1Höre Israel! du gehst heute über den Jordan, um hineinzugehen, und Völker zu unterwerfen, die größer und stärker sind, als du, große und bis an den Himmel befestigte Städte, 2ein großes und hochgewachsenes Volk, die Söhne der Enakiten, die du kennest, und von denen du hast sagen hören: Wer kann bestehen vor den Söhnen Enaks? 3Du sollst also heute wissen, daß Jehova, dein Gott, es ist, der hinübergeht vor dir, ein verzehrendes Feuer, er wird sie vertilgen, er wird sie beugen vor dir; und du wirst sie vertreiben, und sie gar bald vertilgen, wie Jehova zu dir geredet hat. 4Sprich nicht in deinem Herzen, wenn Jehova, dein Gott, sie wird vor dir außgestoßen haben, und sage nicht: Um meiner Gerechtigkeit willen hat mich Jehova hierhergebracht, um dieses Land in Besitz zu nehmen; sondern um der Ruchlosigkeit dieser Völker willen vertreibt sie Jehova vor dir. 5Nicht um deiner Gerechtigkeit, noch um der Rechenschaft deines Herzens willen kommst du hinein, ihr Land in Besitz zu nehmen; sondern um der Ruchlosigkeit dieser Völker willen vertreibt sie Jehova vor dir. 6Wisse also, daß nicht um deiner Gerechtigkeit willen Jehova, dein Gott, dir dieß gute Land gibt, es in Besitz zu nehmen; denn ein hartnäckiges Volk bist du. 7Gedenke daran, und vergiß es nicht, wie du erzürnt hast Jehova, deinen Gott, in der Wüste; von dem Tage an, da du auszogst aus dem Lande Aegypten, bis ihr kamet an diesen Ort, seyd ihr widerspenstig gewesen gegen Jehova. 8Auch am Horeb habet ihr Jehova erzürnt, und Jehova zürnte gegen euch, so daß er euch vertilgen wollte. 9Da ich hinaufgestiegen war auf den Berg, um zu holen die steinernen Tafeln, die Tafeln des Bundes, den Jehova mit euch geschlossen hatte; und auf dem Berg blieb vierzig Tage und vierzig Nächte; - ich aß kein Brod und trank kein Wasser - 10und Jehova mir die zwei steinernen Tafeln gab, geschrieben durch den Finger Gottes, und auf ihnen alle Worte, die Jehova mit euch geredet auf dem Berge, mitten aus dem Feuer, am Tage der Versammlung; 11da geschah es am Ende der vierzig Tage und der vierzig Nächte, daß Jehova mir die zwei steinernen Tafeln, die Tafeln des Bundes, gab, 12und das Jehova zu mir sprach: Auf, gehe eilends hinab von hier; denn verkehrt handelt dein Volk, das du ausgeführt hast aus Aegypten; sie sind gar bald abgewichen vom Wege, den ich ihnen geboten habe; sie haben sich ein gegossenes Bild gemacht. 13Und Jehova redete zu mir, und sprach: Ich habe gesehen dieß Volk; und siehe! ein hartnäckiges Volk ist es! 14Laß mich, und ich will sie vernichten, und ihren Namen austilgen unter dem Himmel; dich aber zu einem stärkeren und zahlreicheren Volke machen, als dieß ist. 15Und als ich mich wandte, und hinabstieg vom Berge, und der Berg in Feuer brannte, die zwei Tafeln des Bundes in meinen beiden Händen; 16da sahe ich hin, und siehe! ihr hattet gesündigt gegen Jehova, euern Gott; ihr hattet euch ein gegossenes Kalb gemacht, ihr waret gar bald abgewichen von dem Wege, den Jehova euch geboten hatte. 17Da faßte ich die beiden Tafeln, und warf sie aus meinen Händen, und zerbrach sie vor euern Augen. 18Und ich fiel nieder vor Jehova, wie das erstemal, vierzig Tage und vierzig Nächte, - ich aß kein Brod, und trank kein Wasser - um aller eurer Sünden willen, die ihr begangen hattet, indem ihr gethan, was böse war in den Augen Jehova's, und ihn erzürnt hattet. 19Denn mir war bange wegen des Zornes, und des Grimmes, mit welchem Jehova gegen euch aufgebracht war, daß er euch zernichten würde; aber Jehova erhörte mich auch dießmal. 20Auch über Aaron zürnte Jehova sehr, so daß er ihn vertilgen wollte; allein ich flehte auch für Aaron um jene Zeit. 21Euer Sündenwerk aber, das ihr gemacht hattet, das Kalb, nahm ich, und verbrannte es im Feuer, und zerstieß, und zermalmte es völlig, bis es zu feinem Staube war, und warf seinen Staub in den Bach, der vom Berge herab floß. 22Und in Tabeera, und in Massa, und in Kibroth Hattaavah (das ist bei den Lustgräbern) habet ihr Jehova erzürnt 23Und als Jehova euch wegsandte von Kadesch-Barnea, und sprach: Ziehet hinauf, und nehmet das Land ein, welches ich euch gegeben habe; da waret ihr widerspenstig gegen den Befehl Jehova's, eures Gottes, und glaubtet ihm nicht, und hörtet nicht auf seine Stimme. 24Widerspenstig seyd ihr gewesen gegen Jehova, so lange ich euch kenne. 25Und ich fiel nieder vor Jehova; vierzig Tage, und vierzig Nächte waren es, daß ich mich niederwarf, weil Jehova gesagt hatte, daß er euch vertilgen wolle. 26Und ich flehte zu Jehova, und sprach: Herr, Jehova, verderbe nicht dein Volk, und dein Erbe, das du erlöst hast durch deine Größe, das du aus Aegypten geführt hast mit starker Hand. 27Gedenke deiner Knechte, Abrahams, Isaaks, und Jakobs; sehe nicht an die Hartnäckigkeit dieses Volkes, und seine Ruchlosigkeit, und seine Sünde; 28damit man nicht sage in dem Lande, aus welchem du uns geführt hast: Jehova vermochte es nicht, sie in das Land zu bringen, von dem er zu ihnen geredet hatte; und weil er sie haßte, hat er sie ausgeführt, um sie zu tödten in der Wüste. 29Sie sind ja dein Volk und dein Erbe, das du ausgeführt hast mit deiner großen Kraft, und mit deinem ausgestreckten Arme.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 The call to attention (
Deut 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,
Deut 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,
Deut 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,
Deut 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 (
Deut 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,
Deut 9:5. And again (
Deut 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, Deut 9:4, and again,
Deut 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,
Roma 11:28. Thus boasting is for ever excluded. See
Ephes 1:9,
Ephes 1:11.
7 That they might have no pretence to think that God brought them to Canaan
for their righteousness, Moses here shows them what a miracle of mercy it was that they had not long ere this been destroyed in the wilderness:
Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God (
Deut 9:7); so far from purchasing his favour, thou hast many a time laid thyself open to his displeasure. Their fathers' provocations are here charged upon them; for, if God had dealt with their fathers according to their deserts, this generation would never have been, much less would they have entered Canaan. We are apt to forget our provocations, especially when the smart of the rod is over, and have need to be often put in mind of them, that we may never entertain any conceit of our own righteousness. Paul argues from the guilt which all mankind is under to prove that we cannot be
justified before God by our own works,
Roma 3:19,
Roma 3:20. If our works condemn us, they will not justify us. Observe, 1. They had been a provoking people ever since they came out of Egypt,
Deut 9:7.
Forty years long, from first to last, were God and Moses grieved with them. It is a very sad character Moses now at parting leaves of them:
You have been rebellious since the day I knew you, Deut 9:24. No sooner were they formed into a people than there was a faction formed among them, which upon all occasions made head against God and his government. Though the Mosaic history records little more than the occurrences of the first and last year of the forty, yet it seems by this general account that the rest of the years were not much better, but one continued provocation. 2. Even in Horeb they made a calf and worshipped it,
Deut 9:8, etc. That was a sin so heinous, and by several aggravations made so exceedingly sinful, that they deserved upon all occasions to be upbraided with it. It was done in the very place where the law was given by which they were expressly forbidden to worship God by images, and while the mountain was yet burning before their eyes, and Moses had gone up to fetch them the law in writing. They
turned aside quickly, Deut 9:16. 3. God was very angry with them for their sin. Let them not think that God overlooked what they did amiss, and gave them Canaan for what was good among them. No, God had determined to destroy them (
Deut 9:8), could easily have done it, and would have been no loser by it; he even desired Moses to let him alone that he might do it,
Deut 9:13,
Deut 9:14. By this it appeared how heinous their sin was, for God is never angry with any above what there is cause for, as men often are. Moses himself, though a friend and favourite, trembled at the revelation of God's wrath from heaven against their ungodliness and unrighteousness (
Deut 9:19):
I was afraid of the anger of the Lord, afraid perhaps not for them only, but for himself,
Pss 119:120. 4. They had by their sin broken covenant with God, and forfeited all the privileges of the covenant, which Moses signified to them by
breaking the tables, Deut 9:17. A bill of divorce was given them, and thenceforward they might justly have been abandoned for ever, so that their mouth was certainly stopped from pleading any righteousness of their own. God had, in effect, disowned them, when he said to Moses (
Deut 9:12), They are thy people, they are none of mine, nor shall they be dealt with as mine. 5. Aaron himself fell under God's displeasure for it, though he was the saint of the Lord, and was only brought by surprise or terror to be confederate with them in the sin:
The Lord was very angry with Aaron, Deut 9:20. No man's place or character can shelter him from the wrath of God if he have
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Aaron, that should have made atonement for them if the iniquity could have been purged away by sacrifice and offering, did himself fall under the wrath of God: so little did they consider what they did when they drew him in. 6. It was with great difficulty and very long attendance that Moses himself prevailed to turn away the wrath of God, and prevent their utter ruin. He fasted and prayed full forty days and forty nights before he could obtain their pardon,
Deut 9:18. And some think twice forty days (
Deut 9:25), because it is said,
as I fell down before, whereas his errand in the first forty was not of that nature. Others think it was but one forty, though twice mentioned (as also in
Deut 10:10); but this was enough to make them sensible how great God's displeasure was against them, and what a narrow escape they had for their lives. And in this appears the greatness of God's anger against all mankind that no less a person than his Son, and no less a price than his own blood, would serve to turn it away. Moses here tells them the substance of his intercession for them. He was obliged to own their stubbornness, and their wickedness, and their sin,
Deut 9:27. Their character was bad indeed when he that appeared an advocate for them could not give them a good word, and had nothing else to say in their behalf but that God had done great things for them, which really did but aggravate their crime (
Deut 9:26), - that they were the posterity of good ancestors (
Deut 9:27), which might also have been turned upon him, as making the matter worse and not better, - and that the Egyptians would reproach God, if he should destroy them, as unable to perfect what he had wrought for them (
Deut 9:28), a plea which might easily enough have been answered: no matter what the Egyptians say, while the heavens declare God's righteousness; so that the saving of them from ruin at that time was owing purely to the mercy of God, and the importunity of Moses, and not to any merit of theirs, that could be offered so much as in mitigation of their offence. 7. To affect them the more with the destruction they were then at the brink of, he describes very particularly the destruction of the calf they had made,
Deut 9:21. He calls it their
sin: perhaps not only because it had been the matter of their sin, but because the destroying of it was intended for a testimony against their sin, and an indication to them what the sinners themselves did deserve. Those that made it were like unto it, and would have had no wrong done them if they had been thus stamped to dust, and consumed, and scattered, and no remains of them left. It was infinite mercy that accepted the destruction of the idol instead of the destruction of the idolaters. 8. Even after this fair escape that they had, in many other instances they provoked the Lord again and again. He needed only to name the places, for they carried the memorials either of the sin or of the punishment in their names (
Deut 9:22): at
Taberah, burning, where God set fire to them for their murmuring, - at
Massah, the temptation, where they challenged almighty power to help them, - and at
Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves of lusters, where the dainties they coveted were their poison; and, after these, their unbelief and distrust at Kadesh-barnea, of which he had already told them (ch. 1), and which he here mentions again (
Deut 9:23), would certainly have completed their ruin if they had been dealt with according to their own merits.
Now let them lay all this together, and it will appear that whatever favour God should hereafter show them, in subduing their enemies and putting them in possession of the land of Canaan, it was not for their righteousness. It is good for us often to remember against ourselves, with sorrow and shame, our former sins, and to review the records conscience keeps of them, that we may see how much we are indebted to free grace, and may humbly own that we never merited at God's hand any thing but wrath and the curse.
