Deuteronomy 10:22
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 10:22
22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 10 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of truth, judgment, fellowship. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-22: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 10:22
22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Analysis
Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons—the exact number recorded in Genesis 46:27 and Exodus 1:5. The Hebrew shiv'im nefesh (שִׁבְעִים נֶפֶשׁ) literally means 'seventy souls,' emphasizing the smallness of Jacob's household. Now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude—fulfilling God's covenant promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5). The census in Numbers 1:46 recorded 603,550 fighting men, suggesting a total population over two million.
This verse climaxes Moses's rehearsal of God's faithfulness (10:12-22). From seventy to millions in four centuries demonstrates God's power to multiply what He blesses. The astronomical metaphor recalls both Abraham's promise and the impossibility of the fulfillment apart from divine intervention. Israel's existence itself was proof of covenant fidelity.
Historical Context
Moses delivered this sermon circa 1406 BC on the plains of Moab, forty years after the Exodus. The original seventy who went to Egypt (circa 1876 BC) included Jacob's sons and their families during the severe famine. The multiplication occurred during 430 years in Egypt (Exodus 12:40), initially prosperous under Joseph's influence, then oppressive under pharaohs who 'knew not Joseph.'
Reflection
- How does God's multiplication of Israel from 70 to millions encourage you to trust Him with small beginnings?
- What 'impossible' promises has God made that require His power, not human effort, to fulfill?
- How should remembering God's past faithfulness shape your response to current challenges?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- References God: Deuteronomy 1:10, 28:62
- References Egypt: Genesis 46:27, Exodus 1:5
- Parallel theme: Genesis 15:5, Numbers 26:51, Nehemiah 9:23, Acts 7:14