SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:34
¿O ha Dios probado a venir a tomar para sí nación de en medio de otra nación, con pruebas, con señales, con milagros, y con guerra, y mano fuerte, y brazo extendido, y grandes espantos, según todas las cosas que hizo con vosotros el SEÑOR vuestro Dios en Egipto ante tus ojos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 4:34
Verse 34. From the midst of another nation] This was a most extraordinary thing, that a whole people, consisting of upwards of 600, 000 effective men, besides women and children, should, without striking a blow, be brought out of the midst of a very powerful nation, to the political welfare of which their services were so essential; that they should be brought out in so open and public a manner; that the sea itself should be supernaturally divided to afford this mighty host a passage; and that, in a desert utterly unfriendly to human life, they should be sustained for forty years. These were such instances of the almighty power and goodness of God as never could be forgotten. In this verse Moses enumerates seven different means used by the Almighty in effecting Israel's deliverance.
1. TEMPTATIONS, tsm massoth, from hn nasah, to try or prove; the miracles which God wrought to try the faith and prove the obedience of the children of Israel.
2. SIGNS, tta othoth, from hta athah, to come near; such signs as God gave them of his continual presence and especial providence, particularly the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, keeping near to them night and day, and always directing their journeys, showing them when and where to pitch their tents, &c., &c.
3. WONDERS, µytpwm mophethim, from tpy yaphath, to persuade; persuasive facts and events, says Parkhurst, whether strictly miraculous, and exceeding the powers of nature, as Exod. vii. 9; xi. 9, 10; or not, as Isa. xx. 3; Ezek. xii. 6, 11. It probably means typical representations: in this signification the word is used, Zech. iii. 8. Joshua, the high priest, and his companions were tpwm yna anshey mopheth, typical men, raised up by God as types of Christ, and proofs that God would bring his servant THE BRANCH. All the dealings of God with this people, and even the people themselves, were types- present significators of distant facts and future occurrences.
4. WAR, hmjlm milchamah, hostile engagements; such as those with the Amalekites, the Amorites, and the Bashanites, in which the hand of God was seen rather than the hand of man.
5. A MIGHTY HAND, hqzj dy yad chazakah; one that is strong to deal its blows, irresistible in its operations, and grasps its enemies hard, so that they cannot escape, and protects its friends so powerfully that they cannot be injured. Neither stratagem nor policy was used in this business, but the openly displayed power of God.
6. A STRETCHED-OUT ARM, hywfn [wrz zeroa netuyah; a series of almighty operations, following each other in quick astonishing succession.
Let it be noted that in the Scriptures, 1. The finger of God denotes any manifestation of the Divine power, where effects are produced beyond the power of art or nature. 2. The hand of God signifies the same power, but put forth in a more signal manner. 3. The arm of God, the Divine omnipotence manifested in the most stupendous miracles. 4. The arm of God stretched out, this same omnipotence exerted in a continuation of stupendous miracles, both in the way of judgment and mercy. In this latter sense it appears to be taken in the text: the judgments were poured out on the Egyptians; the mercies wrought in favour of the Israelites.
7. GREAT TERRORS, µyldg µyarwm moraim gedolim; such terror, dismay, and consternation as were produced by the ten plagues, to which probably the inspired penman here alludes: or, as the Septuagint has it, en oramasin megaloiv, with great or portentous sights; such as that when God looked out of the cloud upon the Egyptians, and their chariot wheels were taken off, Exod. xiv. 24, 25. More awful displays of God's judgments, power, and might, were never witnessed by man.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 34. Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation , etc.] As he now had done, namely, the nation of Israel out of the nation of the Egyptians; this he not only had assayed to do, but had actually done it; whereas no such instance like it could be produced, and especially as done in the manner this was: by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war ; the word “temptations” may be considered as a general word, as Aben Ezra thinks, and may signify the temptations by signs, etc. or the various essays and trials, ways, means, and methods taken by the Lord to bring about the event; by “signs” may be meant those which were required of Moses, and done by him before the people of Israel, and before Pharaoh, as proofs of his mission from the Lord, ( Exodus 4:1-9,30 7:9) and by “wonders”, the ten plagues of Egypt, which were done by a supernatural and miraculous operation, and were amazing things; (see Psalm 78:11-13); and by “war”, either the slaying of the firstborn, with the destruction of the judges and gods of Egypt, as Aben Ezra; or the Lord’s fighting for Israel at the Red sea, as Jarchi; he saved them and destroyed the Egyptians, and showed himself to be a man of war, ( Exodus 14:14,25 15:3) and by a mighty hand and stretched out arm ; phrases frequently used when this affair is spoken of, and are expressive of the mighty power of God in the above instances, and in the issue of them, bringing Israel out of Egypt; though Aben Ezra interprets it of the pillar of fire and cloud in which the Lord went before them: and by great terrors ; which the same writer interprets of the drowning of Pharaoh and his host in the sea, and dividing it for Israel; but may be understood not only of the terrors which possessed him and his people then, but at other times, especially at the time of the thunder and lightning, and when they sat in thick darkness, and particularly when all their firstborn were slain; (see Deuteronomy 26:8), according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes ; among the men of Egypt, as the above writer, Pharaoh and his courtiers: the above things were done as before them for their terror, so before Israel for their encouragement.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-40 - Moses urged the greatness, glory, and goodness of God. Did we conside what a God he is with whom we have to do, we should surely make conscience of our duty to him, and not dare to sin against him. Shal we forsake a merciful God, who will never forsake us, if we ar faithful unto him? Whither can we go? Let us be held to our duty by the bonds of love, and prevailed with by the mercies of God to cleave to him. Moses urged God's authority over them, and their obligations to him. In keeping God's commandments they would act wisely for themselves. The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. Those who enjoy the benefit of Divine light and laws, ought to support their character for wisdom and honour, that God may be glorified thereby. Those who cal upon God, shall certainly find him within call, ready to give an answe of peace to every prayer of faith. All these statutes and judgments of the Divine law are just and righteous, above the statutes and judgment of any of the nations. What they saw at mount Sinai, gave an earnest of the day of judgment, in which the Lord Jesus shall be revealed i flaming fire. They must also remember what they heard at mount Sinai God manifests himself in the works of the creation, without speech of language, yet their voice is heard, Ps 19:1, 3; but to Israel he mad himself known by speech and language, condescending to their weakness The rise of this nation was quite different from the origin of all other nations. See the reasons of free grace; we are not beloved for our own sakes, but for Christ's sake. Moses urged the certain benefi and advantage of obedience. This argument he had begun with, ver. #(1) That ye may live, and go in and possess the land; and this he conclude with, ver. #(40), That it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee. He reminds them that their prosperity would depend upo their piety. Apostacy from God would undoubtedly be the ruin of their nation. He foresees their revolt from God to idols. Those, and thos only, shall find God to their comfort, who seek him with all their heart. Afflictions engage and quicken us to seek God; and, by the grac of God working with them, many are thus brought back to their righ mind. When these things are come upon thee, turn to the Lord thy God for thou seest what comes of turning from him. Let all the arguments be laid together, and then say, if religion has not reason on its side None cast off the government of their God, but those who first abando the understanding of a man.
Original Hebrew
או 176 הנסה 5254 אלהים 430 לבוא 935 לקחת 3947 לו גוי 1471 מקרב 7130 גוי 1471 במסת 4531 באתת 226 ובמופתים 4159 ובמלחמה 4421 וביד 3027 חזקה 2389 ובזרוע 2220 נטויה 5186 ובמוראים 4172 גדלים 1419 ככל 3605 אשׁר 834 עשׂה 6213 לכם יהוה 3068 אלהיכם 430 במצרים 4714 לעיניך׃ 5869
