Deuteronomy 5

2 a covenant. The Divine condescension turned the command into a covenant, that the people might be the more strongly bound to obedience by their own solemn consent, and the more encouraged to it by God’s promise, both of which are implied in the “covenant.”

3 not . . . with our fathers. That is, not with them alone.

5 ye were afraid. In this brief narrative Moses mentions only one of the reasons why the people did not go up. See Exod. xix. 16, xx. 18, xxiv. 2.

6. I am the Lord, etc. “I am the Eternal, your God.” There are several variations in this recital of the Decalogue as compared with Exod. xx.; but they are all of that natural description which serve to confirm the truth of the narrative.

15. And remember. In reciting the fourth commandment, Moses omits the words referring to the original institution of the Sabbath, as being well known; and he comments upon the beneficent provision for a rest to the servant as well as the master. It was important, as the people were soon about to be masters of Canaan, to keep them in mind of their former hard servitude, and of their duties to their dependants.

31 commandments . . . statutes . . . Judgements. These three words appear generally to include the whole moral, ritual, and civil Law.