Deuteronomy 31:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 31:5
5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 31 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of wisdom, sacrifice, 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 21-30: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. 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 31:5
5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.
Analysis
And the LORD shall give them up before your face (וּנְתָנָם יְהוָה לִפְנֵיכֶם unetanam YHWH lifneikhem)—natan (give, deliver) emphasizes divine agency in victory. God delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand; they don't conquer through superior military might. That ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you—Israel's military action must conform to Torah stipulations regarding warfare (Deuteronomy 7:1-5, 20:10-18).
This verse balances divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God gives the victory (sovereignty), but Israel must act in obedience (responsibility). They cannot claim God fights for them while disobeying His commands. The Canaanite conquest was holy war with strict ethical boundaries: spare fruit trees (20:19-20), offer terms of peace to distant cities (20:10-15), execute herem (devotion to destruction) only on Canaanite nations within the land (20:16-18). This wasn't license for brutality but disciplined execution of divine judgment.
Historical Context
The conquest occurred 1406-1399 BC (traditional dating) under Joshua's leadership. Israel's initial victories (Jericho, Ai, the southern and northern campaigns) were dramatic, but complete conquest took generations (Judges 1-2). Israel's failure to fully obey the "commandments" regarding Canaanite elimination led to persistent idolatry and the judge cycles. The command to destroy Canaanite religion was protective, not xenophobic—syncretism proved Israel's downfall exactly as Moses warned.
Reflection
- How do you balance trusting God's sovereignty with fulfilling your responsibility to obey His commands?
- What areas of 'incomplete conquest' in your spiritual life allow sin to remain and cause ongoing problems?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Deuteronomy 7:2