John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Hear, O Israel , etc.] A pause being made after the delivery of the preceding discourse; or perhaps what follows might be delivered at another time, at some little distance; and which being of moment and importance to the glory of God, and that Israel might have a true notion of their duty, they are called upon to listen with attention to what was now about to be said: thou art to pass over Jordan this day ; not precisely that very day, but in a short time after this; for it was on the first day of the eleventh month that Moses began the repetition of the laws he was now going on with, ( Deuteronomy 1:3), and it was not until the tenth day of the first month of the next year that the people passed over Jordan, ( Joshua 4:19) which was about two months after this: to go in and possess nations greater and mightier than thyself ; the seven nations named ( Deuteronomy 7:1) where the same characters are given of them: cities great and fenced up to heaven ; as they were said to be by the spies, ( Deuteronomy 1:28), and were no doubt both large and strongly fortified, and not to be easily taken by the Israelites, had not the Lord been with them, ( Deuteronomy 9:3).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Moses represents the strength of the enemies they were now to encounter. This was to drive them to God, and engage their hope in him He assures them of victory, by the presence of God with them. He cautions them not to have the least thought of their own righteousness as if that procured this favour at God's hand. In Christ we have bot righteousness and strength; in Him we must glory, not in ourselves, no in any sufficiency of our own. It is for the wickedness of thes nations that God drives them out. All whom God rejects, are rejecte for their own wickedness; but none whom he accepts are accepted for their own righteousness. Thus boasting is for ever done away: see Ep 2:9, 11, 12.
Original Hebrew שׁמע8085 ישׂראל3478 אתה859 עבר5674 היום3117 את853 הירדן3383 לבא935 לרשׁת3423 גוים1471 גדלים1419 ועצמים6099 ממך4480 ערים5892 גדלת1419 ובצרת1219 בשׁמים׃8064
