Deuteronomy 4:44

law (Hebrew Torah): This word comes from the verb yarah, which means "to teach." Its basic meaning is "instruction." The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) translates this word as “law.” In this passage, the word introduces the main section of teaching that follows in Deuteronomy (see study note on 5:1–26:19).

Moses was ready to present the covenant with full authority. He spoke as the Lord’s chosen leader and teacher.

This section connects two parts of Deuteronomy. First, Moses reviewed Israel’s past journey (1:6–4:40). Next, he began to explain the covenant itself in detail (5:1–26:19).

this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel--This is a preface to the rehearsal of the law, which, with the addition of various explanatory circumstances, the following chapters contain.

Here is, 1. The nomination of the cities of refuge on that side Jordan where Israel now lay encamped. Three cities were appointed for that purpose, one in the lot of Reuben, another in that of Gad, and another in that of the half tribe of Manasseh, Deu 4:41-43. What Moses could do for that people while he was yet with them he did, to give example to the rulers who were settled that they might observe them the better when he was gone. 2. The introduction to another sermon that Moses preached to Israel, which we have in the following chapters. Probably it was preached the next sabbath day after, when the congregation attended to receive instruction. He had in general exhorted them to obedience in the former chapter; here he comes to repeat the law which they were to observe, for he demands a universal but not an implicit obedience. How can we do our duty if we do not know it? Here therefore he sets the law before them as the rule they were to work by, the way they were to walk in, sets it before them as the glass in which they were to see their natural face, that, looking into this perfect law of liberty, they might continue therein. These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments, the moral, ceremonial, and judicial laws, which had been enacted before, when Israel had newly come out of Egypt, and were now repeated, on this side Jordan, Deu 4:44-46. The place where Moses gave them these laws in charge is here particularly described. (1.) It was over-against Beth-peor, an idol-temple of the Moabites, which perhaps Moses sometimes looked towards, with a particular caution to them against the infection of that and other such like dangerous places. (2.) It was upon their new conquests, in the very land which they had got out of the hands of Sihon and Og, and were now actually in possession of, Deu 4:47. Their present triumphs herein were a powerful argument for obedience.

Deuteronomy 4:44-49

44. And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

44. Haec est Lex quam proposuit Moses coram filiis Israel.

45. These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt:

45. Haec testimonia et statuta et judicia quae pronuntiavit Moses filiis Israel, quum egressi essent ex Aegypto.

46. On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:

46. Trans Jordanem in valle e regione Beth-peor in terra Sehon regis Emorrhaeorum, qui habitabat in Esbon: quem percussit Moses et filii Israel, quum egressi essent ex Aegypto.

47. And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan, toward the sun-rising;

47. Et possederunt terram ejus, et terram Og regis Basan, duorum regum Emorrhaeorum, qui erant trans Jordanem ad ortum solis.

48. From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,

48. Ab Aroer qui erat juxta ripam torrentis Arnon, usque ad montem Sion qui est Hermon.

49. And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

49. Et universam solitudinem trans Jordanem ad orientem usque ad mare planitiei, sub effusionibus aquarum.

44. And this is the Law. This last passage refers to the same thing, viz., that the Law was promulgated anew when the people had now reached the threshold of the promised land, in order that they might be more disposed to obedience, especially when the two tribes and a half had now, by the conquest of the Amorites, obtained a resting-place and a home; for this is the reason why their habitation is mentioned, because the taste of the favor already received ought to stir up their zeal to proceed more cheerfully. We shall elsewhere remark on the country and names of places. It is sufficient here to recollect, that the memory of the Law was renewed, after their inheritance without the promised land had been obtained by the sons of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, and when their assured possession was before the eyes of the rest. But Moses shews that, although he might explain the Law at fuller length, still nothing had been added to that summary which was originally promulgated; but he rather indicates, that whatever he had taught them during the forty years, had had no other object than that they might more faithfully and exactly keep the Law of God.

And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel. Not the law concerning the cities of refuge, but the law of the ten commands repeated in the following chapter; so Jarchi remarks,"this which he should set in order after this section;''as he does in the next chapter, where he repeats in order the ten precepts, and makes observations on the manner of the delivery of them, and urges obedience to them.

Which hath been generally intimated already, but is more particularly and punctually expressed in the following chapter, to which these words are a preface.

Announcement of the Discourse upon the Law. - First of all, in Deu 4:44, we have the general notice in the form of a heading: "This is the Thorah which Moses set before the children of Israel;" and then, in Deu 4:45, Deu 4:46, a fuller description of the Thorah according to its leading features, "testimonies, statutes, and rights" (see at Deu 4:1), together with a notice of the place and time at which Moses delivered this address. "On their coming out of Egypt," i.e., not "after they had come out," but during the march, before they had reached the goal of their journeyings, viz., (Deu 4:46) when they were still on the other side of the Jordan. "In the valley," as in Deu 3:29. "In the land of Sihon," and therefore already upon ground which the Lord had given them for a possession. The importance of this possession as the first-fruit and pledge of the fulfilment of the further promises of God, led Moses to mention again, though briefly, the defeat of the two kings of the Amorites, together with the conquest of their land, just as he had done before in Deu 2:32-36 and 3:1-17. On Deu 4:48, cf. Deu 3:9, Deu 3:12-17. Sion, for Hermon (see at Deu 3:9).