Chapter 4

1 An exhortation to obedience. 41 Moses apppointeth the three cities of refuge on that side Jordan.

1. Hearken. In the sense of “give heed.” The third chapter concluded the review of the journey of Israel from Horeb to the river Jordan, preliminary to crossing it. Chapter 4 consists largely of an exhortation to obedience.

Statutes. That is, the provisions of the civil code regulating conduct, in contrast to the “judgments,” which were concerned with the administration of the “statutes,” particularly with respect to judicia decisions. The word rendered “judgments” is sometimes also translated “right,” in the sense of “justice,” or a “right decision” (Gen. 18:25; Job 34:6, 7; 35:2; Ps. 9:4).

Ye may live. Their fathers had died in the wilderness because of disobedience; they were to live—if they obeyed God—in the land promised their fathers.

2. Ye shall not add. Whatever God does is perfect. To add to it or to subtract from it is to mar or spoil it (Deut. 12:32; Jer. 26:2; Rev. 22:18).

Commandments. From the Hebrew commonly translated “command” or “commandment” (Gen. 26:5; Ex. 15:26; Lev. 4:2; Num. 15:22; Ps. 78:7; etc.).

3. Because of Baal-peor. Literally, “in Baal-peor.” For the sin and its results at this place see Num. 25:1–5; Deut. 3:29; Hosea 9:10. Some scholars think that the Baal-peor here mentioned was a god of sexual desire, such as is worshipped so freely by the Lingayats in India today.

4. Cleave. This word stands for the closest possible relationship, like that of husband and wife (Gen. 2:24; see also Job 19:20 and Jer. 13:11).

6. Keep therefore and do. To “keep”them is to give assent of mind and heart to them, with intent to order the life accordingly; to “do” them is to carry out the intent of the will. A man must purpose to do right before he does right. These two exhortations are repeated again and again (chs. 7:12; 16:12; 23:23; 24:8; 26:16; 28:13). It is the practical carrying out of God’s will that He appreciates and values highly.

Your wisdom. The respect of Israel among the nations would be in proportion to their faithfulness in observing the commandments of God. The blessings of God upon His people as they lived in harmony with His requirements would greatly impress the surrounding nations.

8. All this law. Literally, “all this torah.” The word torah is inclusive of all instruction and doctrine, and comprehends all principles of conduct. Moses suggests the idea of comparing God’s “law,” or principles of conduct, with those of the surrounding nations.

9. Diligently. Constant vigilance is necessary in order that the spiritual life may ever be in tune with God’s revealed will.

Teach them thy sons. Literally, “make them known to thy children” (see Ex. 12:26; 13:8, 14; Joshua 4:21).

10. In Horeb. The memorable occasion when God revealed His holy law. The memory of this occasion was ever to be kept clearly in mind.

Fear me. To “fear” God is to regard Him with profound and reverent respect (Ex. 19:10–13; 20:20) and to have proper regard for His will (Deut. 8:6; Prov. 3:7; Eccl. 12:13; Isa. 11:2, 3; 33:6).

11. Ye came near. See Ex. 19:17.

Burned. That is, the mountain had the appearance of being on fire, like the “burning” bush (Ex. 3:2; cf. Heb. 12:18).

12. The Lord spake. See Ex. 19:20; 20:1, 22.

Midst of the fire. See Ex. 19:18; 24:17; Deut. 4:15, 33, 36; 5:4, 22, 24; 9:10; 10:4.

The voice. Literally, “the sound,” that is, of the words God spoke (see Ex. 19:19; 24:16).

Saw no similitude. Literally, “saw no form.” “Similitude” is rendered “likeness” in Deut. 4:23, 25; 5:8; Ps. 17:15, and “form” in Job 4:16.

13. Covenant. The Hebrew word thus translated may be applied to any agreement or contract. It probably comes from the Hebrew verb “to bind,” “to fetter.” It is used of a treaty or alliance (Gen. 14:13; Ex. 23:32), an agreement (2 Sam. 3:12, 13, 21; Jer. 34:8), and of the marriage vow (Mal. 2:14).

Ten commandments. Literally, “the ten words.” These were later written by God Himself (Ex. 24:12; 34:28; Deut. 10:4).

14. Commanded me. God Himself presented the Ten Commandments, but all the civil and ceremonial laws were given through Moses (Ex. 24:3). This important distinction Moses repeatedly emphasizes (Ex. 20:1, 19; 21:1; 24:3; Deut. 5:22). The book of Deuteronomy is concerned primarily with the civil laws.

15. Similitude. Literally, “form” (see on v. 12). Man is prone to seek to express his concepts of deity in visible, material form. The manifestation of divine glory at Sinai was not to be an excuse for doing so.

16. Corrupt yourselves. See Ex. 20:4. Heathen nations have degraded themselves by depicting deity in forms partly human and partly animal and by making grotesque representations of the human form.

18. Creepeth. The worship of snakes and other lowly creatures is common among millions of people even today.

Fish. The ancient Philistines. Mesopotamians, and possibly the Egyptians included in their pantheon a fish god (see Ex. 20:4).

19. The host of heaven. The worship of the heavenly bodies is a snare into which man has fallen from earliest times. Today such worship is common in many Eastern countries. For a record of this sin among God’s people see 2 Kings 17:16; 21:3, 5; 23:4, 5; Jer. 44:18, 19; Eze. 8:16; Zeph. 1:5.

20. The iron furnace. In 1 Kings 8:51 and Jer. 11:4 this figure of speech is used to denote harsh servitude. Isaiah defines the disciplinary experiences under God’s hand as a process of refining in a furnace (Isa. 48:10; see also Job 23:10).

People of inheritance. Or, “his own inheritance” (see ch. 32:9).

21. Lord was angry. For the third time Moses speaks of this fact, in an endeavor to impress upon Israel the liabilities involved in opposition to God’s will (ch. 1:37; 3:26).

Giveth. Literally, “on the point of giving,” or “about to give” (see also chs. 15:4; 25:19; 26:1).

22. I must die. Moses felt keenly his being forbidden entrance to the land of Promise (see Num. 27:12–14).

23. A graven image. The danger of idolatrous practices lay heavily on the heart of Moses (see vs. 16, 25).

24. A consuming fire. Compare Ps. 50:3; Isa. 29:6; 30:27, 30; Amos 5:6; Zeph. 1:18; Heb. 12:29.

A jealous God. God will not tolerate divided. affections or halfhearted service (Ex. 20:5).

25. Remained long. Literally, “fallen asleep.” The Hebrew word thus used means “to sleep,” and may be used figuratively of the dulling spiritual life, or the loss of one’s first impressions.

26. Not prolong. They would perish as a nation (see Deut. 5:33; 11:9; 17:20; 22:7; 30:18; 32:47).

27. Scatter you. See Lev. 26:32, 33.

28. Serve gods. This verse is descriptive of the most debasing form of idolatry (see 2 Kings 19:18), (Ps. 115:4; 135:15; Micah 5:13).

29. All thy heart. One’s motives must be pure and spiritual (see chs. 6:5; 10:12; 11:13; 30:2, 6, 10).

30. Latter days. Literally, “in the afterdays.” This expression is frequent in a prophetic sense, pointing to the Messiah and to His second coming and kingdom (see Isa. 2:2; Hosea 3:5; Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:1, 2; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18).

31. Merciful. The root from which the adjective thus translated comes means “to love,” “to be inclined toward affection,” and in the intensive form, “to have compassion.” In the 13 times this adjective is used in the OT, it is always applied to God.

He will not forsake thee. Literally, “He will not let thee sink down.” The verb is often translated, “to become feeble,” “to become weakened,” “to faint.”

32. For ask now. It strengthens the believer to recall God’s dealings in times past (see LS 196).

33. People hear. This reflects their awe in the presence of God. Sinful man cannot literally see God and live (Ex. 33:20; Judges 13:22).

34. Assayed. That is, “ventured” or “attempted.”

Temptations. Literally, “trials.” There is no thought here of leading into sin but rather of trying experiences.

Signs. See Ex. 4:9; 7:9, 10.

Wonders. A reference to the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 7:3; 11:9, 10).

War. The defeat of the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:14; 15:3).

A mighty hand. See Deut. 3:24; 9:29; also Ex. 6:6; 7:5.

36. His great fire. A reference to the glory of God (see on Deut. 4:11, 24).

37. He chose their seed. See Gen. 12:7; 13:15, 16; 22:17, 18; Ex. 32:13.

38. Drive out. Literally, “dispossessed,” as it is translated in Num. 32:39.

Greater and mightier. So much so that at the report of the spies Israel became fearful and rebelled against God (Num. 13:28–31).

39. None else. See Isa. 44:8; Acts 4:12.

40. Prolong thy days. See chs. 5:16; 6:2; 11:9. Here closes Moses’ first oration.

41. Severed three cities. Literally, “caused three cities to be separated,” that is, the cities of refuge. The same word, translated “separated,” is used of the setting apart of the tribe of Levi to carry the sacred furniture of the tabernacle (ch. 10:8). Ezekiel 42:20 speaks of a “separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.”

Sun rising. That is, “to the east,” meaning east of the Jordan, in the territory occupied by the two and a half tribes.

42. These cities. See ch. 19:1–13 for the laws respecting the cities of refuge.

43. Bezer. From a word meaning “fortress” or “enclosure.” The word is translated “defence” in Job 22:25. The site is possibly Umm elРAmmad.

Ramoth. The word thus translated is from a root meaning “coral.” Ramoth played an important role in the later history of the kings of Israel (see 1 Kings 4:7, 13; 22:1–40; 2 Kings 8:28, 29). Now called Tell RaµmйЖth, this site lies 25 mi. east of the Jordan as the crow flies.

Golan. Probably from a word meaning “circle.” It is usually identified with the modern village Sahem elРJoµlaЖn, 18 mi. east of the Sea of Chinnereth.

44. The law. The torah, meaning God’s instructions in general, inclusive of the Ten Commandments.

Set before. Literally, “to place,” “to lay,” here with the idea of placing the law before their eyes (see Ex. 19:7, where it is rendered “laid”).

45. The testimonies. The Hebrew word thus translated is used 60 times in the OT, almost without exception of the Ten Commandments.

46. Smote. In the 40th year of the Exodus (Num. 21:24; 33:38; see Israel’s Campaign East of the Jordan).

47. On this side Jordan. See Joshua 1:15; 12:1.

48. Mount Sion. Not Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, but either another name for Sirion, the Sidonian name for Mt. Hermon, or the name of one of its peaks (Deut. 3:8, 9, 12; Ps. 29:6).

Ellen G. White comments

1-49FE 508

1-6PK 294

5, 6 PP 464

5-8COL 289; MM 26; SR 150; 6T 12

5-9CT 428; FE 393, 478

5-10TM 140

6     DA 28; Ed 40, 174, 229; GC 230; PK 30, 83, 500; PP 605

7, 8 PP 465

9     PK 294

10   PP 465

13   TM 140

15, 16, 19        PK 295

20   PP 465

23   PK 295

23, 24  PP 466

24   DA 600; EW 102; 3T 238, 248; 4T 370; 8T 266

26   PP 466

26-28PK 295

29   PK 569

29-31PK 629

30, 31  PK 334

32-35PP 463

39, 40  FE 508