Deuteronomy 31

The remaining section of this book is occupied with the closing acts of Moses’ life.

2 this day. That is, “already.”

3 and Joshua. It is significantly promised that both “the Lord” and “Joshua” should “go over before” them; since in Joshua’s Divine appointment to his office, as well as in the very name he bore (see Numb. xiii. 16, and note), a pledge was given that The Eternal Himself would become the Leader of His people.

9 this law. The Book of the Law was entrusted to the priests both for safe custody and for public use as specified in vers. 10-13. Cp. Neh. viii. 18.

10 the year of release. As in that year the land rested from cultivation, all classes of the people could then better find time to attend this service.

12 women and children. This festival, at which the Law was read, was the only one at which women and children were required to attend.

19 this song. While the original Book of the Law was to be preserved by the side of the ark, and copied, at least in part, upon the stones set up in the centre of the land (xxvii. 2-4), it was to be impressed upon the minds of all by a national song, which has always been found a powerful method of affecting a people. The value set upon this song is shown by the numerous allusions made to it by the prophets, and by the quotations from it in the New Testament. See especially Heb. x. 30, etc.

26 in the side. Rather, “by the side” (R.V.). The “Testimony”—i.e., the tables of the law—were in the ark: the “book” probably in a chest beside it. Cp. 2 Kings xxii. 8.