“And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.”
This verse is part of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before his death. It contains a warning from the Lord about the future behavior of the Israelites and the consequences they will face due to their disobedience. Let’s break it down into several key points for better understanding:
The Context: Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and means “second law.” It records Moses’ final speeches to the Israelites, given just before they entered the Promised Land. In this particular verse, Moses is recounting what the Lord said to him.
Moses’ Death: 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 with the Israelites but will be gathered to his ancestors. This was a consequence of Moses’ disobedience at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:12).
Future Idolatry: The Lord foretells that the Israelites will turn away from Him, forsake His covenant, and “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land.” This refers to the tendency of the Israelites to engage in idolatry, worshiping the gods of the nations surrounding them, instead of remaining faithful to the one true God, Yahweh.
Consequences of Disobedience: The verse implies that the Israelites’ idolatrous behavior will lead to the breaking of the covenant God made with them. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites’ disobedience and idol worship repeatedly brought judgment and discipline from God, often in the form of foreign invasions and captivity.
This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God’s covenant and the consequences of turning away from Him. The Israelites’ subsequent history reflects the fulfillment of this warning, as they faced numerous challenges and hardships due to their unfaithfulness.
It also highlights the faithfulness and longsuffering nature of God. Despite the Israelites’ future disobedience, God continues to guide and provide for them, as we see in the subsequent verses of Deuteronomy.
Overall, Deuteronomy 31:16 serves as a reminder of the need for faithfulness to God and the consequences that can arise when His people turn away from Him.
