Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:26-38
After many terrible threatenings of deserved wrath and vengeance, we have here surprising intimations of mercy, undeserved mercy, which rejoices against judgment, and by which it appears that God has no pleasure in the death of sinners, but would rather they should turn and live.
I. In jealousy for his own honour, he will not make a full end of them, Deu 32:26-28. 1. It cannot be denied but that they deserved to be utterly ruined, and that their remembrance should be made to cease from among men, so that the name of an Israelite should never be known but in history; for they were a nation void of counsel (v, 28), the most sottish inconsiderate people that ever were, that would not believe th…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:32
vine of Sodom . . . grapes of gall--This fruit, which the Arabs call "Lot's Sea Orange," is of a bright yellow color and grows in clusters of three or four. When mellow, it is tempting in appearance, but on being struck, explodes like a puffball, consisting of skin and fiber only.
John Gill on Deuteronomy 32:33
Their wine is the poison of dragons,.... Of these creatures, both land and sea dragons; see Gill on Micah 1:8; See Gill on Malachi 1:3; Pliny says (l) the dragon has no poison in it; yet, as Dalechamp, in his notes on that writer observes, he in many places prescribes remedies against the bite of the dragon; but Heliodorus (m) expressly speaks of some archers, whose arrows were infected with the poison of dragons; and Leo Africanus (n) says, the Atlantic dragons are exceeding poisonous: and yet other writers (o) besides Pliny have asserted that they are free from poison. It seems the dragons of Greece are without, but not those of Africa and Arabia; and to these Moses has respect, as being w…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Calvin on Deuteronomy 32:1-43
Deuteronomy 32:1-52
1. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
1. Auseultate coeli, et loquar, et audiat terra eloquia oris mei.
2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
2. Stillabit, ut pluvia, doctrina mea: stillabit ut ros eloquium meum, ut pluviae gramen, et ut irabet super herbam.
3. Because I will publish the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
3. Quia nomen Jehovae invocabo: date magnitudinem Deo nostro.
4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity…