Deuteronomy 10:1-22 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

In recounting the story of the writing of the Law the second time, Moses distinctly affirmed that these tables too were written by God Himself. This was the culminating word in all he had said to them concerning their unfaithfulness. Side by side with their failure had been the manifestation of the pity and forbearance of God. They were therefore now being called upon to enter the land in spite of their own unrighteousness because of the compassion of God and His set determination to carry forward His larger purposes through them.

In a passage of great beauty, thrilling with earnestness, Moses made a statement summarizing the truth concerning the requirements of God as His people entered the land. The whole revealed the fact that everything depended on their relationship to Him. They were to fear Him, that is reverence; to walk in His ways, that is obedience; to love Him, that is worship; to serve Him, that is co\-operation; to keep His commandments, that is fidelity.

In order to encourage them in such attitudes and activities, he made two great declarations concerning God. The first (verses Deuteronomy 10:14; Deuteronomy 10:14) concerned their relationship to Him. He is a great God, possessing all. He is a God of love, having delighted in their fathers and choosing their seed. In consequence of these facts they were called on to maintain the attitude of separation, in the words, "Circumcise... the foreskin of your heart."

The second (verses Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy 10:17) declared anew the greatness of God as the Ruler of all things and of His love as it expresses itself in just dealing with the needy and the stranger. These convictions were to create their attitude toward strangers. They were to love them. Finally He made his appeal to them to fear, serve, cleave I to, and swear by Jehovah their God.

Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 10:1

Deuteronomy 10:1-22

1 At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments,a which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

6 And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.

7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.

8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the firstb time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.

11 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, takec thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.

12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

21 He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.