John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baalpeor , etc.] Because of the idolatry the people of Israel fell into by worshipping that idol, being drawn into it by the daughters of Moab and Midian, through the counsel of Balaam, with whom they committed fornication; which led them to the other sin, and both highly provoking to God. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are, “what the Word of the Lord has done to the worshippers of the idol Peor;” for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you ; 24,000 persons died on that account; which being a recent thing, fresh in memory, and what they were eyewitnesses of, was a caution to them to avoid the same sins, as it is to us on whom the ends of the world are come, ( Numbers 23:9 1 Corinthians 10:6-8,11).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-23 - The power and love of God to Israel are here made the ground and reaso of a number of cautions and serious warnings; and although there is much reference to their national covenant, yet all may be applied to those who live under the gospel. What are laws made for but to be observed and obeyed? Our obedience as individuals cannot meri salvation; but it is the only evidence that we are partakers of the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ, Considerin how many temptations we are compassed with, and what corrupt desires we have in our bosoms, we have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. Those cannot walk aright, who walk carelessly. Moses charge particularly to take heed of the sin of idolatry. He shows how weak the temptation would be to those who thought aright; for these pretende gods, the sun, moon, and stars, were only blessings which the Lor their God had imparted to all nations. It is absurd to worship them shall we serve those that were made to serve us? Take heed lest y forget the covenant of the Lord your God. We must take heed lest at an time we forget our religion. Care, caution, and watchfulness, are help against a bad memory.
Original Hebrew עיניכם5869 הראות7200 את853 אשׁר834 עשׂה6213 יהוה3069 בבעל פעור1187 כי3588 כל3605 האישׁ376 אשׁר834 הלך1980 אחרי310 בעל פעור1187 השׁמידו8045 יהוה3069 אלהיך430 מקרבך׃7130
