Deuteronomy 32:30

Translations

Modern

How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

Traditional

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?

Literal

How does one pursue a thousand, and two put to flight a myriad, if not that their Rock had sold them and YHWH had surrendered them?

Latin

Quomodo persequatur unus mille, et duo fugent decem millia? nonne ideo, quia Deus suus vendidit eos, et Dominus conclusit illos?

Original

Hebrew

English

How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

Notes

Deuteronomy 32:30

How could one man pursue a thousand: When God allows his people to face destruction, they can be defeated even against great odds.
their Rock: This metaphor is used ironically. The very one who should be Israel’s source of strength will leave them because of their own sin and unfaithfulness (see 32:4).

Deuteronomy 31:30–32:47

In ancient times, vows from both parties secured a treaty between individuals or nations. Israel's promise was in a song of witness that Moses composed under divine inspiration (31:19–22).

Israel probably sang the song during a regular covenant-renewal ceremony (31:21). They invoked upon themselves the covenant's judgments and reminded themselves of its promises.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Ancient Law Codes God’s Instructions Music in Ancient Israel

Related verses

Leviticus 26:8
Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
Joshua 23:10
One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
Isaiah 30:17
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.
Psalm 31:8
You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
Psalm 44:12
You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale.
Judges 7:22–23
And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
Judges 3:8
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.
Isaiah 52:3
For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
1 Samuel 14:15–17
Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.
2 Chronicles 24:24
Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash.
Judges 2:14
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
Job 11:10
If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

Deuteronomy 32:30

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