Augustine of Hippo : These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant that he made with them in Horeb. This text demonstrates why this book is called Deuteronomy, as if it were a second law. Actually, it is more a repetition of that law than something different. Well, there are few things that are not there, in which it occurred for the first time. And yet, this should not be called two alliances, although it seems that these words sound like this. Because both alliances are a unique alliance, which in the Church is called Antigua. Because if because of these words should speak of two alliances, there would be two, but many more, in addition to the New. For the Scripture speaks in many passages of covenant, like that which was made with Abraham about the circumcision (Cf Genesis 17,4) or that older one with Noah. 50 (Deuteronomy 29.2-4). You have seen all the things that the Lord your God did in the land of Egypt before you with Pharaoh and all his servants and with all his land, great trials that your eyes saw, those great signs and wonders and the mighty hand, and the Lord God did not give you a heart to know, neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear to this day. How can you say above: You have seen the great trials your eyes saw, if the Lord did not give you eyes to see or ears to hear? Unless it is said that it is because they saw with the body and did not see with the heart, because it is also spoken of the eyes of the heart. This is why he began there: And the Lord God did not give you the heart to know. This is what the following two things refer to: Neither eyes to see nor ears to hear, that is, to understand and obey. Because what it says: And the Lord God did not give you, would not say in any way admonishing or blaming, unless he wanted to be understood that it also refers to their fault, so that no one thinks he is free of guilt in this issue. At the same time it shows that they, without the help of the Lord God, can not understand or obey with the eyes or with the ears of the heart; and, nevertheless, if God's help is lacking, the sin of man is not excusable, because the judgments of God, although secret, are just. — QUESTIONS ON DEUTERONOMY, Q. 49 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)