The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 148

Ver. 6.--An holy people; n people conse- t:l'l~ ',.':!, to the front, before, in presence crntc>d to C'.o<l., to be holy ne he is holy (~f. Lev. ix. 5; Rrnd. xxiii. 17). The hnter (~f. Le,·. xi. 43-45; xix. 2; xx. 26; xxi. 6; of God should he repaid, so that the mnn eh. xxiii. 14). A special people unto him- shonld himself see nnd feel that ho bad been self; literally, to be to liim for a people of smittcu of God (cf. Isa. lxv. 6; ,Job xxxiv, property (:i?.l~), a people bis own, his pe- 11 ; Ps. lxii. 13). And tl,is rotribution cnlinr property (cf. Exod. xix. 5; eh. xiv. 2; should come speedily : He will not be elaok xx,·i. 18; and, for the meaning of the word, to him that hateth hlm ; i.e. ho will not 1 Chron. xxix. 3, "mine own proper good;'' delay to repay him. Eccl<>s. ii. 8, "pecnlinr treasure of kings"); Ver. 11.-As God would thus summarily LXX., Aail< 1«pwu,no,, applied by St. raul a"1"enge himself of his adversaries, the to Christinns Rs the chosen and special people are exhorted to keep all bis com- property of Christ (Titus ii. 14). Above all mandments, statutes, and rights. people; rather, out of or from among all t:he Ver. 12.-On the other hand, obedience 1,eoplc,. would bring blessing. Wherefore it shall Yer. 7.--Set his love upon you. The oome to pass, if ye hearken. The Hebrew Hebrew rnrb meaning primarily to cleave conveys the idea of o. rewo.rd as consequent t,,. to be attached to, is used to express on their hcnrkening ; as there would be nrdent and loving affection (cf. Gen. xxxiv. retribution for transgression, so would there 8: eh. x. 15; Isa. xxniii. 17). The fewest be recompense for obedience. The Hebrcw of all people. It might have been suppo~ed word represented by "wherefore" in the that. in choosing a people to be his special Authorized Version (:ip,v., from :lRJ:, the heel) treasure, the Almighty would have selected denotes that which comes after, the end or 8ome one of the great nations of the world; last of anything (Ps. cxi.x. 33, 112), hence re- but, instead of that, he'had chosen one of compense, reward,wages, as the end or result the smallest. They bad, indeed, grown of acting (Ps. xix. 11; xl. 15.; Isa. v. 23, till now they were as the stars for multi- etc.). The clause might, therefore, be trans- tude ; but it was not in prospect of this that lated, As a consequence or recompense of the, were chosen. The election of Israel hearkening, ... it shall be that, &c. Jndg- w11s purely of grace. ments, i.e. rights, rightful claims (□'lfl!::~~)­ , er. 8.-llecanse the Lord loved you, God, as the Great King, ho.a his rights, Targum Onkclos, " Because he had com- and these are to be rendered to him by his placency in you;" Vulgate, quia-oobisjunctus subjects and servants. The mercy, i.e. the est. " Instead of saying, He hath chosen kindness, the favour (1RIJ), showed in the you out of Jove to your fathers, as in eh. iv. promises which God gave to their fathers, 37, Moses brings out in this plRce love to and ~ngaged by covenant to fulfil. the people of Israel as the Divine motive, not for choosing Israel, but for leadiug it Ver. 13.-This favour would take effect out and delivering it from the slave-house of in a blesaing on the fruit of the womb, the Egypt, by which God had practically carried produce of the field, and the increase of their out the election of 1.he people, that he might flocks and herds (comp. Exod. xxiii. 25-27). thereby allure the Israelites to a reciprocity Thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. of lorn" (Keil). These comprise the fruitful products of the soil, and in their combination express general Yer. 9.-To a thousand generations ; fertility and abundance. By corn (ll.".!) rather, to the thousandth generation. As is undoubtedly to be understood the cereal God is faithful to his covenant, Rnd will s!:iow mercy and do good to thoae products generally used for food. It may th:.t lcY6 him, whilst on those who hate be doubted if tirosh (lfW)) properly means him be will bring terrible retribution, wine. The word is often rendered in the the people are warned by this to take heed Authorized Version by new wine, and this is against n,bellion and apostacy from him the meaning generally given in the lexicona. (comp. Exod. XL 5). As, however, it is almost consto.ntly joined Yer. 10.-And repayeth them that hate with corn and oil, the immediate products of hlm to their face. The phrase, "to their the soil-at least asuncho.nged by any process or manufacture-it ia rather to be regarded faec" (1'?; S~, to their facea), has boon va- as designating ripe grapes Lhan wine. 'l'hat, oualy explained. It haa been taken as moreover, which was to be gathered (eh. xi. meaning, instantly, statim, haud cunctanter 14), which might be tithed (eh. xii, 17; xiv. (Vulgate, GeaeniuB); openly, manifeatly, 23), which might be described as fruit palam (Grotiua, Calvin, Michaelia); during (2 Chron. xxxi. 5), as being in the cluster life, in l, ac vita (Targum, Vatab.) ; in their (lea. !xv. 8), and as capable of being presence, in their own sight (LXX., Ka:ra dried up or parched (Joel i. 10), o.nd -rrp6,rw1ro,: Rosenmiiller). The last seems trodden (Micah vii. 15), could not be a tL<, 1,bl. :119 signifies proper]:,, front, and fluid like fermented wine, As the grape OU, vu. 1-2G.] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, 137