Deu 29: "The principles of the Covenant, including the
benefits of obeying and the penalties of breaking it, have been already set
forth by Moses to the ecclesia as it stood on the eve of entering their promised
inheritance. There only remains the formal endorsement of it by the people. It
is that act, and the accompaniments to it, that are the subject of Deu 29; 30.
Its leading elements are thus repeated in brief. Deu 29:1-9 answers to the
historical prologue in Deu 1:6; 4:49.
"Deu 29:16-29 answers to the sanctions of Deu
28:1-68.
"Deu 30:8,10-14 alludes to the stipulations of the covenant
embodied in Deu 5:1 to Deu 26:19. Finally, Deu 30:15-20 contains the summons to
the oath of confirmation and the invocation of witnesses. The covenant contains
strong exhortatory appeal.
"Thus Deu 29 can be analysed as follows: [1] Introduction to
sealing the covenant: v 1. [2] The people exhorted to keep the covenant on the
grounds of personal experience: vv 2-9. [3] All of Israel of every age involved:
vv 10-13. [4] It extends even to the unborn: vv 14-15. [5] Punishment resulting
from breaking the covenants: vv 16-29.
"The Mosaic Covenant was designed to prepare the nation for
the greater Covenant established in Yahshua, and provides the basis for
individual spiritual development" (GEM).
Deu 29:5
See Luk 12:33.
Deu 29:14
Vv 14,15: "Not only... but also..."
Deu 29:18
Parents who bring up children in false ways.
BITTER POISON: Heb "rosh l'anah" = the head of poppy
plant, also called wormwood.
Deu 29:19
I WILL BE SAFE: LXX, "I am without sin" (anamartetos:
sw Joh 8:7).
Deu 29:20
UNDER HEAVEN: A phrase suggesting the universality of
Yahweh's judgement: Gen 6:17; Exo 17:14; Deu 7:24; 9:14; 25:19; 29:20; 2Ki
14:27. The two NT references (Acts 4:12; Col 1:23) expand the theme to show that
the Father is indeed concerned with salvation for all mankind.