Deuteronomy 31:28

28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.

Deuteronomy 31:28 in Other Translations

28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.

28 “Now summon all the elders and officials of your tribes, so that I can speak to them directly and call heaven and earth to witness against them.

28 So gather the leaders of the tribes and the officials here. I have something I need to say directly to them with Heaven and Earth as witnesses.

28 Assemble all your tribal elders and officers before me, so that I may speak these words directly to them and call heaven and earth as witnesses against them.

Deuteronomy 31:28 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:28

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your
officers
The heads of the tribes, the princes, and all other inferior magistrates:

that I may speak these words in their ears;
not the words of the law, but of the song which he was ordered to write, and is recorded in the following chapter:

and call heaven and earth to record against them;
to bear witness of what he delivered to them, and to bear witness against them should they transgress the laws he gave them; and to bear witness that they had been faithfully cautioned against transgressing, and had been severely threatened, and the punishment plainly pointed out that should be inflicted on them in case of disobedience, so that they were left entirely without excuse.

Deuteronomy 31:28 In-Context

26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.

27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!

28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.

29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 4:26; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 32:1; Job 20:27; Isaiah 26:21