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Deuteronomy 31:15

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 31:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Jehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Jehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.
Deuteronomy 31:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;
13and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.
14And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
15And Jehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.
16And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
17Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?
18And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.
← Deuteronomy 31:14Deuteronomy 31:16 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, etc.] As he was wont to do, (see <023309>Exodus 33:9); in which cloud there was a lustre, a brightness, a glory visible, which showed that he was there: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle; it seems to have appeared first in the tabernacle, and then it came out of it, and stood over the door of it, near to which Moses and Joshua were: the Targum of Jonathan adds, “Moses and Joshua stood without;” though the former clause, according to Noldius f563, should be “over the tabernacle”, or above where the cloud was wont to be.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he had some time before Numbers 27:22 been called, and his recognition in it by God, which were manifested by his being summoned into the tabernacle with Moses while the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud (compare Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5). Deuteronomy 31:16 The future apostasy of the people is announced in the presence of Joshua that the latter might be fully aware of the danger and strive in his day to avert it. This he faithfully did (compare Joshua 24:31); but we find him in his own last address to Israel repeating Joshua 23:15-16 the self-same prediction and warning.…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“31:15 Since God is spirit, he cannot be seen unless he chooses to manifest his glory physically. The pillar of cloud was such a manifestation, sometimes called a theophany (see study note on 1:33). When the pillar appeared, those who saw it recognized in it the presence of God (see Exod 33:9; Num 12:5).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 33:9, Exo 33:10, Exo 40:38; Psa 99:7 Deuteronomy 31:16”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification