John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab , etc.] On that side of Jordan in which the land of Moab was, and which with respect to the land of Canaan was beyond Jordan; this the Vulgate Latin version joins to the preceding verse: began Moses to declare this law : to explain it, make it clear and manifest; namely, the whole system and body of laws, which had been before given him, which he “willed” f10 , as some render the word, or willingly took upon him to repeat and explain unto them, which their fathers had heard, and had been delivered unto them; but before he entered upon this, he gave them a short history of events which had befallen them, from the time of their departure from Horeb unto the present time, which is contained in this and the two next chapters: saying ; as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Moses spake to the people all the Lord had given him in commandment Horeb was but eleven days distant from Kadesh-barnea. This was to remind them that their own bad conduct had occasioned their tediou wanderings; that they might the more readily understand the advantage of obedience. They must now go forward. Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, he knows when they have been tried lon enough. When God commands us to go forward in our Christian course, he sets the heavenly Canaan before us for our encouragement.
Original Hebrew בעבר5676 הירדן3383 בארץ776 מואב4124 הואיל2974 משׁה4872 באר874 את853 התורה8451 הזאת2063 לאמר׃559
