John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. A land wherein thou shall eat bread without scarceness , etc.] That is, should have plenty of all sorts of provisions, which bread is often put for: thou shall not lack anything in it ; for necessity and convenience, and for delight and pleasure: a land whose stones are iron ; in which were iron mines: and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass ; both which are taken out of the earth and the stones of it, ( Job 28:2) and were to be found in the land of Canaan, and particularly in the tribe of Asher, as seems from ( Deuteronomy 33:25) and more particularly at Sidon and Sarepta, which were in that tribe; the latter of which seems to have its name from the melting of metals there, and the former is said in Homer to abound with brass.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Obedience must be, 1. Careful, observe to do; 2. Universal, to do all the commandments; and 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God a the Lord, and their God, and with a holy fear of him. To engage them to this obedience. Moses directs them to look back. It is good to remembe all the ways, both of God's providence and grace, by which he has le us through this wilderness, that we may cheerfully serve him and trus in him. They must remember the straits they were sometimes brough into, for mortifying their pride, and manifesting their perverseness to prove them, that they and others might know all that was in their heart, and that all might see that God chose them, not for any thing in them which might recommend them to his favour. They must remember the miraculous supplies of food and raiment granted them. Let none of God' children distrust their Father, nor take any sinful course for the supply of their necessities. Some way or other, God will provide for them in the way of duty and honest diligence, and verily they shall be fed. It may be applied spiritually; the word of God is the food of the soul. Christ is the word of God; by him we live. They must als remember the rebukes they had been under, and not without need. Thi use we should make of all our afflictions; by them let us be quickene to our duty. Moses also directs them to look forward to Canaan. Loo which way we will, both to look back and to look forward, to Canaan Look which way we will, both to look back and to look forward wil furnish us with arguments for obedience. Moses saw in that land a typ of the better country. The gospel church is the New Testament Canaan watered with the Spirit in his gifts and graces, planted with trees of righteousness, bearing fruits of righteousness. Heaven is the goo land, in which nothing is wanting, and where is fulness of joy.
Original Hebrew ארץ776 אשׁר834 לא3808 במסכנת4544 תאכל398 בה לחם3899 לא3808 תחסר2637 כל3605 בה ארץ776 אשׁר834 אבניה68 ברזל1270 ומהרריה2042 תחצב2672 נחשׁת׃5178
