Deuteronomy 11 · a question people ask
"A land which the LORD your God cares for" (11:12). Does he care for this land in a way he doesn't care for others?
The verse says what the LORD does for this land: "The LORD your God’s eyes are always on it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year" (11:12). Deuteronomy also says the whole earth is his: "to the LORD your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein" (10:14). Christians weigh 11:12 in two main ways, each resting on verses; the two don't rule each other out. All agree that in this chapter the rain on this land is the LORD's to give or to hold back (11:14, 11:17).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
A care given to this land
Those who hold this view note that the chapter sets this land apart from Egypt (11:10-11) and ties it to an oath: "the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring" (11:9). The LORD says of it, "the land is mine" (Leviticus 25:23). On this reading, 11:12 speaks of a care the LORD gives this land as his own, the land he promised to Israel's fathers.
Deuteronomy 11:9-11 · Leviticus 25:23
A care that reaches other lands too
Those who hold this view note that in Deuteronomy the LORD gives other peoples their lands too: "I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession" (2:5), and "I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession" (2:9). Paul told the people of Lystra that God "did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons" (Acts 14:17). On this reading, 11:12 tells Israel of a care the LORD also shows beyond this land.
Deuteronomy 2:5 · Deuteronomy 2:9 · Acts 14:17
The verses
“a land which the LORD your God cares for. The LORD your God’s eyes are always on it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year.”
“Behold, to the LORD your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein.”
“that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.”
“and the LORD’s anger be kindled against you, and he shut up the sky so that there is no rain, and the land doesn’t yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD gives you.”