SEV Biblia, Chapter 31:19
Por tanto, escribíos este cántico, y enséñalo a los hijos de Israel; ponlo en boca de ellos, para que este cántico me sea por testigo contra los hijos de Israel.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 31:19
Verse 19. Write ye this song] The song which follows in the next chapter. Things which were of great importance and of common concern were, among the ancients, put into verse, as this was found the best method of keeping them in remembrance, especially in those times when writing was little practiced. Even prose was sometimes sung. The history of Herodotus was divided into NINE books, and each inscribed with the name of one of the NINE Muses, because these books were anciently sung. Homer is reported to have sung his poems through different Greek cities.
Aristotle observes that anciently the people sung their laws. And Cicero observes that it was a custom among the ancient Romans to sing the praises of their heroes at the public festivals. This was the case among the northern inhabitants of Europe, particularly in Ireland and Scotland; hence the Gaelic poetry of Ossian and others. See Dodd; and See the note on "Exod. xv. 1", where the subject is largely treated.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. Now, therefore, write ye this song for you , etc.] Which was now dictated by the Lord, and given to Moses and Joshua to write, which is recorded in ( Deuteronomy 32:1-43): and teach it the children of Israel ; teach them by it, instructing them in the meaning of it: thus it was usual in ancient times to write things in verses, that they might be the more pleasingly attended to and regarded, and be longer retained in memory; and especially this practice was used with children, and still is: put it in their mouths ; oblige them to get it by heart, or lay it up in their memories, and repeat it frequently, that it may be familiar to them, and not be forgotten by them: that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel ; when in times to come they shall call to mind how in this song they were cautioned against such and such sins, and what they were threatened with should befall them on account of them, and how all things have come to pass exactly as foretold in it; which would be a testimony for God of his goodness to them, of his tender care of them, and concern for them, in the previous cautions he gave them; and of his foreknowledge of future events; and a testimony against them for their ingratitude and other sins.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-22 - Moses and Joshua attended the Divine Majesty at the door of the tabernacle. Moses is told again that he must shortly die; even thos who are most ready and willing to die, need to be often reminded of it coming. The Lord tells Moses, that, after his death, the covenant he had taken so much pains to make between Israel and their God, woul certainly be broken. Israel would forsake Him; then God would forsak Israel. Justly does he cast those off who so unjustly cast him off Moses is directed to deliver them a song, which should remain standing testimony for God, as faithful to them in giving them warning and against them, as persons false to themselves in not taking the warning. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of men's hearts, and meets them by reproofs and correction. Ministers wh preach the word, know not the imaginations of men; but God, whose wor it is, knows perfectly.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 כתבו 3789 לכם את 853 השׁירה 7892 הזאת 2063 ולמדה 3925 את 853 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 שׂימה 7760 בפיהם 6310 למען 4616 תהיה 1961 לי השׁירה 7892 הזאת 2063 לעד 5707 בבני 1121 ישׂראל׃ 3478
