It shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Law. Pious Christian emperors and kings have esteemed it their greatest glory and happiness to read and meditate on the holy commandments of God, in order to regulate their conduct, amid the various dangerous occupations of their station. Bible.—Constantine the Great, Charlemagne, S. Stephen of Hungary, Alphonsus I. of Spain, were noted for the zeal which they shewed in the particular. Alphonsus of Arragon, had read the Bible, with the Commentaries, 14 times over, and the great Alfred wrote all the New Testament twice over with his own hand. Calmet.—He had translated into English Saxon all or most of the Bible before 900, as king Athelstan did about 925. Encyc. Brit. Bible, and so forth Yet the Catholic Church never condemned this conduct of her children, as Protestants would insinuate. Cath. Doct. by N. G.