Deuteronomy 29:1
These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant He had made with them at Horeb.
These are the words of the covenant
This phrase introduces a formal declaration, emphasizing the solemnity and importance of what follows. The Hebrew word for "covenant" is "בְּרִית" (berit), which signifies a binding agreement or contract. In the ancient Near Eastern context, covenants were serious commitments often sealed with rituals. Here, it underscores the divine nature of the agreement between God and His people, highlighting the continuity and renewal of God's promises.

that the LORD commanded Moses
The use of "LORD" in all caps represents the Hebrew name "YHWH," the personal and covenantal name of God, emphasizing His authority and faithfulness. The verb "commanded" (צִוָּה, tzivah) indicates a direct and authoritative instruction from God to Moses, His chosen leader. This underscores the divine origin of the covenant and Moses' role as a mediator between God and the Israelites.

to make with the Israelites
The phrase "to make" (לִכְרֹת, likrot) literally means "to cut," reflecting the ancient practice of cutting animals in two to ratify a covenant. The "Israelites" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, b'nei Yisrael) are the descendants of Jacob, chosen by God to be His people. This highlights the communal aspect of the covenant, binding the entire nation in a relationship with God.

in the land of Moab
Moab was a region east of the Jordan River, where the Israelites camped before entering the Promised Land. This geographical reference situates the covenant renewal at a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as they stand on the brink of fulfilling God's promise to Abraham. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of obedience as they prepare to enter Canaan.

in addition to the covenant He had made with them at Horeb
"Horeb" is another name for Mount Sinai, where the original covenant was given. The phrase "in addition to" (מִלְּבַד, milvad) indicates that this is a renewal and expansion of the earlier covenant, not a replacement. It reflects God's ongoing relationship with His people, adapting to their current circumstances while remaining rooted in His eternal promises. This continuity reassures the Israelites of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to them.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-making God of Israel, who establishes His laws and promises with His people.

2. Moses
The leader and prophet of Israel, who acts as the mediator of God's covenant with the Israelites.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, recipients of the covenant, who are called to obey and follow God's commandments.

4. The Land of Moab
The geographical location where this covenant is reiterated, east of the Jordan River, just before entering the Promised Land.

5. Horeb (Sinai)
The mountain where the original covenant, including the Ten Commandments, was given to Moses and the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Covenant Renewal
The renewal of the covenant in Moab signifies God's ongoing commitment to His people and their need to continually reaffirm their commitment to Him.

Obedience and Faithfulness
The Israelites are reminded of their responsibility to obey God's commandments as a response to His faithfulness and grace.

Historical Context and Continuity
Understanding the historical context of the covenant at Moab helps us see the continuity of God's plan from Sinai to the Promised Land and beyond.

God's Unchanging Nature
The consistency of God's covenants throughout Scripture reflects His unchanging nature and His desire for a relationship with His people.

Application to Modern Believers
Just as the Israelites were called to renew their covenant with God, modern believers are encouraged to regularly renew their commitment to Christ and His teachings.
Bible Study Questions
1. What is the significance of the covenant being renewed in the land of Moab, and how does this apply to our spiritual journey today?

2. How does the covenant at Moab relate to the original covenant at Horeb, and what does this teach us about God's faithfulness?

3. In what ways can we, as modern believers, renew our commitment to God and His commandments in our daily lives?

4. How does the concept of covenant renewal in Deuteronomy 29:1 connect to the new covenant established through Jesus Christ?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a renewal of faith or commitment to God. What prompted this renewal, and what impact did it have on your spiritual life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 19-20
The original covenant at Horeb (Sinai) where God gave the Ten Commandments and established His laws with Israel.

Deuteronomy 5
A reiteration of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing the continuity and renewal of the covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
The promise of a new covenant, highlighting the progression and fulfillment of God's covenantal relationship with His people.

Hebrews 8
Discusses the superiority of the new covenant through Christ, connecting the Old Testament covenants to their fulfillment in the New Testament.
Time-Defying HabilimentsR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 29:1-9
The Renewal of God's Covenant with IsraelD. Davies Deuteronomy 29:1-13
People
Gadites, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Manasseh, Manassites, Moses, Og, Pharaoh, Reubenites, Sihon
Places
Admah, Bashan, Egypt, Gomorrah, Heshbon, Horeb, Moab, Sodom, Zeboiim
Topics
Addition, Agreement, Apart, Beside, Besides, Commanded, Covenant, Horeb, Israelites, Moab, Ordered, Sons
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 29:1

     1349   covenant, at Sinai

Library
Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

God Willing that all Men Should be Saved.
"Who will have all Men to be saved,--." In verse first, the apostle directs "prayers and thanksgivings to be made for all men;"--which he declares to "be good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved." Had salvation been provided for only a part of the human race, prayer and thanksgivings could have been, consistently made only for a part. Those for whom no provision was made, would be in like state with persons who have committed the sin unto death, for
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Parable of the Householder. A Sermon, by Bishop Latimer.
MATTHEW XX.--The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. This parable is written by the evangelist Matthew in the twentieth chapter, and is very dark and hard to be understood; yea, there is no harder piece of scripture written by any evangelist. Therefore it may well be called hard meat; not meat for mowers nor ignorant people, who are not exercised in the word of God. And yet there is no other diversity
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Promises and Threatenings
'And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do. 2. That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put My name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Unity of the Divine Essence, and the Trinity of Persons.
Deut. vi. 4.--"Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord."--1 John v. 7. "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one." "Great is the mystery of godliness," 1 Tim. iii. 16. Religion and true godliness is a bundle of excellent mysteries--of things hid from the world, yea, from the wise men of the world, (1 Cor. ii. 6.) and not only so, but secrets in their own nature, the distinct knowledge whereof is not given to saints in this estate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect. For all his Ways are Judgment. A God of Truth, and Without Iniquity, Just and Right is He.
Deut. xxxii. 4, 5.--"He is the rock, his work is perfect. For all his ways are judgment. A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children. They are a perverse and crooked generation." "All his ways are judgment," both the ways of his commandments and the ways of his providence, both his word which he hath given as a lantern to men's paths, and his works among men. And this were the blessedness of men, to be found
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Forasmuch as Each Man is a Part of the Human Race...
1. Forasmuch as each man is a part of the human race, and human nature is something social, and hath for a great and natural good, the power also of friendship; on this account God willed to create all men out of one, in order that they might be held in their society not only by likeness of kind, but also by bond of kindred. Therefore the first natural bond of human society is man and wife. Nor did God create these each by himself, and join them together as alien by birth: but He created the one
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Conflict.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Manner of Covenanting.
Previous to an examination of the manner of engaging in the exercise of Covenanting, the consideration of God's procedure towards his people while performing the service seems to claim regard. Of the manner in which the great Supreme as God acts, as well as of Himself, our knowledge is limited. Yet though even of the effects on creatures of His doings we know little, we have reason to rejoice that, in His word He has informed us, and in His providence illustrated by that word, he has given us to
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

"Now the End of the Commandment," &C.
1 Tim. i. 5.--"Now the end of the commandment," &c. We come now, as was proposed, to observe, Thirdly,(474) That faith unfeigned is the only thing which gives the answer of a good conscience towards God. Conscience, in general, is nothing else but a practical knowledge of the rule a man should walk by, and of himself in reference to that rule. It is the laying down a man's state, and condition, and actions beside the rule of God's word, or the principles of nature's light. It is the chief piece
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Holy Spirit as a Teacher.
Our Lord Jesus in His last conversation with His disciples before His crucifixion said, "But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John xiv. 26). Here we have a twofold work of the Holy Spirit, teaching and bringing to remembrance the things which Christ had already taught. We will take them in the reverse order. I. The Holy Spirit brings to remembrance
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

"But Whereunto Shall I Liken this Generation?"
Matth. xi. 16.--"But whereunto shall I liken this generation?" When our Lord Jesus, who had the tongue of the learned, and spoke as never man spake, did now and then find a difficulty to express the matter herein contained. "What shall we do?" The matter indeed is of great importance, a soul matter, and therefore of great moment, a mystery, and therefore not easily expressed. No doubt he knows how to paint out this to the life, that we might rather behold it with our eyes, than hear it with our
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Discourse on Spiritual Food and True Discipleship. Peter's Confession.
(at the Synagogue in Capernaum.) ^D John VI. 22-71. ^d 22 On the morrow [the morrow after Jesus fed the five thousand] the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea [on the east side, opposite Capernaum] saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone 23 (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after that the Lord had given thanks): 24 when the multitude
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are
Rom. viii. s 7, 8.--"The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is not the least of man's evils, that he knows not how evil he is, therefore the Searcher of the heart of man gives the most perfect account of it, Jer. xvii. 12. "The heart is deceitful above all things," as well as "desperately wicked," two things superlative and excessive in it, bordering upon an infiniteness, such
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." All men love to have privileges above others. Every one is upon the design and search after some well-being, since Adam lost that which was true happiness. We all agree upon the general notion of it, but presently men divide in the following of particulars. Here all men are united in seeking after some good; something to satisfy their souls, and satiate their desires. Nay, but they
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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