Deuteronomy 31

14, 15. the Lord said unto Moses, . . .call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation--Joshua had been publicly designated to the office of commander by Moses [ Numbers 27:22 Numbers 27:23 ]; and God was pleased to confirm his appointment by the visible symbols of His presence and approval. As none but the priests were privileged to enter the sanctuary, it is probable that this significant manifestation of the cloudy pillar was made while the leaders stood at the door of the tabernacle.

16-22. the Lord said unto Moses, . . . this people will rise up--In this remarkable interview, Moses was distinctly apprised of the infidelity of Israel, their corruptions of the true religion through intercourse with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan ( Amos 5:26 ), and their chastisements in consequence of those national defections.

17. Then my anger shall be kindled, . . . and I will hide my face from them--an announcement of the withdrawal of the divine favor and protection of which the Shekinah was the symbol and pledge. It never appeared in the second temple; and its non-appearance was a prelude of "all the evils that came upon them, because their God was not among them."

19. Now therefore write ye this song--National songs take deep hold of the memories and have a powerful influence in stirring the deepest feelings of a people. In accordance with this principle in human nature, a song was ordered to be composed by Moses, doubtless under divine inspiration, which was to be learnt by the Israelites themselves and to be taught to their children in every age, embodying the substance of the preceding addresses, and of a strain well suited to inspire the popular mind with a strong sense of God's favor to their nation.

26. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark--The second copy of the law security and reverence in a little chest beside the ark of the covenant, for there was nothing contained within it but the tables of stone ( 1 Kings 8:9 ). Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, from the testimony of Paul ( Hebrews 9:4 ), that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this was the copy found in the time of Josiah ( 2 Kings 22:8 ).