The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 57

Yer~. 4-10, 17-20.-Edom, Moa'b, Ammon. The Israelites.arc strictly enjoined not to molest these three peoples, or to attempt to rob them of any portion of their territory. The ground of this injunction is that God had given them the territory they possessed, and had 11ot gi\'en it to the Israelites. Additional reasons why Isrncl was not to molest them lay in the facts that they were kinsmen (ver. 4) and that Israel was amply pro- Yided for already (vcr. 7). Goci'~ people have little need to covet the possessions of the worldly. Apart from questions of their rights, kinsmen are entitled to be treated with special kindness nnd forbearance. ,ve learn from this passage- I. THAT THE rnonDENCE OF GoD IS MINUTELY CONCERNED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF NATIONS. (Vcrs. 5, 9, 19.) It is not by accident that they are where they are. God marks out for them the bounds of their habitation. This is a fundamental idea in Scripture (Gen. x.; Dent. xxxii. 8; Acts xvii. 26). In the verses before us the terri- tories of Edom, of Moab, and of Ammon nre spoken of as being a gift to them from God, as directly as Cannan was a gift to tho Isrnelites. It does not alter this fact, though it renders the comprehension of it more difficult, that men's own vioJ<,i;,.t and ag~ressive dispositions arc often the means by which these secret purposes of God are fulfilled (vers. 12, 22, 23). The barbarian incursions which overthrew tho Roman empire wcr, prompted by mere love of conquest, with the hope of enrichment by • slnughtcr and pillage; but ~\'C may trace the providence of God working through them for the formation of modern Europe. Our own acquisition of India was not witho11t blame; bnt we may sPe in our present possession of it a gift of God which, with our other territories in different parts of the globe, we arc bound to use for his glory. This is the highest view we can take of the possession of territory, and one which, so far from justirying unla\"dul aggression, leads us to refrain from it. It is to be remarked., however, that the possessions which God gives to nations are not irrevocable-not for ever. Instances of dispossession occur in these verses, and Edom, Moab, and Ammon themselves have long since been dispossessed. "Be not highminded, but fear'' (Rom. xi. 20). ]J. TrrAT THE RIGilTS OF NATIONS ARR TO DE SACREDLY RESPECTED. These verses teach lessons whlch might be pondered with advantage by the most advanced modern nations. They teach: 1. Scrupulous respect for international rights, It can never be our duty wantonly to invade the territories of those at peace with us, or, from motives or ambition, to rnck pretexts of war with them. They arc as entitled to the peaceable JJOF5e:-sion of what they have, as we are to the peaceable possession of the lands be- longing to us. The right of the stronger is not to rule our policy. 2. Scrupulous fustice in international transactions. The Israelites might !,ave used force, but they were to deal ju,tly, and honestly to pay for everything tbr.y received (vers. 6, 29). 3. Scrupulous self-restrai,rt under circumstances of provocation. 'l'hc Edomites had refused the Jsraelitc·o a passage through their mouutains, and had entailed on them a. long, painful, and circuitous journey; Moab !,ad employed Balaam to curse them, and had, with Midian, done them yet worse evil (Numb. xxv.1); but not even these pro- \"Ocations were to tempt them to retaliatioa. How many mo<lern nations would hnve made a casus Lelli of far less? Forgi veuess of injuries should ha,•c a place in our internationn.1 as in our private dealings, and it is strange if we have to be 6CDt back to the Je11·,; of Cannan-conquering notoriety to learn it. It is to be added- III. 'l'm:sE INSTilUCTI0l\S WERE A VALUADLE DISCIPLINE TO 'l'IIE ,JEWS THEMSEl,VES. 1. It taugl,t tl,em to reGogn;'ze the Divine gift as tlte ground of their own tenure of Ca11a.an. lf the Divine providence so guarded these .neighbouring peoples, and would en. 11. 1-3'/,) THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 3S --··--··--- •