Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 31:26

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

26. this book of the law ] Deu 29:21 (20), Deu 30:10.

for a witness, etc.] Not a deuteronomic phrase; but cp. testimonies in Deu 4:45; against thee, here all Israel is addressed, whereas in Deu 31:25 it is the Levites.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 26. Take this book of the law] The standard copy to which all transcripts must ultimately refer: another copy was put into the bands of the priests. See Clarke on De 31:9.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

In the side, i.e. in the outside, in a little chest fixed to it, for nothing but the tables of stone were contained in the ark, 1Ki 8:9. Here it was kept for greater security and reverence.

A witness against thee, i.e. against thy people, to whom he turns his speech, that they might be more affected with it.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

26. Take this book of the law, andput it in the side of the arkThe second copy of the law (seeon De 31:9) was deposited forgreater security and reverence in a little chest beside theark of the covenant, for there was nothing contained within it butthe tables of stone (1Ki 8:9).Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, fromthe testimony of Paul (Heb 9:4),that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this wasthe copy found in the time of Josiah (2Ki22:8).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Take this book of the law,…. Not Deuteronomy only, but the whole Pentateuch:

and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God; not in the ark, for there were nothing there but the two tables of stone with the ten commands on them, 1Ki 8:9; but on one side of it; the Targum of Jonathan says, it was

“put in a chest (or box) on the right side of the ark of the covenant;”

which is very probable. Jarchi observes, that the wise men of Israel are divided about it in the Talmud e; some of them say there was a table (or ledge) that stood out from the ark without, and there it was put; others say it was put on the side of the tables of the law within the ark; the former are in the right:

that it may be therefore a witness against thee; when they fall into idolatry or any other sin, a transgression of any of the laws therein contained.

e T. B. Bava Bathra, fol. 14. 1. 2.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

26. In the side of the ark Better rendered, by the side of the ark. The two tables of the Decalogue were placed in the ark. 1Ki 8:9; Heb 9:4. The Targum of Jonathan says, “This law was placed in a chest near the ark. It was deposited there, not as a mere place of safety, but close by the place of the typical atonement for sin, the ark of the covenant, as a protest against their national breach of that covenant by idolatry.” See PUSEY on Daniel, p. 308. Some have thought that this is the copy found in the time of Josiah. 2Ki 22:8: “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.”

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ver. 26. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark Or, by the side of the ark; as the same word is rendered, 1Sa 6:8 for it does not appear that it was laid up within the ark, it being expressly said, there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, 1Ki 8:9. 2Ch 5:10. Add to this, that the end of laying up the original volume of the law in the sanctuary, was, that it might be reserved there as the authentic copy by which all others were to be corrected and set right; which could not have been done, if it had been put within the ark, and shut up there by the cover of the mercy-seat over it, which was not to be removed. Besides, when Hilkiah, the high-priest, in the time of Josiah, found the copy of the law in the temple, there is nothing said of the ark; neither is it there spoken of as taken from thence, but as found elsewhere in the temple. 2Ki 22:8. See Prideaux’s Connection, vol. 1: b. 3.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Ver. 26. In the side of the ark. ] That it might be heard and regarded as the very law of God, though penned by Moses. And indeed the Jews at this day show exceeding great respect to the law; no man may touch it but with the right hand, and without a kiss of reverence, nor carry it behind him, but lay it next to his heart in his travel; if it but fall to the ground, they institute a fast for it, &c. The very Turks have so high an esteem of Moses, that if they find any piece of his writings, be it but a torn paper, lying on the ground, they presently take it up and kiss it. a

That it may be therefor a witness. ] Hence haply the ark was called “the ark of the testimony.” The law might be called the Doomsday Book; such a book there is in our common law, so called, saith Matthew Paris, because it spares no man.

a Schicard. Weemse. Pareus, Prol. in Genes.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)