Notes from Deut 28

This chapter is a very large exposition of two words in the foregoing chapter, the blessing and the curse. Those were pronounced blessed in general that were obedient, and those cursed that were disobedient; but, because generals are not so affecting, Moses here descends to particulars, and describes the blessing and the curse, not in their fountains (these are out of sight, and therefore the most considerable, yet least considered, the favour of God the spring of all the blessings, and the wrath of God the spring of all the curses), but in their streams, the sensible effects of the blessing and the curse, for they are real things and have real effects.

I. He describes the blessings that should come upon them if they were obedient; personal, family, and especially national, for in that capacity especially they are here treated with (v. 1-14).
II. He more largely describes the curses which would come upon them if they were disobedient; such as would be,
1. Their extreme vexation (v. 15-44).
2. Their utter ruin and destruction at last (v. 45-68). This chapter is much to the same purport with Lev. 26, setting before them life and death, good and evil; and the promise, in the close of that chapter, of their restoration, upon their repentance, is here likewise more largely repeated, ch. 30. Thus, as they had precept upon precept in the repetition of the law, so they had line upon line in the repetition of the promises and threatenings. And these are both there and here delivered, not only as sanctions of the law, what should be conditionally, but as predictions of the event, what would be certainly, that for a while the people of Israel would be happy in their obedience, but that at length they would be undone by their disobedience; and therefore it is said (ch. 30:1) that all those things would come upon them, both the blessing and the curse.

Notes from Deut 27

Moses having very largely and fully set before the people their duty, both to God and one another, in general and in particular instances,-having shown them plainly what is good, and what the law requires of them,-and having in the close of the foregoing chapter laid them under the obligation both of the command and the covenant, he comes in this chapter to prescribe outward means,

I. For the helping of their memories, that they might not forget the law as a strange thing. They must write all the words of this law upon stones (v. 1-10).
II. For the moving of their affections, that they might not be indifferent to the law as a light thing. Whey they came into Canaan, the blessings and curses which were the sanctions of the law, were to be solemnly pronounced in the hearing of all Israel, who were to say Amen to them (v. 11-26). And if such a solemnity as this would not make a deep impression upon them, and affect them with the great things of God's law, nothing would.

Notes from Deut 26

With this chapter Moses concludes the particular statutes which he thought fit to give Israel in charge at his parting with them; what follows is by way of sanction and ratification. In this chapter,

I. Moses gives them a form of confession to be made by him that offered the basket of his first-fruits (v. 1-11).
II. The protestation and prayer to be made after the disposal of the third year's tithe (v. 12-15).
III. He binds on all the precepts he had given them,
1. By the divine authority: "Not I, but the Lord thy God has commanded thee to do these statutes' (v. 16).
2. By the mutual covenant between God and them (v. 17, etc.).

Notes from Deut 25

Here is,

I. A law to moderate the scourging of malefactors (v. 1-3).
II. A law in favour of the ox the treads out the corn (v. 4).
III. For the disgracing of him that refused to marry his brother's widow (v. 5-10).
IV. For the punishment of an immodest woman (v. 11, 12).
V. For just weights and measures (v. 13-16).
VI. For the destroying of Amalek (v. 17, etc.).

Notes from Deut 24

In this chapter we have,

I. The toleration of divorce (v. 1-4).
II. A discharge of new-married men from the war (v. 5).
III. Laws concerning pledges (v. 6, 10-13, 17).
IV. Against man-stealing (v. 7).
V. Concerning the leprosy (v. 8, 9).
VI. Against the injustice of masters towards their servants (v. 14, 15). Judges in capital causes (v. 16), and civil concerns (v. 17, 18).
VII. Of charity to the poor (v. 19, etc.).

Notes from Deut 23

The laws of this chapter provide,

I. For the preserving of the purity and honour of the families of Israel, by excluding such as would be a disgrace to them (v. 1-8).
II. For the preserving of the purity and honour of the camp of Israel when it was abroad (v. 9-14).
III. For the encouraging and entertaining of slaves who fled to them (v. 15, 16).
IV. Against whoredom (v. 17, 18).
V. Against usury (v. 19, 20).
IV. Against the breach of vows (v. 21-23).
VII. What liberty a man might take in his neighbour's field and vineyard, and what not (v. 24, 25).

Notes from Deut 22

In this chapter provision is made,

I. For the putting away of the guilt of blood from the land, when he that shed it had fled from justice (v. 1-9).
II. For the preserving of the honour of a captive maid (v. 10-14).
III. For the securing of the right of a first-born son, though he were not a favourite (v. 15-17).
IV. For the restraining and punishing of a rebellious son (v. 18-21).
V. For the maintaining of the honour of human bodies, which must not be hanged in chains, but decently buried, even the bodies of the worst malefactors (v. 22, 23).