Deuteronomy-Chap-8
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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
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Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Deuteronomy chapter 8 has a profound address from Moshe - Moses to the Israelites as they stand at the threshold of the Promised Land. It is a chapter centred on the tension between the hardships of the past and the prosperity of the future, serving as a vital warning that success is often a greater test of faith than suffering.
Introduction: The
School of the Wilderness.
We need to continue to view Deuteronomy 8 as a “bridge” between two worlds: the “great and terrible wilderness” which we were leaving and the “good land” which we were about to enter. Moses’ goal was to prepare the hearts of a new generation who did not experience the Exodus as adults. He was framing the last 40 years not just as a punishment for their fathers’ sins, but as a deliberate “Divine classroom” designed to teach total dependence on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God). The central theme is ‘Remembrance’ specifically, remembering that the same אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who sustained the Hebrews in the desert is the source of the wealth they will soon acquire. This chapter is part of Moshe - Moses’ farewell discourses (Parashat Eikev) and functions as a theological and pastoral bridge between wilderness experience and settled life. Moses reviews אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s testing, provision, and discipline so Israel will not forget the Source of blessing when prosperity arrives.
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Let us now read
Davarim - Deuteronomy Chapter 8: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
1. “All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which יְהוָה - the LORD swore unto your fathers.
2. And thou shalt remember all the way which יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.
3. And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of יְהוָה - the LORD doth man live.
4. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
5. And thou shalt consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim chasteneth thee.
6. And thou shalt keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.
7. For יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, springing forth in valleys and hills;
8. a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey;
9. a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10. And thou shalt eat and be satisfied, and bless יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim for the good land which He hath given thee.
11. Beware lest thou forget יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim, in not keeping His commandments, and His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command thee this day;
12. lest when thou hast eaten and art satisfied, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13. and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14. then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
15. who led thee through the great and dreadful wilderness, wherein were serpents, fiery serpents, and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16. who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might afflict thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17. and thou say in thy heart: ‘My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth’.
18. But thou shalt remember יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim, for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19. And it shall be, if thou shalt forget יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I forewarn you this day that ye shall surely perish.
20. As the nations that יְהוָה - the LORD maketh to perish before you, so shall ye perish; because ye would not hearken unto the voice of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה- the LORD your Elohim”.
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Let us now look at the
‘verse by verse’ information, with explanations:
v 1: “You shall observe every commandment”.
Moses opens with an imperative: obedience to mitzvot is the condition for life in the land; Torah observance is not optional but formative for communal continuity.
v 2: “Remember the whole way that אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה- the LORD your Elohim led you”.
‘Zachor’: recall the Exodus and wilderness journey as a theological school that shapes Israel’s identity.
v 3: “He humbled you and tested you”.
The wilderness is described as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s discipline (musar), intended to teach dependence on אֱלֹהִים rather than self-sufficiency.
v 4: “Your garments did not wear out”.
A concrete sign of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sustaining providence; physical preservation underscores spiritual instruction.
v 5: “Know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son”.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s chastening is parental, not punitive for its own sake; it aims at growth and maturity.
v 6: “Keep the commandments to prolong your days”.
Obedience yields longevity and flourishing in the land; covenantal fidelity has practical consequences.
v 7: “For יְהוָה - the LORD brings you to a good land”.
Moses paints the land’s bounty to remind Israel that prosperity is a Divine gift, not merely human achievement.
v 8: “A land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, honey”.
The list emphasizes abundance and variety; gratitude is the appropriate response to such blessing.
v 9: “You did not eat your fill of bread, nor did your clothing become heavy”.
A reminder that the people did not create these goods; humility before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is required when enjoying them.
v 10: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, bless יְהוָה - the LORD”.
Ritual and ethical response: enjoyment must lead to blessing (birkat ha-mazon) and recognition of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s role.
v 11: “Beware lest you forget יְהוָה - the LORD”.
The central warning: prosperity can erode memory; forgetting אֱלֹהִים leads to spiritual danger.
v 12: “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’”.
Pride misattributes blessing to human effort; Torah insists on correct attribution to אֱלֹהִים.
v 13: “You may say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’”.
Moses anticipates the inner temptation of arrogance; self, deception is subtle and dangerous.
v 14: “Then your heart will be lifted up and you will forget יְהוָה - the LORD your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.
Prosperity can harden the heart; spiritual amnesia follows pride.
v 15: “Remember יְהוָה - the LORD your אֱלֹהִים, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth”.
The corrective: recall אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s past acts (manna, water, protection) and present enabling; אֱלֹהִים is the source of capacity and opportunity.
v 16: “He led you forty years in the wilderness”.
A historical summary: the forty years are a theological curriculum, testing, provision, and formation of character.
v 17: “He fed you in the wilderness with manna”.
The manna episode is central: miraculous provision that teaches dependence and trust.
v 18: “To humble you and to test you, to know what was in your heart”.
Trials reiterate that they reveal and refine the heart; אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s aim is moral knowledge and fidelity.
v 19: “Beware lest you forget the Lord and serve other gods”.
The practical consequence of forgetting: idolatry and covenantal breach, leading to loss of the land.
v 20: “Then יְהוָה - the LORD will scatter you and you will perish from the good land”.
Final warning: covenantal unfaithfulness brings exile and national catastrophe; the promise of the land is conditional on remembrance and obedience.
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A Closing reflection:
Deuteronomy chapter 8 is a compact sermon: remember (zachor), accept discipline (musar) as formative, and attribute every blessing to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. We should understand that the wilderness was not merely hardship but a classroom where ‘humility’, ‘gratitude’, and ‘covenantal loyalty’ was taught. Prosperity is a test equal to poverty; the proper response is ‘thanksgiving’, ‘ethical living’, and ‘continual remembrance of the One who gives strength’.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will
return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
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May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
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(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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