Deuteronomy 32:51

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:51-52. Because ye trespassed — God reminds him of the sin he had committed long before, and this Moses records as an acknowledgment, made at his death, of God’s justice, and a warning to all people not to distrust or disobey the voice of God. It is good for the holiest of men to die repenting even of their early sins. Yet thou shalt see the land — And see it as the earnest of that better country, which is only seen with the eye of faith. What is death to him who has a believing prospect and a steadfast hope of eternal life?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

32:48-52 Now Moses had done his work, why should he desire to live a day longer? God reminds him of the sin of which he had been guilty, for which he was kept from entering Canaan. It is good for the best of men to die repenting the infirmities of which they are conscious. But those may die with comfort and ease, whenever God calls for them, notwithstanding the sins they remember against themselves, who have a believing prospect, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life beyond death.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These verses were, no doubt, added by the author of the supplement to Deuteronomy. For the statements contained in them, consult the marginal references.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

48-51. Get thee up … and die … Because ye trespassed … at Meribah—(See on [169]Nu 20:13).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel,.... By their unbelief, doubting whether God would give water or no to such a rebellious people, and by giving way to passion and wrathful expressions: and this was done

at the waters of Meribahkadesh; so called, to distinguish it from another Meribah, where also there was a contention on account of water, Numbers 20:13,

in the wilderness of Zin; where Kadesh was, and further describes and distinguishes this place; of the one we read in Exodus 17:7; and of the other, which is here referred to, in Numbers 20:1,

because ye sanctified me not in, the midst of the children of Israel; through their unbelief and disagreeable behaviour, they sanctified him not themselves, and gave no honour to him, nor were the cause of his being sanctified by the Israelites; and this was the reason why Moses and Aaron might not enter into the land of Canaan, Numbers 20:12.

Geneva Study Bible

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye {y} sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

(y) You were not earnest and constant to maintain my honour.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

51. because ye brake faith with me] So Driver. The phrase is chiefly found in P, Ez. and Chron. The judgement on Moses is explained not as in Deut. by the sin of the people, but by that of Aaron and Moses himself. See above, Further Note to Ch. Deuteronomy 1:36-38.

in the midst] Heb. betok, P’s synonym for the bekě́rĕb of Deut.

the waters of Meribah of Kadesh] As elsewhere in P, Numbers 27:14; cp. Numbers 20:13; Numbers 20:24, Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28, Deuteronomy 33:2, Psalm 81:7 (8), Psalm 106:32.

wilderness of Zin] Heb. Ṣin, only in P, Numbers 13:21, etc. See above, introd. to ch. Deuteronomy 2:1-8.

sanctified me] Cp. P, Numbers 20:12; Numbers 27:14. Notice the play upon the name Ḳadesh.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 51. - (Cf. Numbers 20:13, 24.) Because ye sanctified me not (cf. Numbers 27:14; 1 Peter 3:15). Deuteronomy 32:51

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"That self-same day," viz., the day upon which Moses had rehearsed the song to the children of Israel, the Lord renewed the announcement of his death, by repeating the command already given to him (Numbers 27:12-14) to ascend Mount Nebo, there to survey the land of Canaan, and then to be gathered unto his people. In form, this repetition differs from the previous announcement, partly in the fact that the situation of Mount Nebo is more fully described (in the land of Moab, etc., as in Deuteronomy 1:5; Deuteronomy 29:1), and partly in the continual use of the imperative, and a few other trifling points. These differences may all be explained from the fact that the account here was not written by Moses himself.