Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 32:8
When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
8. Most High ] Heb. ‘Elyn, Num 24:16, Isa 14:14, and many Pss.
gave inheritance ] See Deu 1:38.
separated ] Gen 10:32 (P).
children of Israel ] The purpose of His division was to leave room for Israel’s numbers.
But for the sons of Israel LXX has , angels of God, i.e. sons of ’El, after a late Jewish conception of a guardian angel for each nation (Dan 10:13; Dan 10:20 f., Deu 12:1, Sir 17:17 ), an antithesis to Jehovah’s own guardianship of Israel in the following vv., which accordingly LXX introduces by and = but in place of Heb. for. This reading and interpretation is accepted by Steuern., Berth., Marti, Robinson. But the text as read by the LXX seems to be rather an adaptation of the Heb. to the conception aforesaid (Dillm.); and it is difficult to see how the Heb. arose out of the LXX text if the latter was original.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. When the Most High divided to the nations, c.] Verses 8 and 9, says Dr. Kennicott, give us express authority for believing that the earth was very early divided in consequence of a Divine command, and probably by lot, (see Ac 17:26) and as Africa is called the land of Ham, (Ps 78:51; Ps 105:23; Ps 105:27; Ps 106:22), probably that country fell to him and to his descendants, at the same time that Europe fell to Japheth, and Asia to Shem, with a particular reserve of Palestine to be the Lord’s portion, for some one peculiar people. And this separation of mankind into three bodies, called the general migration, was commanded to Noah, and by him to his sons, so as to take place in the days of Peleg, about two hundred years afterwards. This general migration was prior to the partial dispersion from Babel by about five hundred years.
He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.] The Septuagint is very curious, . “He established the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.” The meaning of the passage seems to be, that when God divided the earth among mankind, he reserved twelve lots, according to the number of the sons of Jacob, which he was now about to give to their descendants, according to his promise.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When God by his providence did allot the several parts of the world to several people, which was done Ge 10; Ge 11. See Deu 2:5,9; Am 9:7; Act 17:26,27.
Separated the sons of Adam, i.e. divided them in their languages and habitations according to their families.
He set the bounds of the people, i.e. he disposed of the several lands and limits of the people, so as he did reserve a convenient and sufficient place for the great numbers of the people of Israel, whom he designed to make as numerous as the stars of heaven. And therefore he so guided the hearts of several people, that the posterity of Canaan, which was accursed of God, Gen 9:25-27, and devoted to ruin, should be seated in that country which God intended for the children of Israel, that so when their iniquities were ripe, and Gods time came, they might be rooted out, and the Israelites might come in their stead.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8, 9. When the most High divided tothe nations their inheritanceIn the division of the earth,which Noah is believed to have made by divine direction (Gen 10:5;Deu 2:5-9; Act 17:26;Act 17:27), Palestine wasreserved by the wisdom and goodness of Heaven for the possession ofHis peculiar people and the display of the most stupendous wonders.The theater was small, but admirably suited for the convenientobservation of the human raceat the junction of the two greatcontinents of Asia and Africa, and almost within sight of Europe.From this spot as from a common center the report of God’s wonderfulworks, the glad tidings of salvation through the obedience andsufferings of His own eternal Son, might be rapidly and easily waftedto every part of the globe.
he set the bounds of thepeople according to the number of the children of IsraelAnotherrendering, which has received the sanction of eminent scholars, hasbeen proposed as follows: “When the Most High divided to thenations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam and setthe bounds of every people, the children of Israel were few innumbers, when the Lord chose that people and made Jacob Hisinheritance” (compare Deu 30:5;Gen 34:30; Psa 105:9-12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance,…. In the times of Noah and his sons, in the days of Peleg, who had his name (that is “Division”) from thence, Ge 10:25; “the Most High” is a well known and proper, epithet of God; the dividing of the earth to the several nations of it, and giving to everyone their part and portion to possess and inherit, was the work of God; for though it was done by the sons of Noah, yet by the order, appointment, and direction of the Most High, who rules in heaven and in earth, Ge 10:32; men might not and did not take what they pleased, or seize on as much as they could, but each had their parcel allotted and portioned out to them, by the Lord himself; so the Targum of Jonathan.
“when by lot the Most High divided the world to the people that sprung from the sons of Noah:”
when he separated the sons of Adam; one from another; distinguished by the persons from whom they descended, by the tribes and nations to which they belonged, and by the countries they inhabited; for though they descended from Noah and his sons, they were the sons of Adam, the first man: or rather “the children of men”, as the wicked of that generation were called, in distinction from the sons of God, or his people and worshippers; and may have respect to the separation of them at Babel, where their languages were confounded, and they were scattered about, and some went into one part of the world, and some into another, according to the appointment and direction of divine Providence; so the builders of Babel are called, and this was what befell them, Ge 11:5; which sense the above Targum confirms,
“when he separated the writings, the languages of the children of men in the generation of the division:”
he set the bounds of the people; or nations, the seven nations of the land of Canaan; he pitched upon and fixed the land they should inherit, and settled the bounds of it, how far it should reach, east, west, north and south:
according to the number of the children of Israel: the sense is, that such a country was measured out and bounded, as would be sufficient to hold the twelve tribes of Israel, when numerous, and their time was come to inhabit it; and which, in the mean while was put into the hands of Canaan and his eleven sons to possess; not as their proper inheritance, but as tenants at will, until the proper heirs existed, and were at an age, and of a sufficient number to inherit; in which may be observed the wise disposition of divine Providence, to put it into the hands of a people cursed of God, so that to take it from them at any time could not have the appearance of any injustice in it; and their enjoying it so long as they did was a mercy to them, for so long they had a reprieve: now here was an early instance of the goodness of God to Israel, that he should make such an early provision of the land flowing with milk and honey for them, even before they were in being, yea, before their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, existed; as early as the days of Noah; and yet, ungrateful as they were despised and set at nought his Son, the rock of salvation, when sent unto them: thus the heavenly inheritance, typified by the land of Canaan, was not only promised, but prepared, provided, secured, and reserved for the spiritual Israel of God, before the foundation of the world, from all eternity, and which is appointed according to their number; there is room enough in it for them all, though they are many; in it are many mansions for the many sons to be brought to glory.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8, 9) Comp. Deu. 21:16.
when the Most High made nations to inherit,
When He parted the sons of Adam,
He set the bounds of the peoples,
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
For the portion of Jehovah is His people,
Jacob the cord [7] of His inheritance
[7] i.e., limit.
The allusion is to the dispersion from Babel (Genesis 10, 11). The Jews were accustomed to reckon seventy nations and languages in that dispersion. Seventy members of Jacobs household went down into Egypt. And literally they interpret this passage to mean that in dividing the lands to the peoples, Jehovah left room for His own, so that they might inherit the promised land without any undue pressure upon other nations. It is noticeable that the children of Lot and Esau were carefully preserved from disturbance by Israel (Deuteronomy 2). But this is the bare literal interpretation. The true meaning of the passage is given by St. Paul in his speech at Athens: He determined (for all nations) times before appointed, and the setting of the boundaries of their habitation, that they might seek the Lord. The nations were so disposed in the world, and so developed, that each might have its opportunity of seeking Jehovah, in due season, through contact with His peopleif, as was certainly not impossible, they might feel after Him and find Him, who is not far from any one of us. For we are even His offspring. Hence He appoints our inheritance. With some such thought as this, the LXX. translate the latter half of Deu. 32:8, He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the angels of God The chosen people were to be His messengers to the nations. He chose Israel for His own portion, that through them He might inherit the world. And yet in the face of this glorious calling and mission, the undutiful behaviour of Israel was their one great blot. They had only to accept the position already prepared for them, and they refused!
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. The Most High divided to the nations their inheritance Then Israel was in his thoughts. He selected Israel as his peculiar people.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 8, 9. When the Most High divided, &c. Bochart gives the words this simple meaning: “God so distributed the bounds and settlements of the several people and nations, as to reserve in his counsel such a part of the earth for the Israelites, as he knew would be a sufficient inheritance, a commodious habitation for so numerous a race;” which sense cannot be better expressed than in the words of St. Paul, Act 17:26. God hath made of one blood all nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. As to the version which the LXX have given of this place, according to the number of the angels of God, it seems merely rabbinical, if not adapted to pagan sentiments. I should apprehend, that the passage may be very probably and easily understood, if read thus, by a slight alteration of our version:
When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance. When he separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people for the number of the children of Israel: Because the Lord’s portion is his people, &c.
Jacob is said to be the lot (in the Hebrew, cord,) of his inheritance, as it was usual to measure land by a cord or line, whence the metaphor is taken. See Psa 16:6.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The sweetest of all subjects, and the most interesting of all histories, is that which makes a man acquainted with himself. In looking back to the original formation of GOD’S church and people, we behold a plan reaching into eternity. Their husband was set up from everlasting. Pro 8:23 . At the creation and division of the earth, the boundaries of men, as well as of the church, were all fixed by infinite wisdom. But there can be no question from the whole account in the Bible, which is but a brief history of the church, that the bounds of all other of the sons of men, were intended to minister to GOD’S church and people. GOD hath made of one blood all nations of men; and they are all the works of his hands: but here he peculiarly calls Israel his portion. The Israel of the LORD are as the garden of the LORD, amidst the world’s wilderness. This people, the LORD saith, I have formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise. If the Reader wishes to see some very striking scriptures to this purpose, he will find them, Isa 43:21 ; Deu 7:6-8 ; Mat 11:25-26 . What a rapturous thought is it to the soul, that is conscious of an interest in it, that GOD hath a people, and that he himself belongs to that people, and is of the LORD’S portion. There is but one thing more to make it complete, and that is, when the soul that is the LORD’S portion, can call the LORD his portion also. See Psa 16:5 ; Song 1-8.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Ver. 8. He set the bounds of the people. ] Of the seventy nations reckoned, Gen 10:1-32 and the seventy souls of Israel. Gen 46:27 Deu 10:22 The Jews have a saying, that those seventy souls were as much as all the seventy nations of the world, as being the Lord’s portion, for whom he espied out the land of Canaan, which is “the glory of all lands.” Eze 20:6
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
When, &c. i.e. He foreknew His purposes concerning Israel. See Gen 10:32. This was 200 years before Abraham.
MOST HIGH = ‘eleyon. See App-4.
divided. As an inheritance. Compare Deu 32:9. Hebrew. nahal = to possess. See note on Deu 32:9. Not Hebrew. palag (Gen 10:25), which = to cleave by disruption, or parur (Gen 10:5, Gen 10:32), which = to divide by breaking off. (See note App-50.)
People = Peoples.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Most: Num 24:16, Psa 7:17, Psa 50:14, Psa 82:6, Psa 91:1, Psa 92:8, Isa 14:14, Dan 4:17, Dan 5:18, Act 7:48
divided: Gen 10:25, Gen 11:9, Psa 115:16, Act 17:26
he set: Gen 10:15, Gen 15:18-21
Reciprocal: Gen 10:19 – And the Gen 11:8 – Lord Gen 17:8 – everlasting Gen 48:4 – will give Exo 19:5 – a peculiar Lev 25:2 – When ye Num 23:9 – shall not Num 33:53 – General Deu 2:5 – because Jos 2:9 – that the Lord 1Ch 16:18 – inheritance Job 15:19 – Unto whom Psa 21:7 – most Psa 68:10 – thou Psa 74:17 – set Isa 5:2 – fenced it Isa 41:4 – calling Isa 44:7 – since Jer 27:5 – and have Eze 20:6 – into Mic 2:5 – cast Hab 3:6 – and measured Mal 1:2 – I have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 32:8. Their inheritance When God, by his providence, allotted the several parts of the world to several people, which was done, Gen 10:11. When he separated Divided them in their languages and habitations, according to their families. He set the bounds That is, he disposed of the several lands and limits of the people, so as to reserve a sufficient place for the great numbers of the people of Israel. And therefore he so guided the hearts of several people, that the posterity of Canaan, which was accursed of God, and devoted to ruin, should be seated in that country which God intended for the children of Israel, that so when their iniquities were ripe they might be rooted out, and the Israelites come in their stead.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the {e} people according to the number of the children of Israel.
(e) When God by his providence divided the world, he lent for a time that portion to the Canaanites, which would later be an inheritance for all his people Israel.