Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 29:9
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
9. Keep and do ] See on Deu 4:6; and cp. Deu 4:1, Deu 5:1.
the words of this covenant ] See above on Deu 29:1 and on Deu 4:13. prosper ] But the vb. also covers the deal wisely of the R.V. margin.
‘Originally a mental process or quality has insight, is farseeing it includes the effect of this understands so as to get on, deals wisely so as to succeed, is practical both in his way of working, and in being sure of his end. Ewald has found an almost exact equivalent in German: “hat Geschick,” for “Geschick” means both “skill” or “address” and “fate” or “destiny.” ’ ( Isaiah xl. lxvi., Expositor’s Bible, p. 346 on Isa 52:13.) In the Hex. only here, and elsewhere (except for one or two passages) only in later writings.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That ye may prosper – literally, that ye may act wisely. The connection of the two ideas of wisdom in conduct and prosperity in circumstances is noteworthy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,…. To do which they were laid under great obligations, through the goodness of God to them, in giving them victory over the two kings, and delivering their countries into their hands, as well as by all the favours bestowed on them in the wilderness, where they were sufficiently supplied with food, drink, and raiment; all which is made use of as a motive and argument to engage them to observe and keep the covenant the Lord made with them:
that ye may prosper in all that ye do: in all their occupations and businesses of life, in their manufactures and commerce, in the culture of their fields and vineyards, and in whatsoever they were employed in a lawful way; the word used has sometimes, the signification of acting wisely and prudently, as in Isa 52:13; hence the Septuagint version is, “that ye may understand all that ye do”; and so the Jerusalem Targum.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
These benefits from the Lord demanded obedience and fidelity. “ Keep the words of this covenant,” etc. (cf. Deu 8:18). , to act wisely (as in Deu 32:29), bearing in mind, however, that Jehovah Himself is the wisdom of Israel (Deu 4:6), and the search for this wisdom brings prosperity and salvation (cf. Jos 1:7-8).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(9) Keep therefore the words of this covenant . . . that ye may prosper.Comp. Jos. 1:8 (Note); Psa. 1:3.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The Call For Commitment ( Deu 29:9 ; Deu 29:12-13 ) and The Description of the Responders ( Deu 29:10-15 ).
Thus in the light of this they were now to prove themselves genuine people of faith, genuine responders.
Analysis using the words of Moses:
a Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do (Deu 29:9).
b You have taken your stand this day all of you before Yahweh your God; your chiefs, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and your resident alien who is in the midst of your camps, from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water, that you may enter into the covenant of Yahweh your God, and into His oath, which Yahweh your God makes with you this day (Deu 29:10-12).’
b That He may establish you this day to Himself for a people, and that He may be to you a God, as He spoke to you, and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Deu 29:13).
a Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, but with him who stands here with us this day before Yahweh our God, and also with him who is not here with us this day (Deu 29:14-15).
Note in ‘a’ they are commanded to keep the words of His covenant and do them, and in the parallel this is applied to those both present and absent. In ‘b’ they have taken their stand before Yahweh their God to enter into the covenant, and to enter into His oath, and in the parallel this was so that He might establish them in the covenant and be their God as He has sworn to their fathers from of old.
Deu 29:9
‘ Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that you (ye) may prosper in all that you (ye) do.’
They were to keep in their hearts and keep in their lives the words of ‘this covenant’, the covenant in chapters Deu 1:5 to Deu 29:1. It had to be that covenant which is referred to, for ‘the blessings’ mentioned in Deu 30:1 had only been connected with that covenant. They were ‘to do them’ (an emphasis echoed by Jesus in Mat 7:21; Mat 7:24). And the result would then be that they would prosper in all that they did. Believing is fine, but in the end true faith is only revealed by doing.
Deu 29:10-12
‘ You (ye) have taken your stand this day all of you (ye) before Yahweh your (of ye) God; your (of ye) chiefs, your (of ye) tribes, your (of ye) elders, and your (of ye) officers, even all the men of Israel, your (of ye) little ones, your (of ye) wives, and your (thy) resident alien who is in the midst of your (thy) camps, from the hewer of your (thy) wood to the drawer of your (thy) water, that you (thou) may enter into the covenant of Yahweh your (thy) God, and into his oath, which Yahweh your (thy) God makes with you (thee) this day,’
For that is why they were there, all of them, having taken their stand before Yahweh around His Sanctuary. It was in order to enter into His covenant and His oath that He was making with them this day. And it was not only a covenant, it was a covenant sworn to their fathers, and therefore doubly safe. The statement that they had ‘taken their stand’ suggests that there had been some positive response to Moses’ words.
Some translate ‘oath’ as ‘curse’. It can mean either. Then the idea would be that by entering into the oath they had, as it were put themselves under the curse which would result from failure.
All were included. Their chiefs, their tribes, their elders, their administrative officials, these four comprising all the men of Israel, their little ones, their wives, and even the resident aliens, the lowly hewers of wood and the drawers of water. Drawing water was very much a woman slave’s occupation.
We note the movement downwards, chiefs, male tribal members including elders and administrators, children (partly male), women, non-covenant members. Like the ox and the ass who always led the sheep and the goats, the men did the heavier work, and the fighting.
Deu 29:13
‘ That he may establish you (thee) this day to himself for a people, and that he may be to you (thee) a God, as he spoke to you (thee), and as he swore unto your (thy) fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’
And they were stood there that they might be established that day (or ‘at that time’) by Yahweh as a people (Deu 27:9), and that He might be their God as He had already promised, and as He had sworn to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (compare Deu 1:8; Deu 6:10; Deu 9:5; Deu 9:27). This was Yahweh’s constant condescension towards and plea with His people, “you shall be My people and I will be your God” (compare Exo 6:7; Hos 2:23; Jer 31:33; Zec 8:8; Zec 13:9; see also Gen 17:7-8; Exo 29:45; Lev 22:32-33).
Deu 29:14-15
‘ Neither with you (ye) only do I make this covenant and this oath, but with him who stands here with us this day before Yahweh our God, and also with him who is not here with us this day,’
This may signify two alternatives, that this covenant was not only with them (him who stands here with us this day), it was with them and with all who would follow them, their children, and their children’s children (him who is not here with us this day). Alternately it may signify them, other parties who were present who desired to come within the covenant, and the soldiers still fighting in Bashan.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Deu 29:9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
Ver. 9. That ye may prosper. ] Piety is the right and ready way to prosperity. Sulla, surnamed Felix, accounted it not the least part of his happiness that Metellus, surnamed Pius, was his friend. Godliness is the best friend to happiness.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Keep. Compare 1Ki 2:3. Psa 1:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 29:1, Deu 4:6, Jos 1:7, 1Ki 2:3, Psa 25:10, Psa 103:17, Psa 103:18, Isa 56:1, Isa 56:2, Isa 56:4-7, Jer 50:5, Luk 11:28, Heb 13:20, Heb 13:21
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2. The purpose of the assembly 29:9-15
In view of God’s past faithfulness the Israelites should keep "this covenant" (Deu 29:9), the Mosaic Covenant, so that they might prosper in the future. Moses assembled the people to commit themselves anew to their covenant with God. God had made the Mosaic Covenant with all the Israelites, not just the generation that stood before Moses on this occasion (Deu 29:14-15).