Day 76-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

D. From Kadesh-Barnea to crossing of Jordan ~ cont.

5. Settling down in plains of Moab, east of Jordan ~ cont.

p. Palestinian covenant - Deuteronomy 29:1-29, 30:1-20, Numbers 36:13
q. Joshua replaces Moses - Numbers 27:15-23
r. Final words of Moses
(1) To people - Deuteronomy 31:1-6
(2) To Joshua - Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 23
(3) To priests - Deuteronomy 31:9-13
(4) To Levites - Deuteronomy 31:24-29

{pages 330-334}

These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.  (Deuteronomy 29:1)

covenant - H1285 - From H1262 (in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh).

• H1262 - A primitive root; to select; also (as denominative from H1250) to feed; also (as equivalent to H1305) to render clear (Ecc_3:18).

Quoting Gill:

These are the words of the covenant,.... Not what go before, but follow after, in the next chapters, to the end of the book; in which are various promises of grace, and promises of good things, both with respect to Jews and Gentiles, intermixed with other things:

which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab; or to declare unto them, and acquaint them with, they being now in the plains of Moab, ready to enter into the land of, Canaan:

besides the covenant which he made with them at Horeb: or Sinai; which Jarchi interprets, besides the curses in Leviticus, delivered on Sinai; he seems to have respect to Lev_26:14. This covenant was different from that at Sinai, spoken of Exo_24:8; being made not only at a different time, at near forty years' distance, and at a different place, nor Sinai; but when Israel were come nearer Mount Sion, and were actually possessed of part of their inheritance, the land of promise, that part of the land of Moab which the two kings of the Amorites had seized and dwelt in, whom Israel had dispossessed; and with different persons, that generation being dead, excepting a very few, which were at Sinai: but it was different as to the substance and matter of it, it not only including that, and being a renewal of it, as is generally thought, but containing such declarations of grace which had not been made before, not only respecting the repenting and returning Israelites, but the Gentiles also; for this covenant was made with the stranger, as well as with Israel, Deu_29:11; and relates to the times of the Messiah, the call of the Gentiles, the conversion of the Jews, and their return to their own land in the latter day.

There is something more to this passage tickling my mind...physical Israel, spiritual Israel.  Can not wrap my mind about it right now...perhaps later.

Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.  (Deuteronomy 29:4)

No inward circumcision?  Hmmm....browsed all the commentaries I have...my Bible had this as a cross reference:

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.   (Acts 28:26-17)

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.  (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Gill:

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God,.... Respecting the people of Israel, and the providential dealings of God with them, and especially the final rejection of them; with respect to which, the apostle's exclamation agrees with this, Rom_11:33; and though the Lord had revealed many things which should befall them, there were others still secret with him, and the reasons of others; and particularly the times and seasons of their accomplishment, which he retains in his own power, Act_1:6. There are many secret things in nature, which cannot be found out and accounted for by men, which the Lord only knows; and there are many things in Providence, which are unsearchable, and past finding out by finite minds, especially the true causes and reasons of them; and there are many things relating to God himself, which remain secret with him; notwithstanding the revelation he has made of himself; for not only some of his perfections, as eternity, immensity, &c. are beyond our comprehension; but the mode of subsistence of the three divine Persons in the Godhead, the paternity of the one, the generation of the other, and the procession of the Spirit from them both; the union of the two natures, divine and human, in the person of Christ; the thoughts, purposes, and decrees of God within himself, until brought into execution; and so there are many things relating to his creatures, as the particular persons predestinated unto eternal life, what becomes of such who die in infancy, what will befall us in life, when we shall die, where and in what manner, and also the day and hour of the last judgment. The Jews generally interpret this and what follows of the sins of men, and punishment for them, and, particularly, idolatry; take Aben Ezra's sense instead of many,"he that commits idolatry secretly, his punishment is by the hand of heaven (from God immediately); he that commits it openly, it lies upon us and upon our children to do as is written in the law:"

but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever; the things of nature and Providence, which are plain and manifest, are for our use and instruction; and especially the word and ordinances of God, which are the revelation of his will, the doctrines and promises contained in the Scriptures, each of the duties of religion, and the commandments of God, such as are of eternal obligation, which may be chiefly designed, because it follows:

that we may do all the words of this law: for the end of this revelation is practice; hearing and reading the word will be of no avail, unless what is heard and read is practised. Some render the words (i),"the secret things of the Lord our God are revealed to us and to our children;''but neither the construction of the words in the original, nor the Hebrew accents, will admit of such a version; otherwise it would furnish out a very great truth: for the secrets of God's love, of his council and covenant, are revealed unto his people, as well as many of his providences, and the mysteries of his grace; see Psa_25:14. There are some extraordinary pricks in the Hebrew text on the words "to us and to our children": which are designed to point out the remarkable and wonderful condescension and goodness of God, in making a revelation of his mind and will, both with respect to doctrine and duty, to the sons of men.

And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.  (Numbers 27:23)

laid - H5564 - A primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense).

hands - H3027 - A primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote.

Searching for that phrase:  laid hands, quite a few occurrences, a few I thought interesting:

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.  (Genesis 48:14)

laid hand(s) upon:  bullock (Leviticus 8:14), ram (Leviticus 8:18), ram (Leviticus 8:22), Joshua (Numbers 27:23, Deuteronomy 34:9), Athaliah (2 Kings 11:16, 2 Chronicles 23:15), goats (2 Chronicles 29:23),  no prey (Esther 9:16), Israel's substance (Obadiah 1:13), unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:28), little children (Matthew 19:15), Jesus (Matthew 26:50, Mark 14:46), sick folk, partial (Mark 6:5), sick, all (Luke 4:40), woman with infirmity (Luke 13:13), Jesus, attempt (John 7:30, 44, 8:20), apostles (Acts 4:3, 5:18), Stephen and Phillip (Acts 6:6), Samaria (Acts 8:17), Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:3), 12 men of Ephesus (Acts 19:6), Paul (Acts 21:27), Publius' father healed (Acts 28:8).

That would be an interesting side study of all the occurrences and why/what.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, not be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

be strong - H2388 - A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer.

Used 290 times in 266 verses.  I had browsed through just looking for the phrase 'be strong' and had found numerous verses, not only to Joshua but from/to others.

The first usage:
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.  (Genesis 19:16)

Last:

Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  (Malachi 3:13)

good courage - H553 - A primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage).

41 times in 41 verses, the first translation:

And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.  (Genesis 25:23)

Last:
He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.  (Nahum 2:1)

While I was browsing for 'be strong' the verses below were contained in my search.  Take comfort beloved saints of the Lord.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

(Ephesians 6:10)

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

(2 Timothy 2:1)

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

(1 Corinthians 16:13)