Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 9
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 9
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 9
"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)
Hear, O Israel. —A fresh portion of the exhortation begins here. The cause of Israel’s conquest of Canaan is not to be sought in their own merit, but in the choice of Jehovah.
You are to pass. —Literally, you are passing: i.e., just about to pass.
Nations greater and mightier than yourself. —If this is true (and there is no reason to doubt it), the responsibility of the conquest does not rest with Israel; they were the Divine executioners. (See Note on Joshua 5:13-14.)
Cities ... fenced up to heaven. —Compare the expression in Genesis 11:4, a city and a tower whose top may reach to (literally, is in) heaven. So here, cities great and fortified in the heavens. Was St. Paul thinking of this expression when he said, We wrestle against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly regions? (Ephesians 6:12).
"a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?" — Deuteronomy 9:2 (ASV)
Whom thou knowest. —The pronoun is emphatic. The twelve spies, two of whom were still living, had seen them (Numbers 13:33), and their fame was doubtless notorious. It seems to have been a common saying, possibly among the Anakim themselves, “Who will stand up to the children of Anak?” No one could be found to face them.
"Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee." — Deuteronomy 9:3 (ASV)
Understand therefore. —Literally, the connection seems to be this: The children of Anakim you know—you know also (the same word) today, that it is Jehovah your God Himself who passes over before you, a consuming fire. He will destroy them, and He will make them bow down before you. And you shall make a conquest of them, and speedily annihilate them, according as Jehovah has commanded you.
"Speak not thou in thy heart, after that Jehovah thy God hath thrust them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness Jehovah hath brought me in to possess this land; whereas for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah doth drive them out from before thee." — Deuteronomy 9:4 (ASV)
But for the wickedness. —“Say not in your heart, ‘in my righteousness,’ when it is in consequence of their wickedness that Jehovah is dispossessing them from before you.”
"Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thy heart, dost thou go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may establish the word which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." — Deuteronomy 9:5 (ASV)
Not for thy righteousness ... dost thou go. —The pronoun is emphatic. There is no reason why you of all others should be honored in this way.
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