“Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. This canticle, which will be given in the following chapter. Hence this law, (verse 9,) may comprise not only what had gone before, but also the remaining part of the book of Deuteronomy. This Moses would write before his death, and deliver entire, with the preceding books, to be kept with the utmost care, by the priests, as a testimony to remind all of what had happened in past ages, and what would befall the transgressors of God’s law. Bible.—The canticle, containing an abridgment of the book of Deuteronomy, ( Calmet.) as the latter did of the whole law, was to be copied out more frequently, ( Bible.) and committed to memory. Some suppose that Moses and Josue are here ordered to see this put in execution. Others think that Moses gives this commission to the priests.—That they. Hebrew “put in their mouths, ( Calmet.) that this song may be a witness for me against,” and so forth God foresaw that the Israelites would prove rebellious; but he leaves them without excuse, as they could not plead ignorance. Bible.—This testimony against them was written in the form of a canticle, that it might be more easily remembered. Worthington.