Chapter 8

An exhortation to obedience in regard of God’s dealing with them.

1. All the commandments. Literally, “each commandment,” perhaps stressing each one individually (see on ch. 7:11).

2. Remember all the way. The evidences of God’s leading are both so many and so remarkable that the humble child of God need never lose confidence or become despondent. It is by forgetting the many things God has done for us that we take our first steps away from Him into the far country of forgetfulness (Rom. 1:21; LS 196).

3. By bread only. It was from this statement of Moses that Jesus quoted in response to Satan’s first temptation in the wilderness (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4).

4. Thy raiment waxed not old. A miraculous intervention by God (see Deut. 29:5; Neh. 9:21). Apparently they were without means of providing sufficient clothing themselves; otherwise God would not have taken unusual steps to satisfy their requirements. God provided food, drink, protection, and other things when they could not help themselves.

Swell. The word thus translated appears elsewhere only in Neh. 9:21, and its meaning is rather obscure. It could perhaps mean “to blister.” The noun from the same root, however, is translated “dough” (Ex. 12:34, 39; Jer. 7:18; Hosea 7:4), no doubt because it swells as a result of the fermentation of yeast.

5. Chasteneth thee. The discipline of God is always educational, never merely to inflict suffering and distress (Heb. 12:5–11; Rev. 3:19). The Greek verb translated “prove” or “proved” in 2 Cor. 8:8; 1 Tim. 3:10, almost invariably implies testing done in order to place approval upon what is so tested. Thus it is with the chastening of God (Job 23:10; Jer. 9:7).

6. Walk in his ways. Rather than in ways of our own choosing (see Ex. 18:20; 1 Kings 3:14).

7. A good land. Modern Palestine is quite unlike this description. It is likely that centuries of using the land carelessly and denuding it of the heavy stands of timber, that controlled water and erosion, depleted its fertility. Contemporary Egyptian descriptions of the land offer a far more attractive picture than it presents today.

8. Wheat, and barley. The basic grain crops.

Fig trees, and pomegranates. Together with the olive tree, these were the principal fruit trees of ancient Palestine.

9. Whose stones are iron. Iron was foundin the mountainous country south of the Dead Sea. Iron is exported from this region today. During the time of the judges the Philistines held a monopoly over the fabrication of iron (1 Sam. 13:19–22). Their iron probably came from Asia Minor. It was only in the time of David, when the power of the Philistines was broken, that iron came into common use in Israel.

Brass. Rather, “copper” or “bronze,” an alloy of copper and tin. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, was unknown in ancient times. Copper was mined in the Wadi Arabah, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Copper artifacts were found at Ezion-geber, Solomon’s port at the head of that gulf, from which sailed “ships of Tarshish,” or “refinery ships” (see on 1 Kings 10:22).

10. Bless the Lord thy God. Gratitude should be expressed as well as felt. Without gratitude man is little better than a dumb brute. True nobility of soul begins with appreciation for the blessings of Heaven and the kindnesses of our fellow men (Ps. 103:2).

11. Forget not. Compare ch. 6:12.

12. Goodly houses. Material possessions often lead to undue concern with the things of this world. The Christian is to make God first, and trust Him for the needs of life (Matt. 6:33). Too often we are prone to make these “things” first and hope that in some way heaven will be “added” to us.

13. All that thou hast. Wealth is not of itself evil. It is the human tendency, however, to become engrossed in attempts to accumulate it and to hold on to it for personal pleasure, and forget God in the process. It was when Abram and Lot became wealthy that strife arose between them (Gen. 13:6, 7). It is when Christians become “rich, and increased with goods” and feel content therewith that they wax poor in things of more permanent worth (Rev. 3:17). It is often “the poor of this world” who prove to be “rich in faith” (James 2:5).

14. Lifted up. That is, in pride that wealth and prosperity are due to one’s own efforts (see v. 18). Note the counsel given as to the duties of a king (ch. 17:20), and compare Hosea 13:6.

15. Terrible Wilderness. See on ch. 1:19.

Fiery serpents. See on Num. 21:6.

Scorpions. A common nuisance in the desert country south of Judah, and less so elsewhere in Palestine. Some eight varieties exist there, the largest being some 8 in. in length. Scorpion bites can be extremely painful.

Drought. Literally, “thirsty ground” (see Ps. 107:33; Isa. 35:7).

Flint. The same occurs also in Deut. 32:13 and Ps. 114:8. As used in the Bible “flint” may refer to any hard rock. Some knives were made of flint (Joshua 5:2). Figuratively, flint stands for loyalty and devotion to duty (Isa. 50:7).

16. At thy latter end. That is, “in the end,” referring here to Israel’s settlement in the Promised Land. It simply draws a contrast between the painful lessons of the 40 years of wandering compared with the peace and security of Canaan (see Heb. 12:11). The expression here has no reference to the end of the world.

17. My power. Man is prone to take the credit for his good estate and to boast of being a self-made person.

18. Giveth thee power. All that we are and all that we have are from God. Consciousness of this fact keeps a man humble and enables him to view the things of time in their true perspective.

19. If thou do at all forget. Literally, “if forgetting thou shalt forget,” a typically Hebrew idiom similar to “thou shalt surely die” (see on Gen. 2:17) and “thou mayest freely eat” (see on Gen. 2:16). This idiomatic expression is used for emphasis.

I testify. Literally, “I affirm to you this day.” In the day of judgment they could not claim that God had not warned them (chs. 30:19; 32:46).

20. Not be obedient. Literally, “not hear.” The word translated “be obedient” means to hear and act accordingly (ch. 7:12).

Ellen G. White comments

1-20TM 420

2     Ed 39; 5T 49

2, 3 DA 121; PP 407

3     CH 371; CSW 27; DA 386; Ed 171; MB 83; 6T 347

4     PP 429

5     Ed 39; PP 407

7, 8 PP 128

7-9PP 465

11-14COL 291

15   COL 287; PP 428

17   COL 52, 291; 1T 562

17, 18  1T 536; 2T 652

18   AA 75; COL 351; CS 47, 138, 148; Ed 138; MH 212; PP 525; 3T 549; 5T 481; 6T 452; WM 15

19   PK 296

19, 20  COL 291