31:2 And he said unto them, I [am] an hundred and twenty years
old this day; I a can no more go out and come in: also
the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this
Jordan.
(a) I can no longer execute my office.
31:5 And the LORD shall give them up b before your face, that
ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments
which I have commanded you.
(b) Into your hands.
31:7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the
sight of all Israel, Be strong and c of a good courage:
for thou must go with this people unto the land which the
LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou
shalt cause them to inherit it.
(c) For he that must govern the people, must be valiant to
repress evil, and constant to maintain virtue.
31:8 And the LORD, he [it is] that doth d go before thee; he
will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake
thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
(d) Signifying that man can never be of good courage,
unless he is persuaded of God's favour and assistance.
31:11 When all Israel is come to appear e before the LORD thy
God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read
this law before all Israel in their hearing.
(e) Before the Ark of the covenant, which was the sign of
God's presence, and the figure of Christ.
31:13 And [that] their children, which f have not known [any
thing], may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as
long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to
possess it.
(f) Who were not born when the law was given.
31:15 And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a
g cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door
of the tabernacle.
(g) In a cloud that was fashioned like a pillar.
31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day,
and I will forsake them, and I will h hide my face from
them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and
troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that
day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God
[is] not among us?
(h) That is, I will take my favour from them; as turning
his face toward us shows his favour.
31:19 Now therefore write ye this i song for you, and teach it
the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this
song may be a witness for me against the children of
Israel.
(i) To preserve you and your children from idolatry, by
remembering God's benefits.
31:20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I
sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and
honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves,
and waxen fat; k then will they turn unto other gods,
and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
(k) For this is the nature of flesh, no longer to obey
God, than it is under the rod.
31:21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles
are befallen them, that this song shall l testify
against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten
out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their
imagination which they go about, even now, before I have
brought them into the land which I sware.
(l) That these evils are come upon them, because they have
forsaken me.
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 m witness against thee.
(m) Of your infidelity, when you turn away from the
doctrine contained in it.
31:28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your n
officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and
call heaven and earth to record against them.
(n) As governors, judges and magistrates.
31:29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt
[yourselves], and turn aside from the way which I have
commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter
days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to
provoke him to anger through the o work of your hands.
(o) By idolatry, and worshipping images, which are the
work of your hands.
