Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryDeuteronomy 29

These are the words. In the Hebrew this is ch. 28:69. The text, however, may be applied as well to what follows. In the land of Moab. Israel was still encamped at the same spot mentioned in ch. 1:5. The covenant. Not another covenant in addition to that made at Sinai, but rather a reaffirmation of it. At Sinai the covenant had been set forth and ratified by blood (see Ex. 24).

Temptations. Better, “tests” (see chs. 4:34; 7:19), that is, trying experiences through which God ordained that they should develop character. Thine eyes have seen. Compare ch. 10:21. The natural, physical sight may be excellent, and the spiritual discernment almost negligible. Spiritual sight is a gift from God; without this gift, a man is dull of understanding (Eze. 20:49; Ps. 106:7).

Heart to perceive. Otherwise, the senses would have been attuned to perceive God’s will, and the will devoted to carrying it out. The man who senses the need of

spiritual discernment and seeks it will receive it (see Ps. 25:9, 12, 14; 119:18). Compare the contrast Jesus Christ drew between the Jews and His disciples (see Matt. 13:10–17; see also John 7:17). The mind of the unregenerate does not have the capacity to appreciate and understand spiritual values. But when a man turns sincerely to God, his spiritual eyesight will be restored (see John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:12–16; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:17).

Bread. Compare ch. 8:3. Aside from such purchases as they were able to make from the people of the surrounding countryside, the Israelites were absolutely dependent upon God, who constantly exercised miraculous power in their behalf. They neither sowed nor reaped, and therefore received no harvest.

Prosper. Literally, “show oneself attentive to,” “act circumspectly,” “manifest prudence.” It refers more to wise management, to showing oneself skillful in all one’s personal affairs (see Deut. 32:29; Joshua 1:8; Ps. 101:2; Dan. 12:3).

Captains. Literally, “heads.” Elders. Probably the 70 elders spoken of in Num. 11:16 and the judges (see Deut. 19:12, 18; 21:2, 4, 6; 25:8). Officers. The civil officers, who executed the sentences passed down by the judges (see ch. 16:18).

Stranger. Referring principally to the Egyptians who came out of Egypt with them (see chs. 5:14; 24:14; 31:12). Hewer of thy wood. Perhaps better, “the gatherer of thy firewood,” in harmony with the use of the same root in Arabic.

His oath. The first occurrence of the word thus translated, in Deuteronomy. It is used in the sense of a covenant sealed with an oath, with the suggestion of curses upon failure to abide by the terms of the covenant. See this same Hebrew word in Num. 5:21.

Not here. The covenant was to include all future generations.

Land of Egypt. They were fully acquainted by personal experience with life in Egypt, with all its idolatry and attendant immorality. The nations. Referring to the Amalekites, Edomites, Midianites, Ammonites,and Moabites.

Their abominations. Better, “their detestable things,” that is, all things pertaining to heathen worship and customs.

Gall. The word translated “gall” appears as “venom” in ch. 32:33, “poison” in Job 20:16, and “hemlock” in Hosea 10:14. The word translated “wormwood” is similarly translated in all other texts except Amos 6:12, where it is given as “hemlock.” These terms are suggestive of the bitter consequences of idolatry.

Bless himself. That is, seek to convince himself through a process of rationalization that none of the curses would fall upon him, but that he would enjoy the good things of life. The imagination. Better, “the stubbornness.” To add drunkenness to thirst. Literally, “to the intent to sweep away the drenched with the dry.” This was probably a proverbial expression implying the destruction of many who had been wrongly influenced by others.

His name. That is, the man himself. He and his posterity were to be utterly destroyed (see chs. 7:24; 9:14; 25:19).

Shall say. That is, the statement of v. 24. Future generations of the people of the land, and also visitors, would remark in astonishment about the calamities that God visited upon the rebellious people.

Sodom, and Gomorrah. Symbols of destruction resulting from great wickedness (see Gen. 18:20; 19:24, 25; cf. Job 18:15; for contrast, see Isa. 61:11).

Forsaken the covenant. See 1 Kings 19:10, 14; Jer. 22:9. For hundreds of years the land of Palestine has been spread before all men as a witness to the curse of God. Much of the country has long been a barren wilderness. This came upon the land because of the apostasy of the Jewish nation in forsaking the covenant. Men are often puzzled that a land so forbidding as Palestine is today could ever have been described as “flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8; etc.; see on Gen. 12:6).

The anger. Compare Jer. 21:5; 32:37. The word translated “anger” is sometimes rendered “nostrils” (see Gen. 2:7; Ex. 15:8; Num. 11:20; 2 Sam. 22:9, 16; Job 4:9; 27:3; Ps. 18:8; etc.). It often implies quick breathing through the nose as an indication of emotion.

Rooted them out. Literally, “plucked them out.” The eventual loss of Canaan was not the result of a set of circumstances that merely happened. They were “plucked out” by God Himself.

The secret things. Many commentators, including Jewish, have applied these words to secret sins, known only to God, as in Ps. 19:12. The parallel expression, however, “those things which are revealed,” that is, “unto us,” implies that the “secret things” are things God has not seen fit to reveal. Man cannot fathom the inner counsels of the Almighty. They are His. The things He has revealed, of law and life, are ours to contemplate. In the Scriptures we have the revealed will of God; it is all ours.