Deuteronômio 26
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Deuteronômio 26:1-11
26:1 "when you enter the land" This documents the fact that Israel was still on the plains of Moab on the eastern side of the Jordan when these words from YHWH to Moses were given. ▣ "the Lord your God" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. and D. ▣ "gives you as an inheritance" This is an idiom of Israel's election (cf. Exod. 6:4,8; 15:17; 23:30; 32:13; Deut. 1:6-8; 4:38,40; 5:31; 7:13; 8:1-10; 9:4-6; 11:8-12,17; 26:1,9; 32:49,52; 34:4). The land (all land) belongs to YHWH (cf. Exod. 19:5; Lev. 25:23). If Israel is not obedient to YHWH's covenant He will dispossess them (cf. Lev. 26:14-33; Deut. 4:25-28; Josh. 23:14-16), but still YHWH will have mercy (cf. Deut. 4:29-31; 30:1-3,10). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 26:2 "you shall take some of the first of all the produce" The exact amount for the offering of the first fruits is not specified (but it could fit in one basket, cf. Deut. 26:3,4). This account seems to be a one time event on the plains of Moab but it reflects a later regular harvest ritual (cf. Exod. 22:29; 23:16,19). This practice was imagery for showing God's ownership of the entire crop. The same ownership symbolism is exemplified in (1) the firstborn; (2) tithing; (3) the Sabbath; (4) the sabbath year; and (5) the Year of Jubilee. ▣ "the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name" This refers to YHWH's choice of the location of the central sanctuary, which is a distinctly Deuteronomic emphasis (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26; 14:23,24,25; 15:20; 16:2,6,7,11,15,16; 17:8,10; 18:6; 26:2; 31:11). It was originally at Gilgal, then Shechem, then Shiloh, then Mizpah, and later, after David's conquest of Jebus, Jerusalem (cf. 2 Sam. 5:6-7; 1 Chr. 11:5,7). The purpose of a central sanctuary was tribal and religious unity. It was also to keep the Israelites away from local Ba'al shrines. 26:3 "the priest who is in office at that time" At first this seems to refer to the High Priest of Aaron's line (cf. The Tyndale OT Commentary, "Deuteronomy," p. 254), but the context demands that it refers to the different families of Aaronic priests who took turns ministering at the central altar. In Deuteronomy there is no distinction between priests and Levites (cf. Deut. 18:1). ▣ "and say to him" All that follows is a liturgy to be repeated by those who obediently bring their first fruits to the tabernacle or later the central sanctuary. ▣ "the Lord my God" The MT has "your" God. This variation in PRONOUNS (so common in Hebrew MSS) had no theological meaning. It was simply a Hebrew idiom of talking to someone of religious authority. 26:4 "priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar" Many compare Deut. 26:10 and claim a contradiction. The problem is, we do not have a detailed account of the ritual. 26:5 "My father" This refers to the patriarch Jacob, later called Israel (cf. Gen. 32:28). This was a theological statement about their being YHWH's chosen people. This was a creedal affirmation. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name) ▣ NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, NET "wandering" "about to perish" "homeless" "fugitive" "was led to Aram" "abandoned Syria" This root means "perishing" (BDB 1, KB 2, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE). Sometimes this term is used of a lost or wandering animal (BDB #3, 1 Sam. 9:3; Jer. 50:6; Ezek. 34:4,16; Ps. 119:176). ▣ "Aramean" This refers to the area of Padan-Aram or Syria (BDB 74, cf. Gen. 25:20; 28:5; 31:20,24). Laban was from this area which included the city of Haran (cf. Gen. 31:40-42). Jacob lived there for many years married Armean wives then fled from Laban Number 3 is the possible source of the imagery. ▣ "sojourned" This VERB (BDB 157, KB 184, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) means to dwell as a newcomer or resident alien (cf. Gen. 47:4). ▣ "few in number" In Gen. 46:27 and Exod. 1:5 it says that they were originally only 70 persons. When they left Egypt their number was as high (cf. Deut. 1:10; 20:22; Exod. 1:9) as 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 persons. The number depends on the proper interpretation of the Hebrew term "thousand." It can mean a literal 1,000 a clan a military unit (cf. Exod. 12:37) SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 26:7 "we cried to the Lord. . .heard our voice and saw our affliction" YHWH had promised and foretold Abraham about this (cf. Gen. 15:12-21; Exod. 3:7, 9). ▣ "the Lord, the God of our fathers" This identified the God of the Patriarch's, El Shaddai (cf. Exod. 6:2-9), with YHWH, who confronted Moses (cf. Exod. 3:14). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADDAI SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS 26:8 "a mighty hand and an outstretched arm" This is an expression in anthropomorphic language for power and victory. See my full note at Deut. 4:34. It is also possible that this particular idiom was chosen because it is used so often in Egyptian literature and art for Pharaoh's power SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "with great terror and with signs and wonders" This relates to the ten plagues on Egypt (e.g. Deut. 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 11:3; 26:8; 29:2; 34:11). 26:9 "a land flowing with milk and honey" This was both a physical description and the legal designation for Palestine in the Assyrian, Ugarit, and Egyptian documents. YHWH gave them a wonderfully productive and beautiful inheritance (i.e. Canaan or Palestine, cf. Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9; 27:3; 31:20). See full note at Deut. 6:3. 26:10 "You, O Lord have given me" This shows a true religious perspective on life (cf. Deut. 26:2; 8:11-20). This verse implies that one growing season has past or that the Israelites dedicated the produce they found growing. ▣ "worship" This is literally "prostrate oneself" (BDB 1005, KB 295, Hishtapael PERFECT with waw). SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP 26:11 "you. . .shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household" Note the festival element in God's dealings with His covenant people (and others who lived with them, i.e. aliens). Worship should be joyful! Reverence cannot be defined as silence and somberness! The rabbis later used this verse to refer to rejoicing over the giving of the Law (cf. Deut. 26:14).
Deuteronômio 26:12-15
26:12 "tithe" This is an OT agricultural mandate, but not a NT principle! SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHES IN THE MOSAIC LEGISLATION ▣ "in the third year" This refers to the "poor tithe," administered locally (cf. Deut. 14:28-29) by the tither, but attested to at the central sanctuary (cf. Deut. 26:13). 26:13 "the sacred portion" The tithe belonged to the Lord and was, therefore, holy (cf. Lev. 27:30). 26:14 "while mourning" Some mourning rites were pagan in origin. This Hebrew word is associated with idolatry (BDB 19, cf. Hosea 9:4 and Jer. 16:5-7), which includes some of these local pagan customs. Many scholars believe all of the procedures mentioned in Deut. 26:14 relate to local Canaanite annual worship practices. SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES ▣ NASB, NRSV, Peshitta, JPSOA "while I was unclean" "for any unclean use" "when I was ritually unclean" "nor have I got rid of any of it while unclean" "when unclean" "I have not gathered them for an unclean purpose (or person)" "or removed any of it while ceremonially unclean" The probably refers to pagan ancestral worship practices. However, the MT links it to tithing. ▣ "nor offered any of it to the dead" Lamsa, in a footnote to The Peshitta, translated in English, has "not used to feed relatives after the funeral," but in context, it probably refers to pagan ancestral worship practices (i.e. Deut. 14:1; Ps. 106:28). ▣ "I have listened. . .I have done according to" The individual offerer is affirming his obedience and conformity (both VERBS are Qal PERFECTS) to YHWH's law revealed through Moses ("commanded," BDB 845, KB 1010, Piel PERFECT). 26:15 This describes YHWH in transcendent terms (cf. Deut. 4:36; 1 Kgs. 8:27-30; Isa. 66:1). He remained in heaven. He sent an angel to lead His people (cf. Exod. 23:20,23; 32:34; 33:2). One must balance YHWH's holy otherness (transcendence) and His present intimate love (immanence). The VERBS, "look down" (BDB 1054, KB 1645, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) and "bless" (BDB 138, KB 159, Piel IMPERATIVE), are requests. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN
Deuteronômio 26:16-19
26:16 This is a summary conclusion and commitment (i.e. ratification) to the specific laws of chapters 12-26. This covenant affirmation was to be repeated by each new generation, individually. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL ▣ "these statutes and ordinances" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION ▣ "be careful to do them" Obedience is crucial! SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP ▣ "with all your heart and with all your soul" Obedience alone was inadequate. It must flow from a desire to honor, love, and serve YHWH (cf. Deut. 4:29; 6:5; 10:12). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART 26:17 "declared" "proclaimed" NRSV, NJB "obtained" "acknowledged" "affirmed" "recognized" "chosen" "confessed" This is a rare Hebrew term (BDB 55, KB 65) in the Hiphil stem, used only here in Deut. 26:17 and in Deut. 26:18. The worshiper declared his obedience and allegiance to YHWH and YHWH declared back to the worshiper his election and call to be His unique people (i.e. covenant). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 26:18 "a treasured possession" "His special people" NRSV, JPSOA "His treasured people" TEV, NJB "his own people" "special possession" "exceptional people" "beloved people" This is also a rare Hebrew term (BDB 688, cf. Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; Ps. 135:4). Because the liturgy of this chapter does not specifically mention the Mt. Sinai/Horeb event, then some modern scholars reject the historicity of the event. However, the rare use of this term, both in Exod. 19:5 and Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 7:6; 14:2; and here) suggests that by its very usage it is an allusion to the event! SPECIAL TOPIC: HOREB 26:19 "He will set you high above all nations" This is repeated in Deut. 28:1,13, but note the tragedy of Jer. 13:11 and 7:23-26! The NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 1035, also sees this verse as Israel's obligation to reflect YHWH's praiseworthiness to the world! Therefore, this is an OT "Great Commission" verse! Israel had a "missionary" task (e.g. Jer. 3:17; 4:2; 12:14-17; 16:19; 33:9)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "a consecrated people" This is literally "holy" (BDB 872), which means "set apart for God's use." SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY ONES