Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 8

Introduction

Deuteronomy 5-11. Moses’ Second Address.— This contains laws ( Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and (mainly) exhortation based on the fundamental conception of Yahweh’ s uniqueness. This discourse had probably an independent origin, but it is exceedingly homogeneous, and conforms throughout with the type of composition characteristic of D. Many of the best scholars, including Driver, regard Deuteronomy 5-26 with Deuteronomy 28 as one continuous composition, not improbably (they think) the original D code.

Deuteronomy 6-11. Consists of a lengthy homily based on the first commandment ( Deuteronomy 5:6). Israel is to worship and serve Yahweh alone.

Verses 1-20

Deuteronomy 8. Israel’ s duty to be faithful and obedient to Yahweh enforced by a recital of His loving treatment of them in the wilderness ( Deuteronomy 8:1-17). Unless they are faithful they will perish as the Canaanites did ( Deuteronomy 8:18-20).

Deuteronomy 8:2 . prove: Deuteronomy 6:16 * (“ tempt,” same Heb. verb).

Deuteronomy 8:3 . manna: Exodus 16:14-35, Numbers 11:7-9 *. The lesson of the manna is, that Yahweh can sustain human life by whatever means He wills or commands Jesus quotes but spiritualises the words ( Matthew 4:4).

Deuteronomy 8:4 . The miracle of the food was matched by another of the clothing— they wore not out during all the forty years (see Deuteronomy 10:18, Genesis 28:20). Rashi on this passage says that, as the children grew older, their clothes grew also, just as the shells of snails do.— swell: render “ blister.”

Deuteronomy 8:5 . chasteneth: Deuteronomy 4:36 * (“ instruct” ).

Deuteronomy 8:7 . brooks of water: better, “ water wadies,” i.e. such wadies as never become dry.— depths: i.e. the waters under the earth (see Deuteronomy 4:18 *.

Deuteronomy 8:9 . iron: render “ basalt” ( Deuteronomy 3:11 *).— brass: render “ copper.” Brass was then unknown.— With Deuteronomy 8:11-18 cf. the similar warning in Deuteronomy 6:12.

Deuteronomy 8:11 . judgements, etc.: Deuteronomy 4:45 *.

Deuteronomy 8:15 . fiery ( i.e. “ stinging” ) serpents: Numbers 21:6 *, cf. Jeremiah 8:17.— The scorpion (mentioned in Dt. only) belongs to the spider family, its sting causing extreme pain and sometimes even death. The proper name “ Akrabbim” ( Joshua 15:3) means scorpions.

Deuteronomy 8:18 . as at this day: Deuteronomy 2:22 *.