-references: Deut 9:1 · Deut 9:2 · Num 13:28 · Num 13:33 · Deut 9:3 · Deut 9:4 · Deut 9:5 · Deut 9:6 · Rom 11:28 · Eph 1:9 · Eph 1:11