1: At that time the Lord (Yahaveh) said to me, 'Hew you two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up to Me into the
mount, and make you an ark of wood (first used of Joseph's coffin [Gen. 50:26]; used of money-box [2 Kings 12:9]. Not the ark of the covenant which was made later, but a temporary box).
2: And I will write on the tables (see Ex.17:14) the words that were in the first tables which you broke in pieces (or smashed), and you shall put them in the ark.'
3: And I made an ark of acacia wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand.
4: And He wrote on the tables, according to the first
writing, the ten commandments (= words, cp. Ex. 34:4,28), which the Lord spoke to you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly (Heb. kahal, convocation of called-out people): and the Lord gave them to me.
5: And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, according as the Lord commanded me.
6: {And the sons of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the sons of Jaakan (= the well of the sons of Jaakan. Cp. Num.20:22-29; 33:31-38) to Mosera (Heb. = correction, bond): there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.
7: From that place they journeyed to Gudgodah (= an incision, conspicuous mountain, see Num.33:32); and from Gudgodah to Jotbath (= pleasantness, goodness), a land of rivers of waters.}
8: At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi (cp. Num. 3:5-12. #1 On account of loyalty. Ex. 32:26, and Deut. 33:8. #2 After revolt of Korah, &c. Num. 16:17. #3 After the sin of the People with Moabites. Num. 25:6-13. Ps. 106:30. Mal. 2:4,5; 3:3), to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to serve before the Lord to minister to Him (put for all service and ministrations), and to bless in His name, unto this day.
9: Wherefore Levi has no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord) your God promised him.
10: And I stayed in the mount (cp. Ex. 34:28), according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord listened to me at that time also, and (some codices read "therefore") the Lord would not destroy you (Heb. shahath = inflictions of judgments).
11: And the Lord said to me, 'Arise, take your journey before the people (cp. Num.10:11), that they may go in and possess the land, which I swear to their fathers to give to them.'
m3 d 10:12,13-. To revere and love Him.
e f 10:-13. Intention: "for your good."
g 10:14-19. Motives and reasons.
d 10:20,21. To revere and praise Him.
e g 10:22-11:8-. Motives and reason.
f 11:-8-12. Intention: "that you all may be strong."
12: And now, Israel, what does the Lord you God require of you (cp. Mic. 6:8. Hos. 12:6. Josh. 22:5. 1 Sam. 15:22), but to reverence the Lord your God, to walk in all His
ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart (= mind) and with all your soul (In other words, He becomes A#1 in your life!. This is the greatest command according to Jesus Christ. God expects us to fear Him, love Him and serve Him.),
13: To keep the commandments of the Lord, and His ordinances (many of these He nailed to the cross), which I command you this day (see 4:26) for your good? (The health laws are still in effect to this very day! He created you. Do you think He knows what's good for you? God is preparing Israel to enter the promised land. This is a type for us, today. We are also preparing to enter the promised land, that is to say the millennium.)
g h k 14. Yahaveh. Power unchallengeable.
l 15. Yahaveh. Love without cause.
i 16. Reason. Circumcision of heart.
h k 17. Yahaveh. Power irresistible.
l 18. Yahaveh. Judgment impartial.
i 19. Reason. Love to others required.14: Behold, the heaven and the highest heavens is the Lord's your God, the earth also (He loans it to us), with all that therein is (see Ex. 20:1-6).
15: Only the Lord had a delight in your fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you above all people (Heb. peoples), as it is this day. (This is the chosen seed through which Messiah would be born. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ made salvation available to every soul on earth.)
16: Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart (here charged as a duty. In 30:6 promised as a future blessing. Cp. Lev. 26:41. Jer. 6:10. Acts 7:51. Circumcision mentioned after Ex. 12:48 only in Josh. 5:3-7 and Jer.9:25. Uncircumcision of Gentiles shows that circumcision was practiced. Cp. Isa. 52:1. Jer. 9:25,26. Ezek. 31:18), and be no more stiff-necked.
17: For the Lord your God He is God of gods (Elohê of elohim) (cp. Josh. 22:22. Dan. 2:47), and Lord of lords, a great GOD, a mighty, and to be revered, which regards not persons, nor accepts a bribe: (see 2 Chron. 19:7. Acts 10:34. Rom. 2:11. 1 Pet. 1:17. God doesn't show favoritism or take bribes. You can't buy your way in. You must earn your way in with love.)
18: He does execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow (put for all the afflicted), and loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothing.
19: Love you all therefore the sojourner (cp. Lev. 19:34): for you all were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (God loves all His children whether they be orphans, widows or foreigners. You should love them also. This doesn't apply to foreigners who are trying to kill you. God expects us to protect ourselves.)
20: You shall reverence the the Lord your God; Him shalt you serve, and to Him shall you cleave (cp. Josh. 23:8. 2 Kings 17:36), and swear by His name.
21: He is your praise, and He is your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things (cp. 2 Sam. 7:23), which your eyes have seen. (Terrible would be better translated awesome. Your Father is awesome, and He loves you. Return His love.)
g m 10:22. Fulfillment of the promise to the fathers.
n 11:1. Therefore, love and obey.
m 11:2-7. Fulfillment of judgment to enemies.
n 11:8-. Therefore, obey.22: Your fathers went down into Egypt (cp. Gen. 46:27. Ex. 1:5) with threescore and ten souls (see Gen. 46:27. Acts 7:14); and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven for multitude. (Cp. Gen. 22:17; 26:4. Ex. 32:13. 1 Chron. 27:23. Neh. 9:23. Only 70 of Jacob's family went into bondage to Egypt. Now the seed of Israel is as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea as God promised Abraham. Where are they today? If you know history, the 10 tribes of Israel settled Europe and then migrated to the United States and Canada.)