Deuteronomy 31:16
And the Lord saide vnto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and this people wil rise vp, and goe a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they goe to be amongst them, and wil forsake me, and breake my couenant which I haue made with them. Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV)
This verse is part of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before his death and contains a warning from the LORD about the future behaviour of the people and the consequences of their disobedience. Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament, means “second law” and records Moses’ final speeches given just before the nation entered the Promised Land.
The LORD tells Moses, “Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.” This phrase is a euphemism for death, indicating that Moses will not enter the Promised Land but will be gathered to his ancestors. The statement follows the earlier consequence of Moses’ disobedience at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:12).
The LORD then foretells that the Israelites will turn away from Him, “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land,” and forsake the covenant He has made with them. This refers to the tendency of the people to engage in idolatry, worshiping the gods of surrounding nations instead of remaining faithful to the one true God, Yahweh.
The verse implies that such idolatrous behaviour will break the covenant and bring judgment. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites’ disobedience and idol worship repeatedly brought discipline from God, often in the form of foreign invasions and captivity. Later chapters of Deuteronomy elaborate on the blessings for obedience and the curses for idolatry, underscoring the seriousness of covenant fidelity.
Overall, Deuteronomy 31:16 serves as a sobering reminder of the need for faithfulness to God, the consequences that arise when His people turn away, and the enduring faithfulness and longsuffering nature of the LORD, who continues to guide and provide for Israel despite their future unfaithfulness.
