John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 33:3

"Yea, he loveth the people; All his saints are in thy hand: And they sat down at thy feet; [Every one] shall receive of thy words." — Deuteronomy 33:3 (ASV)

Yea, he loved the people.³⁰⁸ If it is preferred to apply this to the Gentiles, the sentence must be understood in this way: “Although He loves all human beings, still His saints are honored with His special favor, because He watches over their safety.” However, it is more correct to explain it as referring only to the children of Abraham, whom He calls “peoples,” because, on account of the multitude into which they had grown in their several tribes, they might be considered as so many nations. And since the particle אף, aph,³⁰⁹ signifies a continuation of time, like adhuc in Latin, the following meaning will be very satisfactory: that, although the descendants of Abraham were divided into various lineages and might therefore seem to be no longer a single family, nevertheless God still continued to regard them all with affection, and their numbers and divisions did not prevent Him from considering them to be a single body.

In summary, God’s favor toward them was not extinguished, either by the passage of time or the increase of the people, but it was constantly extended to the descendants of Abraham, however far or widely they might be spread.

However, it must be observed that in proof of His love, it is shortly added that they were in the hand of God. From this we infer that, from the time God has embraced us with His favor, He is the sure guardian of our safety, from which also arises the firm assurance of eternal life.

The change of person from the third to the second does not obscure the meaning. Since many hypocrites were mixed with the faithful—for the Church of God has always been like a threshing-floor³¹⁰—Moses restricts this special grace of God to those who willingly submit to Him and with pious teachableness embrace this instruction. By this sign, he distinguishes between the true children of God and those spurious or degenerate ones who falsely assume the name.

Where my translation is, “They cleaved to thy feet,” others render the words, “They were struck at thy feet,” but in my judgment, this is a strained interpretation. Others extract from it a useful piece of instruction: that “they were subdued by God’s chastisements, so as to render Him obedience.” But the metaphor is rather taken from disciples who, according to the common usage of the Hebrew language, are said to sit at their master’s feet to attend more diligently. And this is confirmed by the context, for the faithful are said to have attached themselves to God’s feet, so that they might receive of His words, that is, profit by His instruction.

³⁰⁸ Lat., “the peoples.” “the peoples.”

³⁰⁹ A. V., “yea.”

³¹⁰ In the Fr. this expression is thus . this expression is thus explained, — “ou les grains de ble sont cachez sous la paille;” where the grains of wheat are hidden beneath the straw.— “ou les grains de ble sont cachez sous la paille;” where the grains of wheat are hidden beneath the straw.