John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 11:2

"And know ye this day: for [I speak] not with your children that have not known, and that have not seen the chastisement of Jehovah your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm," — Deuteronomy 11:2 (ASV)

And know you this day. He again confirms the preceding sentence, because they had been more than sufficiently taught by the illustrious acts of God how great His power was and how remarkable His mercy toward themselves. Two meanings may be given to the words. For instance, some connect them this way: “Know you this day the chastisement of the Lord,” and include in a parenthesis the clause, “for I speak not with your children, who have not known and have not seen.” Others, however, read the word of exhortation “know you” separately and²⁵⁵ without any connection. The latter view pleases me best, although it has little effect on the substance of the matter, whichever exposition we follow.

For Moses admonishes them that if they only pay attention to the works of God, His glory, which can instruct them to fear Him, may be clearly beheld in them. However, to urge them more vehemently, he adds that he is not speaking to posterity, to whom the fame of these miracles would reach, but that he addresses eye-witnesses who need no proof of them, having been assured of them by direct experience. He celebrates in many expressions of high praise these miracles, by which God had testified to them His power and goodness, so that they would not casually overlook what was worthy of their most earnest attention and constant meditation.

I will refrain now from speaking of other points, which I have commented on elsewhere. The word מוסר²⁵⁶musar, which stands first, is general and extends to all the specific terms that follow. Some, therefore, incorrectly translate it as “chastisement.” When it is said at the end of verse 4 that the Egyptians were “destroyed unto that day,” we must understand that the effects of the slaughter with which God destroyed them were felt as if still present.

²⁵⁵ Tellement que tont le reste va son train. — Fr..

²⁵⁶ מוסר S.M. has rendered this word castigatio. V., disciplina. The root is יסר; and both the root and noun meaning to correct and correction, will sometimes mean to chastise, etc. — W