I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed. I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this dayThis phrase underscores the solemnity and gravity of the moment. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, calling upon heaven and earth as witnesses was a common legal practice, signifying an unbreakable covenant or oath. The Hebrew word for "call" (קָרָא, qara) implies a proclamation or summoning, indicating the seriousness of the declaration. Heaven and earth, as God's creation, serve as enduring witnesses to the covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing that this is not merely a human agreement but one that is cosmic in scope. that you will quickly perish from the land
The phrase "quickly perish" is a stark warning. The Hebrew root for "perish" (אָבַד, abad) conveys a sense of being lost or destroyed. This is a prophetic warning about the consequences of disobedience. The land, a gift from God, is conditional upon Israel's faithfulness. Historically, this foreshadows the eventual exile of Israel due to their failure to uphold the covenant. The urgency in "quickly" serves as a reminder of the immediacy of the consequences of turning away from God. that you are crossing the Jordan to possess
The Jordan River is not just a geographical boundary but a spiritual one. Crossing the Jordan symbolizes entering into the promises of God. The Hebrew word for "possess" (יָרַשׁ, yarash) implies taking possession or inheriting. This is not merely a physical occupation but a divine inheritance. The land is a tangible representation of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and crossing the Jordan is a step into the fulfillment of that promise. You will not live long upon it
This phrase serves as a continuation of the warning. The Hebrew concept of "living long" (אָרַךְ, arak) is associated with blessing and prosperity. The implication is that disobedience will lead to a shortened tenure in the land, contrasting with the promise of longevity and prosperity for obedience. This reflects the covenantal nature of Israel's relationship with God, where blessings and curses are contingent upon their faithfulness. but will be utterly destroyed
The phrase "utterly destroyed" is a sobering conclusion. The Hebrew word for "destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad) indicates complete annihilation. This is not merely a loss of land but a total devastation, emphasizing the severity of turning away from God. Historically, this points to the eventual destruction and exile of Israel, serving as a powerful reminder of the consequences of breaking the covenant. The use of "utterly" underscores the totality of the judgment, leaving no room for ambiguity about the seriousness of the warning. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who is delivering this message as part of his farewell speeches. He is reminding the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God who are about to enter the Promised Land. They are the recipients of Moses' warnings and instructions. 3. Heaven and EarthInvoked as witnesses to the covenant between God and Israel. This is a common ancient Near Eastern practice to call upon creation as witnesses to an agreement. 4. The Promised Land (Canaan)The land that the Israelites are about to enter, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants. 5. The Jordan RiverThe geographical boundary that the Israelites are about to cross to enter the Promised Land. Teaching Points The Seriousness of CovenantThe invocation of heaven and earth as witnesses underscores the gravity of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It is a solemn reminder that our commitments to God are not to be taken lightly. Consequences of DisobedienceThe warning of perishing from the land serves as a stark reminder that disobedience to God’s commands leads to serious consequences. This principle remains relevant for believers today in maintaining faithfulness to God’s Word. The Role of WitnessesIn ancient times, witnesses were crucial in legal matters. By calling heaven and earth as witnesses, Moses emphasizes the impartial and enduring nature of God’s covenant, which transcends human generations. The Importance of ObedienceObedience to God is not just about following rules but is integral to living in the blessings and promises of God. It is a call to align our lives with God’s will. The Call to RememberMoses’ warning serves as a call to remember God’s past faithfulness and the importance of adhering to His commands. This remembrance is vital for spiritual growth and perseverance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of heaven and earth as witnesses enhance your understanding of the seriousness of the covenant between God and His people? 2. In what ways can the warning of perishing from the land be applied to our spiritual lives today? 3. How do the themes of obedience and disobedience in Deuteronomy 4:26 connect with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament? 4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that you are living in obedience to God’s commands? 5. How can the idea of witnesses in Deuteronomy 4:26 inspire accountability within your faith community? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 30:19This verse also calls heaven and earth as witnesses, emphasizing the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, reinforcing the covenantal theme. Joshua 23:16Joshua reiterates the warning that disobedience will lead to perishing from the good land, echoing Moses' words. Isaiah 1:2The prophet Isaiah also calls heaven and earth to witness against Israel, highlighting the continuity of this motif in the prophetic literature. Hebrews 12:1While not directly related, the concept of being surrounded by witnesses is echoed in the New Testament, emphasizing accountability and faithfulness. People Amorites, Baalpeor, Bezer, Gadites, Israelites, Manasseh, Manassites, Moses, Og, Reubenites, SihonPlaces Arabah, Aroer, Bashan, Beth-baal-peor, Bezer, Egypt, Gilead, Golan, Hermon, Heshbon, Horeb, Jordan River, Mount Sion, Peor, Pisgah, Ramoth, Sea of the Arabah, Valley of the ArnonTopics Caused, Certainly, Complete, Crossing, Cutting, Destroyed, Destruction, Hastily, Heaven, Heavens, Jordan, Overtake, Pass, Passing, Perish, Possess, Prolong, Quickly, Surely, Testify, Utterly, Whereunto, Whither, Witness, WitnessesDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 4:26 4055 heaven and earth Deuteronomy 4:25-26 4287 universe
6218 provoking God Deuteronomy 4:25-27 7212 exile
8840 unfaithfulness, to God Deuteronomy 4:25-31 7520 dispersion, the Library February the Sixteenth Crowding Out God
"Lest thou forget." --DEUTERONOMY iv. 5-13. That is surely the worst affront we can put upon anybody. We may oppose a man and hinder him in his work, or we may directly injure him, or we may ignore him, and treat him as nothing. Or we may forget him! Opposition, injury, contempt, neglect, forgetfulness! Surely this is a descending scale, and the last is the worst. And yet we can forget the Lord God. We can forget all His benefits. We can easily put Him out of mind. We can live as though He were …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling YearDeuteronomy
(Third Sunday after Easter.) Deut. iv. 39, 40. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shall keep therefore his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever. Learned men have argued much of late as to who wrote …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch Political and Religious Life of the Jewish Dispersion in the West - their Union in the Great Hope of the Coming Deliverer.
It was not only in the capital of the Empire that the Jews enjoyed the rights of Roman citizenship. Many in Asia Minor could boast of the same privilege. [327] The Seleucidic rulers of Syria had previously bestowed kindred privileges on the Jews in many places. Thus, they possessed in some cities twofold rights: the status of Roman and the privileges of Asiatic, citizenship. Those who enjoyed the former were entitled to a civil government of their own, under archons of their choosing, quite independent …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Of the Cities of Refuge.
Hebron, the most eminent among them, excites us to remember the rest. "The Rabbins deliver this; Moses separated three cities of refuge beyond Jordan, [Deut 4:41-43;] and, against them, Joshua separated three cities in the land of Canaan, [Josh 20:7,8]. And these were placed by one another, just as two ranks of vines are in a vineyard: Hebron in Judea against Bezer in the wilderness: Shechem in mount Ephraim against Ramoth in Gilead: Kedesh in mount Napthali against Golan in Basan. And these three …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica That the Devout Soul Ought with the Whole Heart to Yearn after Union with Christ in the Sacrament
The Voice of the Disciple Who shall grant unto me, O Lord, that I may find Thee alone, and open all my heart unto Thee, and enjoy Thee as much as my soul desireth; and that no man may henceforth look upon me, nor any creature move me or have respect unto me, but Thou alone speak unto me and I unto Thee, even as beloved is wont to speak unto beloved, and friend to feast with friend? For this do I pray, this do I long for, that I may be wholly united unto Thee, and may withdraw my heart from all created …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The First Covenant
"Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me."--EX. xix. 5. "He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments."--DEUT. iv. 13.i "If ye keep these judgments, the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant,"--DEUT. vii. 12. "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, which My covenant they brake."--JER. xxxi. 31, 32. WE have …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants The Unity of God
Q-5: ARE THERE MORE GODS THAN ONE? A: There is but one only, the living and true God. That there is a God has been proved; and those that will not believe the verity of his essence, shall feel the severity of his wrath. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.' Deut 6:6. He is the only God.' Deut 4:49. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thy heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, there is none else.' A just God and a Saviour; there is none beside …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Northern Coasts of Galilee. Amanah. The Mountain of Snow.
This coast is described by Moses, Numbers 34:7: "From the Great Sea to mount Hor: from mount Hor to the entrance of Hamath," &c. Mount Hor, in the Jewish writers, is Amanah; mention of which occurs, Canticles 4:8, where R. Solomon thus: "Amanah is a mount in the northern coast of the land of Israel, which in the Talmudical language is called, The mountainous plain of Amanon; the same with mount Hor." In the Jerusalem Targum, for mount 'Hor' is the mount Manus: but the Targum of Jonathan renders it …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Epistle cxxvii. From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory .
From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory [89] . To the holy lord, and father in Christ, the Roman [pope], most fair ornament of the Church, a certain most august flower, as it were, of the whole of withering Europe, distinguished speculator, as enjoying a divine contemplation of purity (?) [90] . I, Bargoma [91] , poor dove in Christ, send greeting. Grace to thee and peace from God the Father [and] our [Lord] Jesus Christ. I am pleased to think, O holy pope, that it will seem to thee nothing extravagant …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments "They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning A Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Second visit to Nazareth - the Mission of the Twelve.
It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the center of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod's residence at Tiberias [3013] would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage in our Lord's history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Wisdom and Revelation.
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness …
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul Links Deuteronomy 4:26 NIVDeuteronomy 4:26 NLTDeuteronomy 4:26 ESVDeuteronomy 4:26 NASBDeuteronomy 4:26 KJV
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