Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 4:21
Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance:
21. Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes ] See on Deu 1:37, Deu 3:26. The fact is again introduced here as a relevant motive to the following exhortation; this answers the proposal to treat it, on account of its repetition, as an intrusion.
that good land ] Heb. the; see on Deu 1:35.
which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance ] Heb. partic. is about to give thee, Deu 19:10, Deu 20:16, Deu 21:23, Deu 24:4, Deu 26:1; as an inheritance to possess it, Deu 15:4, Deu 25:19; cp. Deut 19:31; only in D, and almost always with the Sg. address, but cp. Deu 29:8, The transition to the Sg. is confirmed by Sam. and LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Deu 4:21-22
I must die in this land.
The death of Moses
1. Though a life may appear to us to receive the crown of failure, it may for all that be acceptable in Gods sight. No life on earth is complete, for its completion and fulness is destroyed by sin. Just as a man in things temporal often falls short of being successful, so does a man in things eternal. But the latter knows his life will receive its completion hereafter.
2. God is very strict with His children. The service of God is not to be trifled with. If we are careless we may prevent ourselves from obtaining some spiritual success in this world which might be a crowning point to our life.
3. Moses was alone at his death. We must die alone. Our friends cannot pass through the dark valley with us. But stay–must we be really alone? The Prince of Life will be with us with His rod and staff, if we ask Him.
4. Moses could not lead the Israelites into Canaan; that was the work of Joshua. Moses, by giving us the moral law, cannot lead us into heaven. The moral law in the hand of Moses is unable to accomplish that which the precious blood of Jesus alone can do. Is Jesus our Leader? (The Weekly Pulpit.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 21. The Lord was angry with me] And if with me, so as to debar me from entering into the promised land, can you think to escape if guilty of greater provocations?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God hath granted you the favour which he denied to me, which greatly increaseth your obligation to God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes,…. See De 3:26:
and sware that I should not go over Jordan; this circumstance of swearing is nowhere else expressed:
and that I should not go in unto that good land; the land of Canaan; he might see it, as he did from Pisgah, but not enter into it:
which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance; to them and to their children after them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The bringing of Israel out of Egypt reminds Moses of the end, viz., Canaan, and leads him to mention again how the Lord had refused him permission to enter into this good land; and to this he adds the renewed warning not to forget the covenant or make any image of God, since Jehovah, as a jealous God, would never tolerate this. The swearing attributed to God in Deu 4:21 is neither mentioned in Num 20 nor at the announcement of Moses’ death in Num 27:12.; but it is not to be called in question on that account, as Knobel supposes. It is perfectly obvious from Deu 3:23. that all the details are not given in the historical account of the event referred to. , “ image of a form of all that Jehovah has commanded,” sc., not to be made (Deu 4:16-18). “ A consuming fire ” (Deu 4:24): this epithet is applied to God with special reference to the manifestation of His glory in burning fire (Exo 24:17). On the symbolical meaning of this mode of revelation, see at Exo 3:2. “ A jealous God: ” see at Exo 20:5.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 21-24:
The text is another reference to the incident recorded in Num 20:7-13; see comments on Deu 1:37.
Although Moses was not to enter the “good land,” those to whom he spoke would enter it, and possess it as their inheritance. The text is his warning that they not forget Jehovah and turn to other gods. See Exo 20:5; Exo 24:17; Deu 9:3; Heb 12:29.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
21. Furthermore, the Lord was angry with me. He again records that it arose from the transgression of the people that he was not permitted to enter the land, not by way of expostulation, and much less in order to accuse God of cruelty, as if he had been improperly and unjustly substituted as a criminal in the place of others, but rather to magnify the goodness of God towards those whom He had treated with so much indulgence. For we must observe the comparison, that, whilst they were to enjoy the land, he was to be prevented from entering it. “I must die (he says) in this land” of Moab, whilst to you it is given to enjoy the promised inheritance. We perceive, therefore, that they are upbraided with their guilt in such a way that all the bitterness of the reproof is sweetened by the sense of God’s mercy; nay, that by this sweetness they may be ravished into admiration, when they understand how mercifully that pardon is extended to them, which was denied to Moses.
The sense of the expression which I have rendered “for your words,” (241) might be “for your things,” inasmuch as the Hebrews call men’s affairs ( negotia), דברים , debarim. Assuredly, although he had been impelled to sin by their rebellious clamors, he simply states that he was now punished on their account. If any should inquire why he lays the blame on them, whereas the actual offenders were most of them dead, the reply is obvious, that many of them were still surviving, and that it is no novelty that the children should be included with the fathers, when the whole body of a people has sinned.
(241) A. V., “for your sakes;” ( דברים.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(21-23) The Lord was angry with me for your sakes . . . I must die in this land . . . but ye shall go over . . . Take heed unto yourselves.The argument appears to be this: I cannot go with you to warn you; therefore take the more heed when you are alone. The same line of thought appears in St. Pauls last appeal to Timothy: Fulfil thy ministry; for I am now ready to be offered (2Ti. 4:6).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Angry with me Comp. Deu 1:37.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
It is to be questioned whether anything in the annals of mankind, ever came up to the generous conduct of Moses upon this occasion; who in his love for Israel, passed by his own personal humiliation. Never perhaps was he equaled in this instance, excepting by thee, thou blessed JESUS, who though rich, yet for our sakes didst become poor, that we through thy poverty might be made rich. 2Co 8:9 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 4:21 Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance:
Ver. 21. And sware that I should not. ] So that you have a privilege above me; only beware how you provoke him, as I did, through unbelief.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 4:21-24
21Now the LORD was angry with me on your account, and swore that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. 22For I will die in this land, I shall not cross the Jordan, but you shall cross and take possession of this good land. 23So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. 24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Deu 4:21 the LORD was angry with me on your account Moses was reminding the people of God’s punishment to him because of his disobedience (cf. Deu 1:37; Deu 3:26; Num 20:7-13). If they disobey, they will be punished also!
Deu 4:23 So watch yourselves The VERB (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Niphal IMPERATIVE) is repeated often in this chapter. There are covenant benefits, but also covenant consequences (cf. Deu 4:25; chapters 27-29).
that you do not forget the covenant The VERB (BDB 1013, KB 1489,Qal PERFECT) is also found several times in this chapter (cf. Deu 4:9; Deu 4:23; Deu 4:31) and also in Deu 6:12; Deu 8:11; Deu 8:14; Deu 8:19[twice]; Deu 9:7; Deu 24:19[twice]; Deu 25:19; and Deu 30:13; Deu 31:21; Deu 32:18. This is a major recurrent theme!
Deu 4:24 jealous YHWH is described in this verse in two ways:
1. a consuming fire (BDB 77 and BDB 37, KB 46, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Exo 24:17; Deu 4:24; Deu 9:3; Heb 12:29) which denotes
a. YHWH is the covenant-making God of Sinai
b. He is the God of judgment if the covenant is violated
2. a jealous God (BDB 888 and 42, cf. Exo 20:5; Exo 34:14; Deu 5:9; Deu 6:15; Jos 24:19) which denotes His personal, loving commitment to Israel, which is analogous to a marriage covenant (cf. Hosea 1-3). The covenant broken results in rejection (e.g., Jos 24:19; Nah 1:2). The word has a wide semantic field:
a. passion – Pro 6:34; Son 8:6
b. anger – Pro 14:30; Pro 27:4
c. jealousy – Gen 26:14; Num 5:11-22; Eze 31:9
d. competition – Ecc 4:4
e. devotion – Num 11:29
(list from NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 938)
See Special Topic: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (ANTHROPOMORPHISM) .
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
angry. Compare Deu 1:37; Deu 3:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 1:37, Deu 3:26, Deu 31:2, Num 20:12, Psa 106:32, Psa 106:33
Reciprocal: Deu 2:29 – into the land Deu 3:25 – the good land Job 36:9 – he 2Pe 1:14 – shortly
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 4:21. That I should not go over Jordan And as God has granted you the favour which he has denied me, your obligation to him is greatly increased.