Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 32:12
[So] the LORD alone did lead him, and [there was] no strange god with him.
12. did lead him ] Still the imperf. for vividness.
strange ] Not the adj. in Deu 32:16, but foreign, Deu 15:3, Deu 31:16.
13 He made him to ride the highlands,
And to eat of the fruit of the hills,
Suckled him with honey from the crag
And oil of the flinty rock,
14 Curd of the kine, milk of the flock,
With the fatness of lambs and of rams,
Bulls of Bashn and he-goats,
With the finest flour of the wheat
And the grape’s blood thou drankest in foam!
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 12. So the Lord alone did lead him] By his power, and by his only, were they brought out of Egypt, and supported in the wilderness.
And there was no strange god] They had help from no other quarter. The Egyptian idols were not able to save their own votaries; but God not only saved his people, but destroyed the Egyptians.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. When they were shut up in Egypt, as in their nest, whence they durst not venture to fly nor stir, he taught, and encouraged, and enabled them to fly out and flee themselves from that bondage, and brought them into a state of liberty and safety; he dealt tenderly with them, bearing with their infirmities, keeping them from all harms.
No strange god with him, to wit, to assist him at that work, or to deliver them. The more unworthy they in giving to idols a share in that worship and service which they owe to God only.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
[So] the Lord alone did lead him,…. Out of Egypt, through the wilderness, to the land of Canaan, going before them in a pillar of fire and cloud; though this is not to be understood to the exclusion of the ministry of Moses and Aaron, by whom he led them, Ps 77:20; it may be interpreted of the people being alone in the wilderness when led:
and [there was] no strange god with him; with Israel; so Aben Ezra, no idolatry among them then; to which sense are the Targums of Jerusalem and Jonathan; but it may rather signify that the Lord alone was the leader of his people, and he had no assistant in that work, and therefore all the glory should be given to him: he is the leader of his people, in a spiritual sense, out of a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness and bondage; out of the ways of sin, and from the pastures of their own righteousness, into an open state of grace, which is a state of light and liberty; in Christ the way, and in the paths of faith, truth, holiness, and righteousness, unto the heavenly glory, typified by the land of Canaan, the blessings of which are next described: the Jews say z, this will be in the days of the King Messiah; when there will be no abominable thing in Israel, the Lord alone shall lead him.
z Tikkune Zohar, Correct. 18. fol. 32. 2. 36. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. So the Lord alone did lead hive. This is spoken by anticipation, in order to take away every pretext from the Israelites, provided they should seek, according to their custom, to mingle their superstitions with the pure service of God. For, when they were bringing in, from all quarters, gods of various nations, this was the excuse they commonly made, that God was not thus despoiled of His due honor: and hence it came to pass, that they permitted themselves to heap together a multitude of false gods, whom they worshipped as their patrons. But Moses anticipates them, and declares that God, as having no need of external aid, had not associated with Himself any strange gods in His preservation of the people. Hence it follows, that whatever gods the people introduced, they transferred to them the honor due to the one true God. Let us then learn from this passage, that, unless God be served without a rival, religion is altogether perverted by the impious admixture.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
12. So the Lord alone did lead him Omit so, and read Jehovah alone did lead him.
No strange god with him It was Jehovah who delivered. He is to be served, and he alone.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu 32:12 [So] the LORD alone did lead him, and [there was] no strange god with him.
Ver. 12. And there was no strange god with him. ] Why, then, should any share with him in his service? Be the gods of the heathen good fellows? saith one. The true God will endure no co-rival.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
him. Note Figure of speech Epistrophe (App-6), each line ending with same word “him” in Hebrew and English for emphasis, as Deu 32:10.
GOD. Hebrew ‘el. (See App-4.)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord: Deu 1:31, Neh 9:12, Psa 27:11, Psa 78:14, Psa 78:52, Psa 78:53, Psa 80:1, Psa 136:16, Isa 46:4, Isa 63:9-13
no strange: Isa 43:11, Isa 43:12, Isa 44:7, Isa 44:8
Reciprocal: Exo 19:4 – I bare you Lev 7:23 – fat Jos 24:17 – General Neh 9:35 – fat land Psa 81:9 – strange Isa 46:3 – borne Mat 23:37 – even Luk 13:34 – as Rev 12:14 – to the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 32:12. So With such tenderness and care; the Lord alone did lead him When they were shut up in Egypt, as in their nest, whence they durst not venture to fly or stir, he taught, and encouraged, and enabled them to fly out from that bondage; he dealt tenderly with them, bearing with their infirmities, keeping them from all harms. There was no strange god with him To assist him at that work, or to deliver them. The more unworthy they, in giving to idols a share in that worship which they owe to God only.