Deuteronomy 10

1 "Then the Lord said to me, "Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and make a wooden Box to put them in. Come up to me on the mountain,

2 and I will write on those tablets what I wrote on the tablets that you broke, and then you are to put them in the Box.'

3 "So I made a Box of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first ones and took them up the mountain.

4 Then the Lord wrote on those tablets the same words that he had written the first time, the Ten Commandments that he gave you when he spoke from the fire on the day you were gathered at the mountain. The Lord gave me the tablets,

5 and I turned and went down the mountain. Then, just as the Lord had commanded, I put them in the Box that I had made - and they have been there ever since."

6 (The Israelites set out from the wells that belonged to the people of Jaakan, and went to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and his son Eleazar succeeded him as priest. ¹

7 From there they went to Gudgodah and then on to Jotbathah, a well-watered place.

8 At the mountain the Lord appointed the men of the tribe of Levi to be in charge of the Covenant Box, to serve him as priests, and to pronounce blessings in his name. And these are still their duties. ²

9 That is why the tribe of Levi received no land as the other tribes did; what they received was the privilege of being the Lord's priests, as the Lord your God promised.)

10 "I stayed on the mountain forty days and nights, as I did the first time. The Lord listened to me once more and agreed not to destroy you. ³

11 Then he told me to go and lead you, so that you could take possession of the land that he had promised to give to your ancestors.

12 "Now, people of Israel, listen to what the Lord your God demands of you: Worship the Lord and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart,

13 and obey all his laws. I am giving them to you today for your benefit.

14 To the Lord belong even the highest heavens; the earth is his also, and everything on it.

15 But the Lord's love for your ancestors was so strong that he chose you instead of any other people, and you are still his chosen people.

16 So then, from now on be obedient to the Lord and stop being stubborn.

17 The Lord your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty, and he is to be obeyed. He does not show partiality, and he does not accept bribes. ⁴

18 He makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly; he loves the foreigners who live with our people, and gives them food and clothes. ⁵

19 So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt.

20 Have reverence for the Lord your God and worship only him. Be faithful to him and make your promises in his name alone.

21 Praise him - he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you.

22 When your ancestors went to Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. ⁶

Deuteronomy 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

God's mercies to Israel after their rebellion. (1-11) An exhortation to obedience. (12-22)

Verses 1-11 Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations. There were four things in and by which the Lord showed himself reconciled to Israel. God gave them his law. Thus God has intrusted us with Bibles, sabbaths, and sacraments, as tokens of his presence and favour. God led them forward toward Canaan. He appointed a standing ministry among them for holy things. And now, under the gospel, when the pouring forth of the Spirit is more plentiful and powerful, the succession is kept up by the Spirit's work on men's hearts, qualifying and making some willing for that work in every age. God accepted Moses as an advocate or intercessor for them, and therefore appointed him to be their prince and leader. Moses was a type of Christ, who ever lives, pleading for us, and has all power in heaven and in earth.

Verses 12-22 We are here taught our duty to God in our principles and our practices. We must fear the Lord our God. We must love him, and delight in communion with him. We must walk in the ways in which he has appointed us to walk. We must serve him with all our heart and soul. What we do in his service we must do cheerfully, and with good will. We must keep his commandments. There is true honour and pleasure in obedience. We must give honour to God; and to him we must cleave, as one we love and delight in, trust in, and from whom we have great expectations. We are here taught our duty to our neighbour. God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves. Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, Ro. 8:5-9 . Let us, without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty. Blessed Spirit! Oh for thy purifying, persevering, and renewing influences, that being called out of the state of strangers, such as our fathers were, we may be found among the number of the children of God, and that our lot may be among the saints.

Cross References

• 1. 10.6Numbers 20.28; 33.38.
• 2. 10.8Numbers 3.5-8.
• 3. 10.10Exodus 34.28.
• 4. 10.171 Timothy 6.15;Revelation 17.14; 19.16;Acts 10.34;Romans 2.11;Galatians 2.6;Ephesians 6.9.
• 5. +210.18Ben Sira 35.12-15.
• 6. 10.22 aGenesis 46.27; bGenesis 15.5; 22.17.

Footnotes

• [a]. the mountain; [or] that time.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 10

In this chapter an account is given of an order to Moses to hew two tables of stone, on which the Lord would write the words that were on the first, and to make an ark and put them into it, all which was accordingly done, De 10:1-5 and of some of the journeys of the children of Israel, De 10:6,7 and of the separation of the tribe of Levi to the service of the sanctuary, De 10:8,9 and of Moses's stay in the mount forty days and nights, and his success there, and the direction he had to lead on the people of Israel towards Canaan's land, De 10:10,11 and who by various arguments are exhorted to fear the Lord, and serve him, and keep his commands, De 10:12-22.