Deuteronomy 32:46

32:44-47 Here is the solemn delivery of this song to Israel, with a charge to mind all the good words Moses had said unto them. It is not a trifle, but a matter of life and death: mind it, and you are made for ever; neglect it, and you are for ever undone. Oh that men were fully persuaded that religion is their life, even the life of their souls!

And he said unto them,.... By way of exhortation: set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day; it was not enough to hear them, but they were to lay them up in their hearts, and retain them in their memories; and not only so, but reflect on them in their minds, and closely apply to the consideration of them, and get the true knowledge and sense of them, and put it in practice: which ye shall command your children to observe, to do all the words of this law; which shows that the exhortation does not respect the song only, but the whole law delivered in this book; which they were not only to attend to themselves, but to transmit to their children, and enjoin them the observance of, that so religion might be perpetuated in their posterity.

Deuteronomy 32:46-47 . Set your hearts unto all the words, &c. — Having concluded his prophetic song or hymn, he addressed himself afresh to them in a pathetical exhortation, to weigh and remember well the contents of it, and seriously to improve it, in a hearty and careful observance of the laws he had given them, and by training up their children in the same obedience. It is not a vain thing — It is not an unprofitable or contemptible work I advise you to do, but well worthy of your most serious care. It is your life — Temporal, spiritual, and eternal; the way to, and means of, happiness here and hereafter.

(46) Set your hearts unto all the words. —Rashi compares Ezekiel 40:4 : “Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shew thee.” Which ye shall command.—Rather, that ye may command your children to observe to do all the words of this law. Obviously the knowledge of the law would depend very much on personal instruction for some time to come.

44-47. Moses … spake all the words of this song in the ears, &c.—It has been beautifully styled "the Song of the Dying Swan" [Lowth]. It was designed to be a national anthem, which it should be the duty and care of magistrates to make well known by frequent repetition, to animate the people to right sentiments towards a steadfast adherence to His service.

46 . Set your heart ] So Exodus 9:21 , and with another vb Deuteronomy 7:23 . On heart = mind see Deuteronomy 6:6 , Deuteronomy 11:18 , Deuteronomy 29:4 . I testify against you ] See on Deuteronomy 8:19 . that ye may command them to your children ] So Heb. and not as in R.V. The idiom is also found in Deuteronomy 4:10 . On D’s care for the young see Deuteronomy 6:7 . to observe to do ] For this formula see on Deuteronomy 4:6 .

In Deuteronomy 32:44-47 it is stated that Moses, with Joshua, spake the song to the people; and on finishing this rehearsal, once more impressed upon the hearts of the people the importance of observing all the commandments of God. This account proceeds from the author of the supplement to the Thorah of Moses, who inserted the song in the book of the law. This explains the name Hoshea, instead of Jehoshuah (Joshua), which Moses had given to his servant ( Numbers 13:8 , Numbers 13:16 ), and invariably uses (compare Deuteronomy 31:3 , Deuteronomy 31:7 , Deuteronomy 31:14 , Deuteronomy 31:23 , with Deuteronomy 1:38 ; Deuteronomy 3:21 , Deuteronomy 3:28 , and the exposition of Numbers 13:16 ). - On Deuteronomy 32:46 , vid., Deuteronomy 6:7 and Deuteronomy 11:19 ; and on Deuteronomy 32:47 , vid., Deuteronomy 30:20 .