Deuteronomy — Chapter 8

All the commandments that I command thee this day shall you observe to do. Moses urges careful observance of every commandment, not merely the main ones. Lapide quotes Abulensis: 'As servants who fear their lords are most careful in their ministry, how much more careful ought we to be when we minister to God?' Cf. Ps. 2: 'Serve the Lord in fear.'

Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Lapide: Christ cited this word against the devil's temptation (Matt. 4:4), showing that man is sustained by whatever God ordains, even manna without bread. Morally: those whom God afflicts with poverty, He feeds with the manna of spiritual consolation, as Jacob in flight, John on Patmos, Stephen at his stoning.

Lest thou say in thy heart: My own might, and the strength of my own hand have achieved all these things. Lapide rebukes Seneca's Stoic maxim ('the gods have given that we live; philosophy that we live well'). God permits His people to be reduced to extremity so they may distrust themselves and trust in Him alone—as Judith's people before Holofernes, as Judas Maccabaeus before Nicanor.