Deuteronomy Chapter 32 — The Song of Moses
Moses recites a song praising God's faithfulness and detailing Israel's history of rebellion before God commands him to ascend Mount Nebo to die.
1Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak.
2My doctrine will drop as the rain.
3For I will proclaim the LORD’s name.
4The Rock: his work is perfect,
5They have dealt corruptly with him.
6Is this the way you repay the LORD,
7Remember the days of old.
8When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
9For the LORD’s portion is his people.
10He found him in a desert land,
11As an eagle that stirs up her nest,
12The LORD alone led him.
13He made him ride on the high places of the earth.
14butter from the herd, and milk from the flock,
15But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked.
16They moved him to jealousy with strange gods.
17They sacrificed to demons, not God,
18Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful,
19The LORD saw and abhorred,
20He said, “I will hide my face from them.
21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God.
22For a fire is kindled in my anger,
23“I will heap evils on them.
24They shall be wasted with hunger,
25Outside the sword will bereave,
26I said that I would scatter them afar.
27were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,
28For they are a nation void of counsel.
29Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,
30How could one chase a thousand,
31For their rock is not as our Rock,
32For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
33Their wine is the poison of serpents,
34“Isn’t this laid up in store with me,
35Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
36For the LORD will judge his people,
37He will say, “Where are their gods,
38which ate the fat of their sacrifices,
39“See now that I myself am he.
40For I lift up my hand to heaven and declare,
41if I sharpen my glittering sword,
42I will make my arrows drunk with blood.
43Rejoice, you nations, with his people,
44Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun.
45Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel.
46He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you today, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
47For it is no vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”
48The LORD spoke to Moses that same day, saying,
49“Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is across from Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession.
50Die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people;
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Rock: his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
This verse establishes the core character of God as a stable and perfectly just foundation.
Deuteronomy 32:39
“See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill, and I make alive. I wound, and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.”
This passage emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over life, death, and judgment.
Deuteronomy 32:47
“For it is no vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”
Moses emphasizes that the law is not just a set of rules, but the source of life and longevity for the nation.
Chapter Summary
Deuteronomy 32 records the "Song of Moses," a poetic witness against Israel. The song begins by praising God as "the Rock" whose works are perfect and just. It recounts how God chose Israel, cared for them in the wilderness, and provided abundance. However, it prophesies that Israel would grow complacent, "kick" against God, and turn to idols. Because of this rebellion, God's anger would be kindled, leading to judgment and suffering. Yet, the song concludes with God's promise of vengeance against his enemies and compassion for his servants. After finishing the song, Moses urges the people to take these words to heart and teach them to their children as their very life. Finally, God instructs Moses to go up to Mount Nebo in the land of Moab to view the land of Canaan from a distance before he dies, as he was forbidden from entering due to his actions at the waters of Meribah.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a prophetic poem Moses recited to the entire assembly of Israel as a witness. It highlights God's perfect justice and faithfulness compared to Israel's history of corruption and idolatry.
According to verse 51, Moses was not permitted to enter because he trespassed against God at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh. He failed to uphold God's holiness among the children of Israel during that incident.
Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel, often used to refer to the nation in an ideal or upright sense. In verse 15, it is used ironically to describe how the nation became wealthy and then rebelled.
Mount Nebo is the location God commands Moses to ascend to view the land of Canaan. It is the place where Moses is told he will die and be gathered to his people.
Study Note
The 'Song of Moses' uses the metaphor of 'the Rock' five times to contrast the unchanging nature of God with the unstable idols of the nations.
Related Chapters
Exodus 15
This chapter contains the first Song of Moses, celebrating the deliverance at the Red Sea.
Numbers 20
This chapter describes the event at Meribah where Moses disobeyed God, leading to the consequences mentioned here.
Deuteronomy 34
This chapter records the fulfillment of God's command as Moses climbs Mount Nebo and dies.
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