Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 29:14
Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;
14, 15. Cp. Deu 5:3. Deu 29:15 is better rendered, but at once with him that standeth here and with him that is not here with us this day.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath. That is, Moses; for he was ordered to make this covenant with them in the name of the Lord; what promises of good things, or declarations of his mind and will, God would make, Moses was to deliver to them; and what was required of them he would inform them of. Aben Ezra interprets it, not only you, but those that will come after you, your sons and your sons’ sons.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 14-20:
The text affirms that the covenant at Horeb was not only to those who lived at that time, but it extended to all future generations in Israel. It includes a warning against any individual, family, or tribe in Israel forsaking Jehovah to serve the gods of the heathen.
“Gall,” rosh, “venem, a poisonous herb,” a generic term referring to poisonous roots and bitter fruits. Gesenius considered it to be the poppy; Celsius to be the hemlock, and it is so rendered in Hos 10:4.
“Wormwood,” laanah, a species of bitter plant similar to sagebrush. Absinthe derives its flavor from the oil of this plant.
The text implies that a bitter spirit is the result of one’s forsaking the true God and going into idolatry.
The text affirms that no future generation will be spared the judgment of God upon apostasy. The curses enumerated in this book (chapter 28) will cleave unto the one who foresees God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
F. SOLEMN WARNINGS AND REMINDERS (Deu. 29:14 to Deu. 30:20)
1.
COVENANT ALL-INCLUSIVE (Deu. 29:14-21)
14 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, 15 but with him that standeth here with us this day before Jehovah our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day; 16 (for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed; 17 and ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them;) 18 lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from Jehovah our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; 19 and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry. 20 Jehovah will not pardon him, but then the anger of Jehovah and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie upon him, and Jehovah will blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And Jehovah will set him apart unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 29:1421
518.
Who could be identified under the phrase with him that is not here with us this day?
519.
Jehovahs wrath is especially kindled against some people. Who are they?
520.
Give three characteristics of the person of question 519.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 29:1421
14 It is not with you only that I make this sworn covenant.
15 But with future Israelites who do not stand here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with those who are here with us this day.
16 You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations you crossed;
17 And you have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them.
18 Beware lest there should be among you a man or woman or family or tribe, whose [mind and] heart turns away this day from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a [poisonous] root that bears gall and wormwood;
19 and lest, when he hears the words of this curse and oath, he flatter and congratulate himself in his [mind and] heart, saying, I shall have peace and safety, [56] though I walk in the stubbornness of my [mind and] heart [bringing down a hurricane of destruction] and sweep away the watered land with the dry.
[56] It is on the strength of the Lords oath to be Israels God and also to protect them, that this Israelite flatters himself he is secure, no matter how he may behave. In the history of religion such a delusion has been lamentably frequent, and persons depending upon the unlimited protection of election have presumed on this and recklessly indulged in evil (Cambridge Bible, condensed), The Bible emphasizes the security of the saints, but it is equally emphatic concerning the insecurity of those in conscious and continued indifference to God, [Ezek. 3:29; Eze. 18:24; Eze. 18:26; Rev. 22:14; Jas. 1:21; Gal. 6:8; 2Pe. 1:10-11,]
20 The Lord will not pardon him, but then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall settle on him; the Lord will blot out his very name from under the heavens;
21 And the Lord will single him out for ruin and destruction from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law.
COMMENT 29:1421
NEITHER WITH YOU ONLY DO I MAKE THIS COVENANT (Deu. 29:14)The covenant extended to all who were within the country of Israel as a nationor who would be (Deu. 29:15; Deu. 29:22). Thus strangers and sojourners who made Israel their home were also included, Lev. 24:22, Num. 9:14; Num. 15:14-16; Num. 15:29.
Israel was to be a land within whose confines God was to be worshipped according to His wordregardless of the nationality of the resident. So it was with such well-known sojourners as Rahab and Ruth (Rth. 1:16).
LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU MAN . . . TO GO TO SERVE THE GODS OF THOSE NATIONS (Deu. 29:18)referring back to the neighboring nations of Deu. 29:16, a fact that lends weight to the argument of modern translators that the parentheses enclosing Deu. 29:16-17 should be omitted.
LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU A ROOT THAT BEARETH GALL AND WORMWOOD (Deu. 29:18)descriptive terms of one who was rebellious, stubborn, and disobedient towards God and his word, as the following verses show. And the factor of others being defiled by this mans influence may well be implied here, as in Heb. 12:14-15.
GALL (Heb. rosh) is the name of a poisonous plant or herb. It grows quickly and luxuriantly (Hos. 10:14, hemlock), but is of bitter taste (Psa. 69:21, Lam. 3:5) and on this account is, as here and in Lam. 3:19, connected with wormwood.
On the other hand, What the Heb. laanah [wormwood] may have been is obscure; it is clear it was a bitter substance and it is usually associated with gall . . . The genus Artemisis . . . has five species of shrubs or herbs found in Palestine, any one of which may furnish a bitter taste (I.S.B.E.). Thus this mans influence would be poisonous, hurtful, and distasteful both to God and his people.
TO DESTROY THE MOIST WITH THE DRY (Deu. 29:19)The margin reads to add drunkenness to thirst.
Note that in the former part of the verse this man is blessing himself in his hearti.e., congratulating or complimenting himself, saying I shall have peacei.e. all shall be well with me, everything is fine. And this, though he realizes he is stubborn of heart, and intends To destroy the well-watered [land] with the dry (Pulpit). His hardness of heart would influence him to destroy one and all. His very nature is destructive and ruinous. This interpretation suits the context, describing one whose influence is pernicious and devastating to Gods people. Such a person imprecates the wrath of God (Deu. 29:20-21).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(14, 15) Neither with you only . . . but . . . also with him that is not here with us this dayi.e., also with generations yet to be (Rashi).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14-15. Neither with you only Moses here impresses upon the people that the covenant is not merely with those he is addressing, but also with their descendants. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all them that are afar off.” Act 2:39.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 29:14-21
14Now not with you alone am I making this covenant and this oath, 15but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God and with those who are not with us here today 16(for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed; 17moreover, you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which they had with them); 18so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood. 19It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.’ 20The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. 21Then the LORD will single him out for adversity from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant which are written in this book of the law.
Deu 29:15 and with those who are not with us here today This refers to future generations (cf. Deu 29:22; Deu 29:29; Deu 5:3-5; Deu 12:25; Deu 12:28).
Deu 29:16-17 These verses form a summary parenthesis about the pagan nations Israel encountered in its pilgrimage to the Promised Land.
their abominations See Special Topic: Abominations .
Deu 29:18 The warnings against covenant disobedience (esp. idolatry) is clearly spelled out for each and every member and social group in Israeli society (i.e., individuals, families, tribes).
a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood This phrase is parallel to whose heart turns away (BDB 815, KB 937, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE). The poison is disobedience and the consequences a re severe!
1. YHWH will never be willing to forgive him (Deu 29:20, negated Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 2, KB 3) and a Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 699, KB 757).
2. YHWH’s anger and jealousy will burn against him (Deu 29:20, BDB 798, KB 896, Qal IMPERFECT).
3. every curse will rest on him (Deu 29:20, BDB 918, KB 1181, Qal PERFECT). This same VERB describes sin as a crouching animal in Gen 4:7.
4. YHWH will blot out his name from under heaven (Deu 29:20, BDB 562, KB 567, Qal PERFECT).
5. YHWH will single him out for adversity (Deu 29:21, BDB 95, KB 110, Hiphil PERFECT).
Deu 29:19 he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart This is the recurrent attitude of sinners who take God’s patience as an excuse to continue to rebel. God’s judgment, though often seemingly delayed, will call every stubborn covenant violation into account (i.e., we reap what we sow, cf. Job 34:11; Psa 28:4; Psa 62:12; Pro 24:12; Ecc 12:14; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:19; Mat 16:27; Mat 25:31-46; Rom 2:6; Rom 14:12; 1Co 3:8; 2Co 5:10; Gal 6:7-10; 2Ti 4:14; 1Pe 1:17; Rev 2:23; Rev 20:12; Rev 22:12).
NASBto destroy the watered land with the dry
NKJVas though the drunkard could be included with the sober
NRSV(thus bringing disaster on moist and dry alike)
TEVThat would destroy all of you, good and evil alike
NJBmuch water drives away thirst
JPSOAto the utter ruin of moist and dry alike
NET BibleThis will destroy the watered ground with the parched
This is a proverb whose exact meaning is unsure, but the context demands an idiom of complete destruction. Because of one stubborn violator of YHWH’s covenant all Israel would suffer. Today we might say, one bad apple spoils the barrel or one bad egg spoils the omelet.
Deu 29:20 The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him This hyperbole must be seen against the background of YHWH’s willingness to forgive and accept any repentant believer. Some Bible teachers link this verse with Psa 103:9 and assert that there is a limit or threshold to YHWH’s grace. I do not accept this. Psa 103:9 in context (i.e., Deu 29:8-14) shows He will forgive! The problem is not God’s forgiveness, but fallen, rebellious mankind’s continual sin! The relationship is broken from mankind’s side and it remains broken from mankind’s side. Unbelief and rebellion issue in destruction, both temporally and eternally!
jealousy This term (BDB 888) is derived from something dyed an intense red (i.e., when anger or zeal caused the blood to flush the face). Human emotions are used to describe YHWH’s emotions (anthropomorphism, see Special Topic: God Described As Human [anthropomorphism]) . He is zealous for His people (cf. Isa 26:11). This zealousness can turn to jealousy (cf. Eze 5:13; Eze 16:38; Eze 16:42; Eze 23:25; Eze 36:5-6; Eze 38:19; Zep 1:18; Zep 3:8).
will blot out his name from under heaven This idiom means (1) no children or (2) death (cf. Gen 7:4; Exo 17:14; Exo 32:32; Deu 9:14; 2Ki 14:27; Psa 9:5-6).
Deu 29:21 all the curses of the covenant See Deu 29:27-28; Deu 27:15-26; Deu 28:15-57.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the Penalty of Serving False Gods
Deu 29:14-29
Deu 29:15 clearly refers to the future generations, who were included in this solemn act. The word gall, Deu 29:18, indicates the poisonous character of idolatry. The application of this passage to any man who falls short of the grace of God shows that the tendency to idolatry has its root in the apostasy of the heart, Heb 12:15.
We cannot say that religion is a matter of indifference; or, if we say it, we are destined to a terrible awakening. A man may say, I shall have peace, etc., Deu 29:19, but there is no peace short of the peace of God, Isa 48:22; Rom 5:1-2.
With respect to Deu 29:24, the infidel Volney wrote of the present condition of Palestine: Why is not the ancient population reproduced and perpetuated? God has doubtless pronounced a secret malediction against this land. This is one of His secret things! Compare Deu 29:29 with Rom 11:33.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8:7-12
Reciprocal: Deu 29:12 – into his oath Est 9:27 – and upon their seed