Deuteronomy 10:22
Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Your fathers went down to Egypt
This phrase refers to the patriarchs of Israel, specifically Jacob and his sons, who migrated to Egypt during a severe famine (Genesis 46:1-7). This migration was part of God's providential plan to preserve the family line through which the Messiah would come. Egypt served as a place of refuge and growth for the Israelites, but it also became a place of bondage, setting the stage for God's deliverance through the Exodus.

seventy in all
The number seventy is significant in biblical numerology, often symbolizing completeness or perfection. The seventy individuals who went to Egypt included Jacob, his sons, and their families (Genesis 46:27). This small group would grow into a great nation, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5).

and now the LORD your God
This phrase emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) highlights God's personal name, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness. The phrase "your God" underscores the unique bond and commitment God has with His chosen people, a theme that runs throughout Deuteronomy.

has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky
This statement reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5, 22:17). The metaphor of stars signifies not only the vast number of Israelites but also their role as a light to the nations. This imagery is echoed in the New Testament, where believers in Christ are called to shine like stars in the world (Philippians 2:15). The growth of Israel from seventy individuals to a multitude is a testament to God's faithfulness and power.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Fathers (Patriarchs)
Refers to the patriarchs of Israel, particularly Jacob and his sons, who went down to Egypt during a time of famine.

2. Egypt
The land where the Israelites lived for several generations, initially as guests and later as slaves, before their exodus under Moses' leadership.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who promised to make Abraham's descendants numerous and fulfilled this promise.

4. The Israelites
The descendants of the patriarchs, who grew from a small family group into a large nation during their time in Egypt.

5. The Stars in the Sky
A metaphorical expression used to describe the vast number of Israelites, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness to His Promises
God is faithful to fulfill His promises, as seen in the growth of the Israelites from seventy individuals to a multitude. This encourages believers to trust in God's promises in their own lives.

The Importance of Remembering God's Works
Just as the Israelites were reminded of their humble beginnings and God's blessings, Christians are called to remember and recount God's faithfulness in their personal and communal history.

The Power of God's Providence
The transformation from a small family to a great nation illustrates God's providential care and sovereignty over history, encouraging believers to rely on His guidance and provision.

The Role of Faith in God's Plan
The fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham required faith and patience. Believers are encouraged to maintain faith in God's timing and plan, even when immediate results are not visible.

Community Growth and Spiritual Multiplication
The physical multiplication of the Israelites serves as a metaphor for spiritual growth and multiplication within the church, urging believers to invest in discipleship and evangelism.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the growth of the Israelites from seventy individuals to a multitude demonstrate God's faithfulness, and how can this encourage us in our personal faith journey?

2. In what ways can we, like the Israelites, remember and celebrate God's past works in our lives and communities?

3. How does the account of the Israelites' multiplication in Egypt challenge us to trust in God's providence and timing, especially in difficult circumstances?

4. What parallels can we draw between the physical growth of the Israelites and the spiritual growth of the church today?

5. How can we actively participate in the spiritual multiplication of our faith community, inspired by the example of the Israelites' growth?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 15:5
God promises Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, establishing the foundation for the fulfillment seen in Deuteronomy 10:22.

Exodus 1:7
Describes the multiplication of the Israelites in Egypt, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promise to make them a great nation.

Hebrews 11:12
Reflects on the faith of Abraham and the fulfillment of God's promise, connecting the Old Testament account to New Testament teachings on faith.
New ObedienceR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 10:10-22
Knowledge of God the Parent of Obedient FaithD. Davies Deuteronomy 10:12-22
The Supreme PersuasiveJ. Orr Deuteronomy 10:14-22
People
Aaron, Eleazar, Jaakanites, Jakan, Levi, Moses
Places
Beeroth Bene-jaakan, Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, Jotbathah, Moserah, Sinai
Topics
Egypt, Fathers, Heaven, Heavens, Multitude, Numerous, Persons, Seventy, Sky, Souls, Stars, Ten, Threescore
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 10:22

     1655   hundreds and thousands
     4281   stars

Library
Election and Holiness
Now, this morning it may be that some of you will not approve of what I have to say. You will remember, however, that I do not seek your approbation, that it will be sufficient for me if I have cleared my conscience concerning a grand truth and have preached the gospel faithfully. I am not accountable to you, nor you to me. You are accountable to God, if you reject a truth; I am accountable to Him if I preach an error. I am not afraid to stand before His bar with regard to the great doctrines which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Book iii. The Ascent: from the River Jordan to the Mount of Transfiguration.
{hebrew} In every passage of Scripture where thou findest the Majesty of God, thou also findest close by His Condescension (Humility). So it is written down in the Law [Deut. x. 17, followed by verse 18], repeated in the Prophets [Is. lvii. 15], and reiterated in the Hagiographa [Ps. lxviii. 4, followed by verse 5].' - Megill 31 a.
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet
We shall now, in conclusion, give a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet. After an introduction in vi. 1, 2, where the mountains serve only to give greater solemnity to the scene (in the fundamental passages Deut. xxxii. 1, and in Is. 1, 2, "heaven and earth" are mentioned for the same purposes, inasmuch as they are the most venerable parts of creation; "contend with the mountains" by taking them in and applying to [Pg 522] them as hearers), the prophet reminds the people of
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Parable of the Importunate Widow.
^C Luke XVIII. 1-8. ^c 1 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man [an utterly abandoned character]: 3 and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of [rather, Do justice to me as to] mine adversary. [In Scripture language widowhood is symbolic of defenselessness (Ex. xxii. 22-24; Deut. x. 18; xxvii. 19; Mal. iii. 5; Mark xii. 40),
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting a Duty.
The exercise of Covenanting with God is enjoined by Him as the Supreme Moral Governor of all. That his Covenant should be acceded to, by men in every age and condition, is ordained as a law, sanctioned by his high authority,--recorded in his law of perpetual moral obligation on men, as a statute decreed by him, and in virtue of his underived sovereignty, promulgated by his command. "He hath commanded his covenant for ever."[171] The exercise is inculcated according to the will of God, as King and
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Thirtieth Lesson. An Holy Priesthood;'
An holy priesthood;' Or, The Ministry of Intercession. An holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.'--I Peter ii. 5. Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord.'--Isaiah lxi. 6. THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the Lord hath anointed me.' These are the words of Jesus in Isaiah. As the fruit of His work all redeemed ones are priests, fellow-partakers with Him of His anointing with the Spirit as High Priest. Like the precious ointment upon
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision B. Jesus Talks with Nicodemus. ^D John III. 1-21. ^d 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [Nicodemus is mentioned only by John. His character is marked by a prudence amounting almost to timidity. At John vii. 50-52 he defends Jesus, but without committing himself as in any way interested in him: at John xix. 38, 39 he brought spices for the body of Jesus, but only after Joseph of Arimathæa had secured the body.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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