Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 31:20
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
20. For I shall bring it into the land which I sware unto its fathers ] Deu 6:10, but also in E. On flowing with milk and honey, see Deu 6:3.
and it shall eat and be satisfied and grow fat ] Cp. Deu 6:11, Deu 8:12, Deu 32:15. Here even the deuteronomic phrases receive a peculiar form. And it will turn, as in Deu 31:18; despise me, not elsewhere in Deut., but in JE, Num 14:11; Num 14:23; Num 16:30, and in the Song, ch. Deu 32:19; break my covenant, as in Deu 31:17. The only plur. vbs are serve, despise.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16-22. the Lord said unto Moses, . .. this people will rise upIn this remarkable interview, Moseswas distinctly apprised of the infidelity of Israel, theircorruptions of the true religion through intercourse with theidolatrous inhabitants of Canaan (Am5:26), and their chastisements in consequence of those nationaldefections.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers,…. To give it to them, and put them into the possession of it, even the land of Canaan, often thus described, and as it is by the following character:
that floweth with milk and honey; aboundeth with all good things; see Ex 3:8;
and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; that is, after they have for a considerable time enjoyed the good things of the land, and they abound with them, and increase in them, and have great fullness of them:
then will they turn unto other gods: turn from the Lord who has brought them into all this plenty, from the fear, worship, and service of him, and turn to the worship of idols:
and serve them: the works of men’s hands, and at most but creatures, and not the Creator; than which nothing can be more absurd and stupid, as well as wicked and ungrateful:
and provoke me: nothing being more provoking to the Lord than idolatry, it striking at his very nature, being, and glory:
and break my covenant; now made with them; this being foretold by the Lord, which exactly came to pass in numerous instances, proves his precise foreknowledge of future events, even such as depend on the inclinations, dispositions, and wills of men.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
20. But when I shall have brought them. In other words, God again enlarges upon the atrociousness of their iniquity, in that, when He had dealt liberally with the Israelites, they would turn His benefits into occasions of perversity, since nothing can be more base than such ingratitude, he says, then, that He will perform to them, unworthy as they are, that which he has sworn, so that He might thus be faithful to His promises. He commends the fertility of the land, since this striking pledge of His indulgence should have attracted them by its sweetness to love so beneficent a Father in return. Hence, therefore, the perverseness of their nature is demonstrated, inasmuch as, when full, they would kick against Him, like horses which become intractable from high feeding. But, after having complained of their future rebellion, He again says, that when they shall have been brought into sore straits, and overwhelmed with miseries, this song would be “as a witness,” as if they should proclaim in it their own condemnation.
When He says that He knew their disposition, (244) or what they forged within them, (for the word employed is יצר, yetzer, which is equivalent to figment, or imagination, and includes all the thoughts and feelings,) it is apparent that He was by no means unaware how in He was bestowing His benefits upon such unworthy persons, but that He thus contended with their unworthiness, in order that His goodness might be the more conspicuous; and also that He desired this instruction to be set before them, ungodly and hopeless as they were, which He knew they would despise, so as to render them all the more inexcusable by this test. But it may be objected, Why then did He not turn their hearts to better things? for thus do ungodly railers allow themselves to dispute with Him; but let us rather reflect on the words of Paul, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Hath not the potter power over the clay, to make” of it vessels according to his own will? (Rom 9:20.) And,
“
Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” ( Rom 11:35.)
So will it come to pass, that we shall exclaim with trembling, Oh, how deep are the judgments of God; how incomprehensible are His ways!
That God should judge from their former life what they would be hereafter, does not seem very logical; but these two clauses are to be taken connectedly, that God foresees that nothing else is to be expected from them, but that they would be carried away into sin by their unbridled lust; and secondly, that it had already been sufficiently manifested by their many iniquities how desperate was their obstinacy.
(244) A. V. , “Their imagination.” “The thing forged in their heart.” — Ainsworth. “Figmentum;” Taylor, from יצר, fingere, formare
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Deu 31:20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
Ver. 20. Then they will turn to other gods. ] A bee is quickly drowned if she gets into a pot of honey. “Prosperity slayeth the foolish.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
into the land = on to the soil. Hebrew. ‘adamah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when: Deu 6:10-12, Deu 7:1, Deu 8:7
floweth: Exo 3:8, Exo 3:17
eaten: Deu 8:10-14, Neh 9:25, Neh 9:26
waxen fat: Deu 32:15, Neh 9:25, Neh 9:26, Neh 9:35, Psa 17:10, Psa 73:7, Psa 119:70, Jer 5:28, Jer 50:11, Eze 34:16, Eze 34:20, Hos 13:6
then: Deu 31:16, Deu 31:17
Reciprocal: Num 13:27 – General Deu 4:23 – lest ye forget Deu 8:12 – Lest when Deu 17:2 – in transgressing 1Ki 19:14 – forsaken Ezr 9:7 – for our iniquities Psa 78:10 – General Psa 78:37 – stedfast Pro 30:9 – I be full Jer 2:31 – We are lords Jer 26:4 – If Jer 35:17 – Behold Eze 20:6 – flowing Eze 44:7 – broken Dan 8:8 – waxed Mal 3:7 – from the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31:20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; {k} then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
(k) For this is the nature of flesh, no longer to obey God, than it is under the rod.