Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 29

Verses 1-29

Deuteronomy 29:1 belongs, as in the Heb. Bible, to the preceding chapter. It is the formal ending of the great discourse ( Deuteronomy 4:44, Deuteronomy 12-26, Deuteronomy 28). Deuteronomy 29 (except Deuteronomy 29:1) and Deuteronomy 30 form ostensibly Moses’ third address, in the course of which Israel is urged to obey Yahweh and to enter into covenant relations with Him ( Deuteronomy 29:2-15), words of warning ( Deuteronomy 29:16-29) being followed by words of promise ( Deuteronomy 30:1-10) and of exhortation ( Deuteronomy 31:11-20). These chapters are probably later than D proper: ( a) The Exile in Babylon is implied (see Deuteronomy 29:28) and also the Return ( Deuteronomy 30:1-10). ( b) There are several words and phrases that are absent from Deuteronomy 12 ff. (see Addis, Hexateuch, i. p. 139). ( c) They have much in common with Deuteronomy 4:1-40, which also implies the Exile. Perhaps all these belong to one writer who desired to point out the lessons of the Exile.

Deuteronomy 29:3 . See Deuteronomy 4:34 *.

Deuteronomy 29:5 . See Deuteronomy 8:2, Amos 2:10.

Deuteronomy 29:7. See Deuteronomy 2:32 f., Deuteronomy 3:1 f., Deuteronomy 3:12 f.

Deuteronomy 29:9 . covenant: Deuteronomy 4:13 *.

Deuteronomy 29:10-29 . Deuteronomy 29:10 . tribes: read (as implied in LXX, “ judges” (Heb. letters much alike). See Joshua 8:33; Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1.

Deuteronomy 29:11 . The inclusion of the sojourner (EV “ stranger,” Deuteronomy 1:16 *) and the hewer of wood, etc. ( Joshua 9:21-27 * P) in the Israelitish community that covenants with Yahweh belongs to post– exilic times (see HSDB, Stranger) .

Deuteronomy 29:17 . abominations: the Heb. word, frequent in Jer. and Ezek., is not that usually so translated; c f. Deuteronomy 7:25, etc.: render, “ detestable things.” The word ( gillul, lit. what is rolled, blocks of wood or stone) rendered idols is common in Ezek.

Deuteronomy 29:18 . lest, etc.: render, “ Beware lest,” etc. The Heb. word translated “ lest” implies the word supplied; so Isaiah 36:18, Job 32:13; Job 36:18, Jeremiah 51:46; or render, “ let there not be,” etc.— a root, etc.: referring to the fruits of idolatry (see Hebrews 12:15).— gall: Heb. poison ( Jeremiah 8:14 *).— wormwood: represents bitterness (see Deuteronomy 32:32). Both words occur in Lamentations 3:19; cf. Amos 6:12, Hosea 10:4. The Heb. word rendered “ curse” ( Deuteronomy 29:19-21) is translated “ oath” in Deuteronomy 29:12; Deuteronomy 29:14. In Deuteronomy 28:15 the Heb. word rendered “ curses” means “ what bring into contempt,” the Heb. for “ cursed” in Deuteronomy 29:16 having a third (different) root. The spoken word of blessing or curse was believed as such to realise itself ( Genesis 9:25-27 *); see Magic, Divination, and Demonology among the Hebrews, by the present writer, pp. 32ff.