Deuteronomy 9:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 9 Israel's march over Jordan to possess Canaan, Deuteronomy 9:1-3. But must not ascribe it to their own righteousness, Deuteronomy 9:4-6. A rehearsal of their manifold provocations at Horeb, Deuteronomy 9:8, at Taberah, Deuteronomy 9:22, and at Kadesh-barnea, Deuteronomy 9:23. This day, i.e. shortly, within a little time, the word day being oft put for time, as 1 Thessalonians 8:56 1 Corinthians 4:5 Revelation 16:14, within two months; for Moses spake this on the first day of the eleventh month, Deuteronomy 1:3, and they passed over Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, Joshua 4:19. Nations, i.e. the land of those nations; for that only they were to possess, but as for the nations or people they were not to possess, but to destroy them. Thus they are said to inherit Gad, Jeremiah 49:1, i.e. the country and cities of Gad, as it is there explained. Greater and mightier than thyself: this he adds, partly that they might not be surprised when they find them to be such; partly that they might not trust to their own strength, but wholly rely upon God's help, for the destroying of them, and, after the work was done, might ascribe the praise and glory of it to God alone, and not to themselves. Fenced up to heaven, as the spies reported, Deuteronomy 1:28. See on Genesis 11:4.