Ver. 1. If thou shalt hearken diligently— It is observable, that the prophesies of Moses abound most in the latter part of his writings. As he drew nearer his end, it pleased God to open to him larger prospects of things. As he was about to take leave of the people, he was enabled to disclose to them more particulars of their future state and condition: and so striking is the present chapter more especially, that we may see the greater part of it accomplished in the world at this present time. Moses here proposes at large to the people the blessings for obedience, and the curses for disobedience. Indeed, he had already foretold, at several times, and upon several occasions, that they should be happy or miserable in the world, as they were obedient or disobedient to the law that he had given them; and could there be any stronger evidence of the divine original of the Mosaic law? For, has not the interposition of Providence been wonderfully remarkable in their good or bad fortune? And is not the truth of the prediction fully attested by the whole series of their history, from their first settlement in Canaan to this very day? But he goes into greater length, and is more particular, in recounting the curses than the blessings, as if he had a prescience of the people's disobedience. I know that some critics make a division of these prophesies; they imagine, that one part relates to the former captivity of the Jews, and to the calamities which they suffered under the Chaldeans; and that the other part relates to the latter captivity of the Jews, and to the calamities which they suffered under the Romans: but there is no need of any such distinction; there is no reason to think that any such was intended by the author. Several prophesies of one part, as well as of the other, have been fulfilled at both periods; but they have all more exactly been fulfilled during the latter period; and there cannot be a more lively picture than they exhibit of the state of the Jews at present, as will appear in the sequel. See Bishop Newton on the Prophesies.
His commandments, which I command thee— Moses gave to the Israelites no laws but such as were commanded by God himself; whose commandments they are called, though enjoined by Moses as God's vicegerent. See ch. Deuteronomy 11:1.