Deuteronomy 8 Study Notes

8:1-2 The forty-year journey . . . in the wilderness was partly a punishment of Israel for her unwillingness to occupy the land at first (Nm 14:26-35), but it also was a time for the Lord to humble and test his people to determine the quality of their character and their commitment to obedience. They had tested the Lord and found him trustworthy (6:16; cp. Ex 17:5-7), but the older generation failed the test and thus were unable to enter the land of promise (Ex 20:20; Dt 1:34-40).

8:3 Manna (cp. Ex 16:31) was a bread-like substance that the Lord miraculously provided his people as a sign of his loving care and, more importantly, of the fact that Israel must recognize its dependence on him. When Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread, he cited this text to remind the enemy that physical bread lasts for a little while and has limited value (Mt 4:4). On another occasion he described himself as the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35).

8:4 God’s grace was apparent among Israel even in the midst of judgment.

8:5-6 Israel as God’s covenant son (cp. Ex 4:22-23) must, like all children, submit to his paternal leadership and care. In biblical imagery, walking is a metaphor for pursuing a course of life, while fearing suggests a sense of reverence, appreciating the holy and solemn awesomeness of God.

8:7-10 Christopher Wright argues that these verses, which should begin with “when,” consist of subordinate clauses. The main verb is in v. 11: “be careful.” It is similar to 6:10-12.

8:11 Forgetting the Lord is not simply failing to recall that God exists, but acting as though he does not. It does no good to call him Lord and refuse to do what he says (Lk 6:46).

8:12-17 Self-sufficiency has a tendency to turn into pride and forgetfulness in the environment of our sinful natures.

8:18 No matter how clever, intelligent, or hard-working a person might be, success flows only from the gracious hand of the Lord (Jms 4:13-16). Israel’s prosperity must be interpreted as the fulfillment of ancient promises made to the patriarchal ancestors as part of the covenant blessing the Lord would lavish upon them (Gn 15:14; 17:6; Dt 28:1-6). By blessing them in this manner the Lord would confirm his covenant to Israel.

8:19-20 The threat that Israel would perish cannot mean utter annihilation because the promise God made to the ancestors was that they would endure forever (Gn 17:7; Ps 105:9-10; Jr 33:25-26; Rm 11:25-32). In light of future events, the perishing of Israel was her exile from the land and the cessation of her self-governance, which interrupted the dynasty of David. Even that was not complete because a remnant remained in the land (Jos 15:63; 16:10; Jdg 2:20-23).