Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 9:1

"Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven," — Deuteronomy 9:1 (ASV)

The lesson of this chapter is exactly that of Ephesians 2:8, By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

In referring to their various rebellions, Moses here, as elsewhere, has regard not so much for the order of time as to that of subject. (Compare Deuteronomy 1:9-15, note.) Such reasons as convenience and fitness to his argument sufficiently explain the variations observable when the statements of this chapter are minutely compared with those of Exodus 32–34. In these variations we have simply such treatment of facts as is usual and warrantable between parties personally acquainted with the matters.