Joshua
the leader into the promised land: the law a written
witness against the people
In chapter 31 he
introduces Joshua, as the leader under whom the people
were to take possession of the promised land. He orders
that the law should be read before all every seventh
year, in order that every one might take notice of it, in
that solemn moment when, enjoying afresh, as it were, the
blessing which it secured to them, they submitted to it
as a testimony that the land, as well as everything,
belonged to Jehovah. Afterwards, when Joshua is
established in his charge, Moses is ordered to
communicate to the people a song inspired of God, which,
based upon the certainty of the iniquity of the people,
announces the ways of the Lord towards them; commanding
the Levites, at the same time, to put the written law by
the side of the ark, as a witness against the people.
Deuteronomy 31 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
In chapter 31 he introduces Joshua, as the leader under whom the people were to take possession of the promised land. He orders that the law should be read before all every seventh year, in order that every one might take notice of it, in that solemn moment when, enjoying afresh, as it were, the blessing which it secured to them, they submitted to it as a testimony that the land, as well as everything, belonged to Jehovah. Afterwards, when Joshua is established in his charge, Moses is ordered to communicate to the people a song inspired of God, which, based upon the certainty of the iniquity of the people, announces the ways of the Lord towards them; commanding the Levites, at the same time, to put the written law by the side of the ark, as a witness against the people.