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Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy

Hawker's Poor Man's CommentaryPoor Man's Commentary

Chapter 1
Moses Reviews Israel's Journey from Sinai.
Chapter 2
Wanderings Through Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
Chapter 3
Victory Over Og; Land Allocation East of Jordan.
Chapter 4
Call to Obedience; Warning Against Idolatry.
Chapter 5
Reiteration of the Ten Commandments.
Chapter 6
The Shema: Love the Lord Your God.
Chapter 7
Instructions for Conquering and Destroying Canaanite Nations.
Chapter 8
Remember the Lord; Don't Forget His Provision.
Chapter 9
Israel's Rebellion Recounted; God's Mercy Highlighted.
Chapter 10
New Tablets; Fear the Lord Commandments.
Chapter 11
Rewards for Obedience; Blessings and Curses.
Chapter 12
Centralized Worship; Abolish Idolatrous Practices.
Chapter 13
Avoid False Prophets and Idolatry Temptations.
Chapter 14
Clean and Unclean Foods; Tithing Instructions.
Chapter 15
Sabbatical Year Laws and Servant Release.
Chapter 16
Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles Festivals Reiterated.
Chapter 17
Justice and Kingship Laws Established.
Chapter 18
Laws on Priests, Levites, and Prophets.
Chapter 19
Cities of Refuge and Witness Regulations.
Chapter 20
Laws of Warfare and Conduct in Battle.
Chapter 21
Family Laws and Miscellaneous Instructions.
Chapter 22
Various Laws on Social Responsibility.
Chapter 23
Laws on Assembly and Camp Cleanliness.
Chapter 24
Divorce, Loans, and Justice for the Poor.
Chapter 25
Miscellaneous Laws on Justice and Fairness.
Chapter 26
Firstfruits and Tithes; Covenant Reaffirmation.
Chapter 27
Mount Ebal Altar; Curses for Disobedience.
Chapter 28
Blessings for Obedience; Curses for Disobedience.
Chapter 29
Renewal of the Covenant in Moab.
Chapter 30
Repentance and Restoration; Life and Death Choices.
Chapter 31
Joshua Commissioned; Law Read Every Seven Years.
Chapter 32
Moses' Song Recounts Israel's History.
Chapter 33
Moses Blesses the Tribes of Israel.
Chapter 34
Moses' Death on Mount Nebo; Joshua Succeeds.

- Deuteronomy

by Robert Hawker

DEUTERONOMY

GERNERAL OBSERVATIONS.

THERE is the same cause, in perusing this fifth and last Book of the writings of Moses, to remind the Reader of what, in every one of the former, he hath been very earnestly desired not to lose sight of, that Moses wrote of Christ. And, indeed, if while going through the preceding writings of this inspired penman, the Reader hath not discovered Jesus in every page, there is but the more reason to implore grace, and the teachings of the Holy Ghost, in his attention to this concluding book of Moses, that he may now discover that it is He, of whom Moses and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth. May that Almighty Instructor, whose office alone it is to take of the things of Jesus, and shew them unto his people, be the Teacher both of him that writes and him that reads.

The Book of Deuteronomy, which signifies the second law, is probably which Moses had in commisssion to deliver to Israel. It is not, however, so properly a second law, as a rehearsal of the former. And the reason for this repetition is abundantly evident. All that generation was dead before whom Moses had rehearsed it on their coming out of Egypt. And as very many of the precepts had a peculiar reference to the conduct of the people after their arrival to the promised land, it became highly proper that the laws should be rehearsed in the ears of the generation which had sprung up in the place of their fathers, and before whom they had not as yet been delivered.

As the Book of Deuteronomy contains what one of the prophets calls the great things of God's law, it should be recollected by the Reader, that it doth not contain much of history. Indeed the whole date of it, from beginning to end, comprizes a period only of two months. One month previous to the death of Moses, and one after. See Joshua 4:19 , compared with Deuteronomy 1:3

The vast importance of this sacred book of God may be best implied from the singularity of the precept for attention to it, with which it was accompanied. It was to be read publicly every seventh year by the priest before all the people, at the feast of Tabernacles, see chap Deuteronomy 31:10 . The king himself, when the people were settled in Canaan, and the Lord had appointed a king over them, was to write a copy of it with his own hand, and read it all the days of his life. See Chap. Deuteronomy 17:18-19 . And as a more public memorial of it, to which the people might refer, great stones were to be made smooth with plaister, and the law engraven upon them. See Chap. Deuteronomy 27:2-3 . All which imply the high esteem in which this sacred book was held. I only detain the Reader after this account just to add, that the honour and respect paid by our adorable Redeemer to this part of the divine word, is not inconsiderable; for all the answers with which he thought proper to repel the attacks of the devil, in the season of his temptations, were gathered from this book. Sweet testimony of its value, endeared as it is by so precious an example!

 
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