For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
-God's appointment for Israel in the time of the Judges. God gave His law-the summary of His ordinances and deeds-in order that they and their posterity might trust and obey Him, and not rebel, as their fathers did in the wilderness.
Verse 5. For he established - literally, 'erected;' 'raised up' (cf. note, Psalms 78:6).
A testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel - namely, the Pentateuch, containing not only God's laws, but the record of God's deeds, which contain instruction in duty, and warning (cf. Psalms 78:7; Psalms 78:10-11).
Which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children - not merely by a formal teaching, but by speaking from the heart to their children's heart (Exodus 13:14; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 6:6-7). "Our fathers" are the Israelites of Moses' time.
Verse 6. That the generation to come might know (them) - i:e., the generation in the time of the Judges.
Even the children ... (who) should arise and declare them - not 'who should spring up;' but, omitting "who" of the English version, 'that they should rise up and declare' (them-the law and the testimony).
To their children. The Hebrew verb is the same as is translated in Psalms 78:5, "He established" - literally, 'raised up a testimony.' As God has raised up the testimony, so those for whom He raised it up should rise up and declare it. There is no copula (and) between 'that they might know ... that they should arise' to mark how closely connected are real knowing and rising up to declare one's spiritual knowledge to others, especially to one's own children (Mark 5:19). 'Whatever a man feels to be of vital importance he endeavours to set it before his family' (Hengstenberg).
Verse 7. That they might set their hope in God. "They" - namely, the second generation, that which in the period of the Judges succeeded the Mosaic one, which was the first (Psalms 78:5-6).
And not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments - (Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 31:11; Deuteronomy 33:9.)
Verse 8. And might not be as their fathers (of Moses' days), a stubborn and rebellious generation. So Moses reproached his contemporaries (Deuteronomy 9:6-7; Deuteronomy 31:27). The image is that of a refractory son (Deuteronomy 31:18; Deuteronomy 32:5), a generation that set not their heart aright-that did not set steadily their heart in the right way. Hengstenberg translates, 'a generation that does not prepare its heart.' So margin, and Job 11:13; 1 Samuel 7:3. I prefer the English version, as agreeing with Psalms 78:37.