Deuteronomy 4:44

Announcement of the Discourse upon the Law. - First of all, in Deu 4:44, we have the general notice in the form of a heading: "This is the Thorah which Moses set before the children of Israel;" and then, in Deu 4:45, Deu 4:46, a fuller description of the Thorah according to its leading features, "testimonies, statutes, and rights" (see at Deu 4:1), together with a notice of the place and time at which Moses delivered this address. "On their coming out of Egypt," i.e., not "after they had come out," but during the march, before they had reached the goal of their journeyings, viz., (Deu 4:46) when they were still on the other side of the Jordan. "In the valley," as in Deu 3:29. "In the land of Sihon," and therefore already upon ground which the Lord had given them for a possession. The importance of this possession as the first-fruit and pledge of the fulfilment of the further promises of God, led Moses to mention again, though briefly, the defeat of the two kings of the Amorites, together with the conquest of their land, just as he had done before in Deu 2:32-36 and 3:1-17. On Deu 4:48, cf. Deu 3:9, Deu 3:12-17. Sion, for Hermon (see at Deu 3:9).

In this chapter we have, I. A most earnest and pathetic exhortation to obedience, both in general, and in some particular instances, backed with a great variety of very pressing arguments, repeated again and again, and set before them in the most moving and affectionate manner imaginable (v. 1-40). II. The appointing of the cities of refuge on that side Jordan (Deu 4:41-43). III. The particular description of the place where Moses delivered the following repetition of the law (Deu 4:44, etc.).

4:44 body of instruction (Hebrew torah): The Hebrew noun is derived from the verb yarah, “to teach”; its basic meaning is instruction. The Greek Old Testament understands the term to mean “law.” In this context, the term introduces the body of instruction in the remainder of Deuteronomy (see study note on 5:1–26:19).