John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 32:1

"Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth." — Deuteronomy 32:1 (ASV)

Give ear, O you heavens. Moses begins with magnificence, so that the people would not despise this song with their usual pride, or even reject it altogether, being angered by its severe criticisms and rebukes. For we know well how the world naturally longs to be flattered, and that no message can be pleasing to it unless it tickles and soothes the ear with praise.

But Moses here not only criticizes bitterly the vices of the people, but with the greatest possible intensity condemns their rebellious nature, their utterly corrupt morals, their obstinate ingratitude, and unteachable stubbornness. Moreover, he desired that these accusations, by which he made their name hateful, would daily echo from their own tongues, and so they became even more offensive.

It was, therefore, necessary that their impatience should be restrained, so to speak, so that they might patiently and humbly receive these just rebukes, however severe they might be.

If, therefore, they should reject this song, or should turn a deaf ear to it, he declares at the outset that heaven and earth would be witnesses of their extraordinary dullness. Indeed, he turns and addresses himself to heaven and earth, and thus indicates that it was worthy of the attention of all creatures, even though they were without intelligence or feeling.

For it is an exaggerated way of speaking when he gives the ability to hear and be instructed to the unfeeling elements. Just as Isaiah, when he wanted to indicate that he found no one among all the people to pay attention to him, similarly appeals to the heavens and the earth, and even summons them to bear witness to the extraordinary wickedness—that there would be less intelligence among all the people than in oxen and donkeys (Isaiah 1:2–3).

For it is only a poor explanation, which some offer for these words, suggesting they are used, by metonymy, for angels and men.²⁴⁷

²⁴⁷ See ante, on on Deuteronomy 4:26, , vol. 3, p. 269, and , and note..