Deuteronomy 10 Commentary

After God answered Moses’ intercessory prayer by agreeing to spare the lives of the Israelites, God disciplines the people and replaces the broken tablets, this time placing them in an ark.

A narrator now breaks in and provides some historical details regarding the responsibilities of the Levites to carry the ark, serve before the Lord, and to bless in His name.

Moses reminds the Israelites that the LORD listened to his intercessory prayer and relented from destroying them. The LORD then asked Moses to continue to lead the people to go in and possess the land He swore to their fathers to give them.

After recounting the story of the molten calf incident, Moses reminds the Israelites of God’s love for them, and strongly commands the Israelites not to repeat the sins of the past, but to walk in complete obedience to their Suzerain God, Yahweh, because it is for their good.

Moses asks Israel to set apart their heart before God and not rebel. They are to love and execute justice without partiality, including to aliens dwelling among them, for they were alien enough in Egypt. This reflects how God judges. It shows His love for all peoples. Israel should glory in God’s love and care for them.