Deuteronomy 10

Verse 1. Wood. Moses had received this injunction, before he ascended the mount the second time. Exodus 25:10. But he executed it only after he had received the second tables of the law. Exodus 37:1. Menochius.—Some pretend that the made an ark of setim-wood, to contain the tables, till Beseleel should have completed his, which was covered with gold, and inclosed the former. Drus.—But this seems unnecessary. Calmet.

Verse 3. I made, or gave orders to have one ready against my return. Calmet.

Verse 4. To me. God had already promulgated the same laws in the hearing of all. Exodus 19:17. Bible.

Verse 6. Mosera, by Mount Hor, for there Aaron died. Numbers 20. This and the following verses seem to be inserted by way of parenthesis, ( Ch). as far as the 10th. The reason of their insertion here cannot easily be explained; but we must adore, in silence, the designs of the Holy Spirit. Calmet.—Moses had just mentioned the ark, designed to contain the tables of the law; and as the priests and Levites were to be the guardians of those sacred things, he takes occasion to specify something with respect to their institution, and so forth Mosera was perhaps twice visited by the Hebrews. The first time, they came thither from Beroth-Benejaacan, or from “the well of the children of Jacan,” and thence measured back their steps; though, the second time, Mosera, or Moseroth, is not noticed, because it had been specified already, and they did not stop long there, but proceeded to Gadgad. Numbers 33:30. Bonfrere. Menochius.—Others think that Mosera and Benejaacan are not the same places as Moseroth and Beroth Bensacan, though the names be similar. A. Lapide.—Perhaps it will be more satisfactory to acknowledge, that Mosera has been transposed by the copyists, as it ought to come before Beroth, particularly as Moses places it in that order, where he gives an account of the 42 stations; and the Samaritan copy agrees with him in this place. Calmet.—It also retains many words which have been omitted in Hebrew, and in all the versions taken from it; whence the omission seems to have taken place before the appearance of the version of the Septuagint. The Samaritan version, which is acknowledged to have preceded the Septuagint, agrees with its text, and reads, “And the children of Israel journeyed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in Hagidgad: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in Jotbathah, a land of rivers of waters: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in Ebronah: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in Eziongaber: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh: from thence they journeyed, and pitched in Mount Hor. And there Aaron died,” and so forth Kennicott. 2. Dis.—Thus Mosera will be the 27th, and Mount Hor the 34th station; (Pococke) whence the Israelites departed, after the death of Aaron, to Salmona, directing their course to the countries east of the Jordan, which had been promised to them. The appointment of Eleazar to succeed Aaron, and the separation of the Levites unto the Lord, should be all placed together, after the different encampments. Bible.

Verse 8. Time, during the pontificate of Aaron. Numbers 3:6. Menochius.—God had made this appointment at Sinai, (Exodus 28:1,) where he ordered the tabernacle and the priests to be consecrated. Upon the sedition of Core, which probably took place at Jetebata, he confirmed the rights of the Levitical tribe. Numbers 16:17 and 18. Calmet.—Ark. The priests carried it, on more solemn occasions, (Joshua 3:3,) as they also blessed the people. Menochius.—Yet the Levites sung the praises of God, in which sense the word is often used, 1 Chronicles 23:13. Hence Castalio translates, “to celebrate his name.”

Verse 10. Stood. Moses does not follow the order of events, but recalls to the minds of his audience what might serve to make the deepest impression upon them. He mentions some farther instructions which he had received from God on Mount Sinai, during the second term of 40 days. Calmet.—It might have been placed in a more natural order at the head of this chapter. Menochius.—Some believe that Moses speaks of the third fast of 40 days. Salien.

Verse 12. And now. He shews what advantages may be derived from a constant observance of the commandments, that it may be well with thee, verse 13. God stands not in need of our services, (verse 14,) but chooses whom he pleases to display the treasures of his love, (verse 15,) which ought to move us strongly to make him a suitable return of gratitude, ( Calmet.) by withdrawing our affections from every thing that may be displeasing to him, verse 16. If we refuse, we must expect to fall under the rod of his indignation, notwithstanding all the efforts of his clemency, which he holds forth for our imitation, verse 17. 19. He will judge all alike, the rich and the poor. Bible.

Verse 14. Of heaven. The Scripture mentions the third heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:2,) where the majesty of God most gloriously appears. The second is the region of the stars, and the first the atmosphere, where the birds and the clouds move about. Calmet.

Verse 15. Joined, (conglutinatus) as it were, with glue, ( Bible.) to shew the vehemence of love. Menochius.

Verse 16. Circumcise. The Hebrews esteem circumcision as a mark of their greatest glory. All who had it not were looked upon as profane. They call the ears, mind, and heart uncircumcised, when they would not hear, understand, or obey the law of God. Saint Paul (Romans 2:28) frequently inculcates this interior circumcision, to which Moses alludes in these his last exhortations. Calmet. 30:6. The people had not regularly practised circumcision in the desert. Moses takes care to raise their thoughts to something more spiritual; and declares, in clearer terms than he had hitherto done, the necessity of loving God. All must be banished from the heart which might resist this love. Calmet.—Vanity, blindness, luxury, must be retrenched. Menochius.

Verse 17. Gods. Idols are nothing, 1 Corinthians 8:4. Hence Theodoret supposes, that all who have authority upon earth are here designated. But admitting the false notions of the pagans respecting their gods, the superiority of the true God is here asserted; ( Calmet.) and all, both in heaven and on earth, gods and lords, must bow before him. Bible.

Verse 18. Widow. God resents the injuries done to such. Exodus 22:22.

Verse 20. Only, a word not found in the Hebrew, but deemed necessary by the Septuagint to express the true meaning of this passage. See Calmet. 6:13. Calmet.—Name, when an oath is necessary. Thou shalt never swear by false gods. Worthington.

Verse 21. Praise, the object whom thou must praise, and the source of all thy happiness and glory. Other nations will revere the Jews on this account. Calmet.—An ancient oracle could not refuse giving them this singular commendation, though to the prejudice of idolatry. “Chaldees alone philosophy may claim—but Hebrews worship God, the self-born King—with pure religion.” Bible.—agnos, ( Calmet.) Saint Cyril c. Julian 5. and S. Just. Exhort. read auton, him. But the meaning is clear from the context. The palm of wisdom is given to the Chaldees for natural learning, and to the Jews for divinity. Watson, Proleg. xii. Porphyrius owns the oracle. Theodoret. Bible.

Verse 22. Seventy. Some copies of the Septuagint add “five,” with S. Stephen. See Genesis 46:26. Calmet.