Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 11:11
But the land, whither ye go to possess it, [is] a land of hills and valleys, [and] drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
11. whither ye go over to possess it ] This Pl. interruption is redundant even for the deuteronomic style (cp. 8 and 10) and unnecessary for the contrast which the writer is making: most probably editorial.
a land of hills and valleys ] This, too, is essential to the writer’s contrast of the land with Egypt: for the configuration of the land (cp. Erman’s remarks on Egypt and Greece above) is not only utterly different from the flatness of Egypt, but affects the distribution of the rainfall, and is responsible for numerous springs (Deu 8:7).
According to the rain of heaven it drinketh water ] So the emphatic order of the original.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A land of hills and valleys; and therefore much more healthful than Egypt was, which as it was enriched, so it was annoyed with Nilus, which overflowed the land in summer time, and thereby made the country both unpleasant and, which is much worse, unhealthful. And health being the greatest of all outward blessings, Canaan must therefore needs be a more desirable habitation than Egypt, which is the thing here implied.
Drinketh water of the rain of heaven which is more honourable, because this comes not from mans art or industry, but immediately from Gods power and goodness; more easy, being given thee without thy charge or pains; more sweet and pleasant, not hindering thy going abroad upon thy occasions, as the overflow of Nilus did, whereby the Egyptians were confined in a great measure to their several houses; more safe and healthful, being free from that mud which attends upon the waters of Nilus; and more certain too, the former and the latter rain being promised to be given to them in their several seasons, upon condition of their obedience, which condition, though it may seem a clog and inconvenience, yet indeed was a great benefit, that by their own necessities and worldly interest they should be obliged to that obedience, upon which their happiness depended both for this life and for the next.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But the land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys,…. And so could not be watered by the overflow of a river, and by canals cut out of it, and in the manner Egypt was; which was for the most part a plain and flat country, but not so Canaan, in which were many hills and mountains, as those about Jerusalem, Carmel, Tabor, Lebanon, and others; and plains and valleys, as the valley of Jezreel, c. and which made it more delightful and pleasant for prospects see De 8:7 and drinketh water of the rain of heaven; by which it was watered, refreshed, and made fruitful; not by means of men, but by the Lord himself, and so with much more ease to men, and without the toil and labour they were obliged to in Egypt, as well as it was both more healthful and pleasant; for the damps that arose from the overflow of the Nile were sometimes prejudicial to health; and during the season of its overflow, which was in the summer, they were obliged to keep in their houses, and could not walk abroad for weeks together; to which inconveniences the land of Canaan was not subject; but then, as its fertility depended on rain from heaven, the Israelites would be under the greater obligation to observe the commands of God, who could give and withhold it at his pleasure, and as they conducted themselves; which seems to be the general drift of this passage.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Drinketh water of the rain of heaven.Or, as it is prettily expressed by the Jewish commentator, While thou sleepest on thy bed, the Holy One (blessed be He! ) waters it high and low. (Comp. the parable in St. Mar. 4:26-27.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Ver. 11. But the land whither ye go to possess it, is, &c. Not a low country, like that of Egypt, but full of hills, which could not be made fruitful, except by rain from heaven; contrary to the case in Egypt. Concerning which, its augmentation by the Nile, its increase therefrom, and probable future sterility, we refer to Dr. Shaw, vol. 2 Chronicles 2 sect. 3 his remarks being too copious to be here admitted.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Deu 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, [is] a land of hills and valleys, [and] drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
Ver. ll. And drinketh water of the rain of heaven. ] God crowning the year with his goodness, and his paths dropping fatness. Psa 65:10-12 In the Hebrew it is, Thy chariot-wheel tracks; for the clouds are God’s chariots, Psa 104:3 in which water is bound. Job 26:8 How they are upheld, and why they fall here and now, we know not, and wonder. The Egyptians used in a profane mockery to tell other nations, that if God should forget to rain, they might chance to starve for it; they thought the rain was of God, but not their river Nile. See Eze 29:3 ; Eze 29:9 Isa 19:5-6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
go = are going.
drinketh = drinketh continually.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 8:7-9, Gen 27:28, Psa 65:12, Psa 65:13, Psa 104:10-13, Isa 28:1, Jer 2:7, Heb 6:7
Reciprocal: Deu 1:7 – in the plain Deu 3:25 – the good land Deu 33:28 – his Jdg 18:10 – where there Psa 65:9 – visitest Psa 104:13 – watereth Psa 106:24 – the pleasant land Isa 32:12 – pleasant fields Eze 20:6 – into Eze 36:4 – mountains Zec 14:18 – that have no
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CANAAN UNLIKE EGYPT
But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of bills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven, etc.
Deu 11:11-12
I. The Jew was to understand from his first entry into the land of Canaan that his prosperity depended utterly on God.The laws of weather, by which the rain comes up off the sea, were unknown to him. They are all but unknown to us now. But they were known to God. Not a drop could fall without His providence and will; therefore they were utterly in His power.
The warning of this text came true. More than once we read of drought, long, severe, and ruinous. In one famous case, there was no rain for three years, and Ahab had to go out to search through the land for a scrap of pasture. These droughts came at times when the Jews had fallen into idolatry and profligacy.
II. It is the intense faith in the living God which can come only by the inspiration of the Spirit of God which proves the Old Testament to be truly inspired.In later times the Jews had these words of Moses written on their foreheads, but not on their hearts. They had lost all faith in God; He had spoken to their fathers, but they could not believe that He was speaking to them, not even when He spoke by His only-begotten Son, the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. Wrapped up in their narrow, shallow book-divinity, they said, This people who knoweth not the law is accursed. Nothing new could be true. It must be put down, persecuted down, lest the Romans should come and take away their place and nation. But they did not succeed. The Romans came after all and took away their place and nation, and so they failed, as all will fail, who will not believe in God. The truth which they think they have stifled will rise again, for Christ, who is the Truth, will raise it again, and it shall conquer, and leaven the hearts of men till all be leavened.
Canon Kingsley.
Illustration
(1) No passage could be chosen that would more fitly illustrate Gods method of governing His ancient people Israel. It is blessing dependent on behaviour always. And that is Gods method of governing us still. He gives us commandments. If we obey them it is well with us, if we disobey them we suffer. Let us not think that God has altered, or that He has altered His laws. As He was to the Israelites who entered Canaan, so is He to the people who are settled securely in these Islands of the West.
(2) A description is given of the fair land which God had prepared for His people; and of the blessings that would accrue to obedience (Isa 64:4; 1Co 2:9, etc.). We need to remember that a like obedience is demanded of us, and is the condition of fruitfulness and blessedness. Our Lord Jesus lays great emphasis on obedience (Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23; Joh 15:10). We do not obey to be saved; but being saved, we obey. What a contrast between the life of effort and that of trust is suggested by the description of the difference between the laborious irrigation of Egypt, and the blessed rains which God would send from heaven!
(3) Ive reached the land of corn and wine,
And all its wealth is freely mine.
Here shines undimmed the blissful day,
For all my night has passed away.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Deu 11:11. A land of hills and valleys Which could not be made fruitful but by rain from heaven, which seldom fell in Egypt, whose fruitfulness depended on the overflowing of the Nile. Thus he informs them that the promised land was of such a condition as would keep them in a constant dependance upon God for the fruitfulness of it. He means, however, also to signify that it was much more pleasant and healthful than Egypt, which, as it was enriched, so it was annoyed with the Nile, which, overflowing the land in summer-time, made the country both unpleasant and unhealthy. And health being the greatest of all outward blessings, Canaan must therefore be a more desirable habitation than Egypt. The rain of heaven Which was more easily obtained, being given them without any charge or pains; more sweet and pleasant, not hindering their going abroad upon their affairs, as the overflowing of the Nile did; more safe and healthful, being free from that mud which attended the waters of the Nile; and more certain too, while they were obedient, the former and the latter rain being promised to be given to them in the proper season, on condition of their adhering to Gods worship, and obeying his laws. And even this condition, though it might seem a clog and inconvenience, yet indeed was a great benefit; for thus, by their own interest and necessities, they were obliged to that obedience and reliance on God upon which their happiness depended, both for this life and the next.