Deuteronomy 8

An exhortation of obedience by relating many great mercies of God shewed to Israel verse 1 &c. likewise by a description of the beauty and fruitfulness of the land of the promise with admonition to beware of pride and forgetfulness of God and his mercies to as likewise threatening of sore and heavy judgments if they should do otherwise 19.

1. All the commandments which I command thee this day [Heb. All the commandments which I &c. or every commandment] ye shall observe to do that ye may live and multiply and go in and inherit the Land which the LORD swear unto your fathers.

2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led these forty years in the wilderness that he might humble thee to tempest thee [spoken of God after the manner of men see Genesis 22 on verse 1] to know what was in thine heart [that thou thyself and others might know that is that it might be made to appear &c. so below chapter 13.3 Judges 3:4 2 Chronicles 32:31] whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or not.

3. And he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with manna which thou knowest not neither had thy father known that he might take it known unto thee that man liveth not by bread alone but that man liveth by all or every thing that proceedeth or cometh forth ] out of the mouth of the LORD [Heb. Of by or through all proceedings or issuing forth from the LORD’s mouth that is by all that God is pleased to ordain and bless for that end and purpose not only in an ordinary way but also from above and beyond the common rule yeah without means where so ever is pleased him.]

4. Thy remnant waxed not old upon thee neither did thy foot swell [the Hebrew word signifieth properly the swelling up puffing up rising of dough by means of leaven mixed with it as if Moseh should say that that their feet were not hurt or gauled at all by the cumbersomeness and trouble of all their marching and travelling] these forty years.

5. acknowledge then in thine heart that the LORD thy God chasteneth thee according as a man chasteneth his son [with such kind of love in such a manner and for such an end as a gracious father chasteneth his son see Proverbs 3:11,12 Hebrews 12:5,6,7,8,9,10&c.]

6. And keep the commandments of the LORD thy God to walk in his ways [see Genesis 18on verse 19] and fear him [or walking in his ways and fearing him.]

7. For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into the good land a land of water brooks fountain depths that flow forth [or issue forth spring forth] in valleys and in hills [Heb. In valleys and in hills.]

8. A land of wheat and barley and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates and a land of olive trees abounding with oil [Heb. Olive trees of oil] and of honey.

9. A land wherein thou shalt eat bread [see Genesis 3 on verse 19] without scarceness wherein nothing shall be wanting unto thee a land whose stones are iron [that is iron is found or in among the stones or where the stones are iron] and out of whose hills thou mayst dig copper.

10. When then thou shalt have eaten and be satisfied then thou shalt [others thou shalt eat and satisfied and &c.] praise [Heb. Bless the LORD thy God for that good land which he shall have given thee.

11. Beware that thou forget the LORD thy God that thou shouldst not keep his commandments and his judgments and his statutes [of the meaning of these three words commandments judgments statutes see above chapter 5 on verse 31] which I command thee this day.

12. Lest peradventure when thou shalt have eaten and be satisfied and shalt have built good house inhabit them.

13. And thy oxen and thine sheep shall be increased ye all that thou hast shall be increased.

14. And thy heart be lifted up that thou forget the LORD thy God brought forth thee out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage.

15. Who led thee in the great and terrible wilderness where were fiery serpents and scorpions and drought where there was no water who brought the forth water out of the flinty rock [Heb of the flint that is flienty stony rock see Exodus 17:6 Numbers 20:11 Psalms 78:15 and 114.8.]

16. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna [see Exodus 16:14, 15] which your fathers had not known to humble thee] see above verse 2, 3 and to tempt thee [se above verse 2] that he might do well unto thee at last [Heb. In thine utmost in thine last hinmost that is afterwards.]

17. And thou say in thine heart [see above chapter 7.17] this must be joined with the beginning of verse 12and 14] my power and strength of mine hand had gotten me this wealth [see Psalms 73 on verse 12.]

18. But thus halt remember the LORD thy God that is he that giveth power to get wealth that he might establish his covenant which he swear unto thy fathers as it is at this day.

19. But if it happened that thou altogether forget [Heb. Forgetting forget] the LORD thy God and follow others gods and serve them and bow thyself before them then I testify against ye this day that ye shall surely perish [Heb. Perishing shall perish.]

20. As the heathen whom the LORD destroyed before your face so shall ye perish because would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.