Deuteronomy
Book Type
Book of Law (or Book of Moses); the fifth book of the Old Testament; the fifth book of the Bible; the fifth of the five-part Jewish collection known as the Torah.Introduction to the book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy concludes the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, with further instruction from Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received God’s law (see Exodus). In Deuteronomy, Moses reviews teachings and events from the time of the exodus and the people’s wilderness wanderings. He exhorts the Israelites to love their God Yahweh and obey His commandments. Deuteronomy ends with the final events of Moses’ life, including the official appointment of his successor Joshua—the man who formerly encouraged the Israelites to faithfully conquer the promised land despite terrible foes (Num 13–14). Deuteronomy records Moses telling the Israelites how to live in the land long ago promised to their forefather Abraham (Gen 12:1–3)—a land they must still conquer.God first revealed Israel’s national “constitution” to Moses at Sinai (Exod 20–23). The great leader Moses was now about to die. God had appointed a younger man, Joshua, to replace Moses, but he was not yet fully tested. Israel had been rescued from slavery in Egypt and miraculously preserved through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Israelites now stood on the verge of the land promised to them, but it was inhabited by powerful and hostile enemies. Although God had been faithful in the past, the future seemed uncertain. Deuteronomy is the story of Israel’s renewed covenant with God—a covenant that would guide Israel to God’s blessings throughout the remainder of their history as a nation.The title of this book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, comes from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and means “second law” or “repetition of the law.” The phrase is actually a mistranslation of 17:18, which reads “a copy of this instruction.” It is still a fitting title since much of the book contains repetitions of the laws found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.Theme & Overview
In a series of farewell messages, Moses exhorts the new generation of Israelites to live as his obedient people in the promised land. As you read the 34 chapters in the book of Deuteronomy, you’ll see how God’s people dealt not only with hardship, testing, and doubt but also with promise, hope, and trust. It tells us that faith is not automatic or mechanical. Faith becomes personal and active when it springs from a living relationship with a loving God. The NIV Quest Study Bible says the message of Deuteronomy can be summed up this way: devote yourself wholeheartedly to God. In the book, Moses commands his readers to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (6:5). He challenged the people to faithfully obey the Lord and reject all forms of idolatry. He called on the new generation to formally renew the earlier covenant with God that their parents had broken.One of the central messages of Deuteronomy is that God loves the Israelites, as seen in His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Deuteronomy also indicates that Yahweh showed His love for the Israelites by rescuing them from Egypt and will continue to do so by giving them the promised land. The Israelites should respond to Yahweh’s love by believing He can do anything He asks of them—even overcome dreadful foes in the promised land (31:1–6).Moses commands the people to love Yahweh with all their heart, soul, and might—a statement Jesus will later call the greatest commandment (Deut 6:5; Matt 22:36–40). As God’s people we are to take courage and boldly embrace whatever He asks us to do, through the power of Christ (Deut 31:6–7; Acts 5). And if we do, we will surely see God at work in our lives, communities, and world.Deuteronomy, the last installment of Moses’ biography, contains his last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, he urges the people not to repeat those mistakes when entering the Promised Land. Israel’s entry fulfills the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.Author
Moses is the traditional author of this book; Deuteronomy is part of the "Law of Moses." He was 120 years old at the time of its writing.Recipients
The title Deuteronomy means "second law." The book is Moses' re-stating various laws and regulations given in the prior Scriptures. Moses wrote to the Jewish people during their 40-year wilderness journey in the Sinai Peninsula. This book was written during the final 40-day period before the Jews entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:3). It provides an account of God's many works among the nation of Israel during their 40-year journey. This was especially important for the younger generation of Jews who were born during this time period.Date
During the 40 years in the wilderness, approximately 1440—1400 BC. Some suggest a more exact date of 1406 BC.Background
Deuteronomy 31:9 indicates Moses’ involvement in writing the law portions of Deuteronomy. For this reason and others, Jewish and Christian traditions ascribe the Pentateuch to Moses, but it may have been completed and edited later (for more information on this debate, see the “Introduction to Genesis”).Deuteronomy’s narrative is set on the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from the promised land, where the Israelites are camping after their 40 years of wilderness wandering—placing it within the same period as the closing chapters of Numbers.The title “Deuteronomy” means “second law.” The book reiterates the law and the events recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It also establishes a framework for viewing this history: If the Israelites are faithful to God’s covenant, they will have peace and receive blessings from Yahweh, but if they turn away, they will experience curses of war, famine, and death—all of which are meant to prompt them to stay faithful. This framework is applied to subsequent books that narrate Israel’s later history (Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings).The structure of Deuteronomy resembles ancient Near Eastern treaties between kings and the foreign nations they conquered. In these agreements, both the king and the nation accepted certain obligations; if the nation fulfilled the terms of the treaty, there would be peace. Deuteronomy’s similarities with these ancient documents, examples of which date from the fourteenth to the seventh centuries BC, likely indicate that it originated around the same time.Forty years after their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from Jericho. After four decades of wandering, they were poised to cross the Jordan, conquer the Canaanite nations, and settle their land in fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. First, however, God would renew his covenant with them.Moses was aware that he would die before leading his people to their destination. However, prior to his death, he needed to remind the people of the terms of the covenant that God had revealed to him. The initial covenant, suitable for Israel while en route to Canaan, had been made thirty-eight years earlier at Sinai (Exod 19–24). Now, in anticipation of Israel’s establishment as a settled community, the original covenant must be restated and enlarged. The book of Deuteronomy is this restatement.The Purpose & Audience (Reasons for the letter)
The covenant is the leading theme of Deuteronomy—and perhaps of the entire OT. The covenant provided the means for the Lord to unite himself to Israel. The covenant stated that the Lord was ancient Israel’s God, Israel was God’s people, and the relationship between them would achieve God’s redemptive purposes. This awesome privilege also included profound responsibility. Could Israel conduct itself in a manner that would guarantee the success of its mission? What standards of behavior would enable them to fulfill their heavenly calling?Israel had the freedom to accept or reject God’s covenant (Exod 19:7–8). Once accepted, the blessings and curses within the covenant depended on whether Israel obeyed or disobeyed (28:1–6, 15–19). God promised that even disobedience could be overcome if the nation would repent, return, and be restored to covenant fellowship (30:1–10; Lev 26:40–45).This covenant did not make Israel God’s people; God’s promise of a national offspring to Abraham had already done that (Gen 17:1–8). This document reiterated the covenant made at Sinai, where Israel was given the privilege of serving the Lord as a kingdom of priests (Exod 19:4–6). If Israel could remain faithful to its role as a “kingdom of priests and my holy nation,” it would direct God’s blessings to the whole world.The Israelites were the unique people of God. God made promises to the nation’s forefathers that he fulfilled in the Exodus and in creating the nation. He was ready to solidify Israel in the conquest of the Promised Land and move the nation forward until his purposes were complete. The book of Deuteronomy established the principles of faithful life and ministry that would ensure Israel’s ongoing relationship with God in achieving those objectives. Israel had the indescribable honor of partnering with Almighty God to bring about his plan for the ages.Though the initial covenant between the Lord and Israel was made at Sinai, the generation that received it had largely died out in the thirty-eight years since that event. Now the younger generation needed to affirm their commitment to the covenant (4:1–8). Moreover, the transition from a largely nomadic existence in the desert to a sedentary lifestyle in Canaan required a covenant revision and expansion suitable to these new conditions. The purpose of Deuteronomy is to provide guidelines for the new covenant community to enable them to live obediently before God and to carry out his intentions for them. Several themes appear throughout Deuteronomy:NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD: The chief attribute of God is his holiness. With the Shema (6:4), Israel’s confession of faith, the holiness and uniqueness of God is emphasized. There is no God but the Lord. His holiness and righteousness are reflected throughout the moral nature of his law.Because he is the only God, he is also completely sovereign. God’s sovereignty is especially stressed in light of the covenant relationship. The Lord is Israel’s sovereign, and he will not share his sovereignty with another, whether a person or a false god.Another key attribute of God is his love. His love for his people is seen repeatedly as Deuteronomy recounts the miraculous acts God performed on behalf of his chosen people. God has a purpose for his people, and his loving acts were designed to bring his people in line with his purpose for them. Closely akin to God’s love is his graciousness. God did not have to choose Israel. Even when they complained or were disobedient, God exhibited grace though they did not deserve it.COVENANT RELATIONSHIP: God had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel out of love (7:8). In that covenant as God’s people, the Israelites were to reflect their relationship with God by reflecting his character to the nations around them. God’s election of them and the gift of land were parts of God’s side of the covenant, and obedience and service were the Israelites’ part of the covenant. Deuteronomy gives strong words regarding the blessings of living in that covenant.FAITH RESPONSE OF GOD’S PEOPLE: The Israelites’ response to the covenant relationship with God was to live lives—both individually and as a nation—in total commitment to the Lord God. There is no area of life that does not fall under God’s sovereign rule. No distinction is made between the religious and the secular, and God expects the highest standards of ethical conduct from his people.How God’s people reflected this would be expressed in obedience to the law. All of the law might be summed up in one command: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (6:5). God’s people are to respond not with fearful obedience but with loving obedience. “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (Jn 14:15). The command to love is grounded in God’s love that he demonstrated to them; therefore, loving obedience is the natural faith response to a loving God: “We love because he first loved us” (1Jn 4:19).SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: In Deuteronomy, sin is presented in the context of the covenant. Failure to follow God’s commands would disrupt the covenant relationship, affecting its purity, unity, and witness. Deuteronomy 27–28 gives strong words about what would happen if the people failed to keep their part of the covenant. The consequences included the loss of their land. Idolatry would lead to death. The nation as a whole would suffer for their disobedience and apostasy. Their history shows that God carried through with the consequences about which he warned Israel.CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLENext to the books of Psalms and Isaiah, the NT alludes to Deuteronomy more than any other book in the OT. This is true not only in terms of the sheer number of instances but especially in the passages where theological truth seems most to be at issue. Jesus and the apostles considered Deuteronomy of paramount importance to their own teaching about God and his dealings with his chosen people and humanity at large. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy in his response to each of Satan’s three temptations in the wilderness.Key Verses (ESV)
Deuteronomy 4:2: "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you." Deuteronomy 6:4–7: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."Deuteronomy 32:46–47: "He said to them, 'Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.'"Key Passages (NLT)
Dt 1:1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River. They were camped in the Jordan Valley near Suph, between Paran on one side and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab on the other. 2 Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir. 3 But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the LORD had commanded him to say. 4 This took place after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated King Og of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth. 5 While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the LORD’s instructions as follows. Structure & Outline 1
Deuteronomy has three major sections followed by an epilogue. Each major section presents a speech by Moses and begins with a special phrase marking it as a distinct unit.The first speech (Deut 1:1–4:43) is introduced with a phrase stating these are “the words.” Moses uses the wilderness journey to teach the Israelites about God. This history shows that Yahweh is faithful to His people and able to overcome their enemies—and that Israel must trust and obey Him. If they do not follow Yahweh’s ways, they will not be able to live long term in the promised land.Moses’ second speech (4:44–28:68), which is the longest of the three, is introduced with the phrase “this is the law.” After Moses repeats a form of the Ten Commandments (5:6–21), he expands on them in the subsequent chapters.Moses’ third speech (29:1–30:20) is introduced with the same phrase that opens the first speech. Moses calls the Israelites to renew their covenant with Yahweh. He warns the Israelites that violating the covenant will lead to death, but he also assures them that repenting and trusting God will lead to life and blessing.The epilogue (31:1–34:12) deals with the end of Moses’ life. Joshua succeeds Moses as leader of the Israelites. Moses sings a farewell song and blesses the people, and his life on this earth ends.Outline • Moses’ review of history (1:1–4:43) • Moses’ review of the law (4:44–28:68) • Moses’ review of the covenant (29:1–30:20) • Moses’ final words and death (31:1–34:12)Outline 2
This book consists of 34 chapters that include a brief introduction (Deuteronomy 1:1–4), three major speeches by Moses (Deuteronomy 1:5—30:20), followed by four chapters of concluding activities. The first speech of Moses (Deuteronomy 1:5—4:43) consists of three major themes. First, Moses reviews God's many gracious acts from their time at Horeb (Mount Sinai) to Beth Peor. Second, Moses gives encouragements in Deuteronomy 4:1–40 regarding obedience to the law of the Lord. Third, three cities of refuge are noted (Deuteronomy 4:41–43) for people to flee to in situations involving accidental deaths.Moses' second speech is much longer, starting in Deuteronomy 4:44 and running through chapter 28. It provides the main teaching section of the book, reviewing the laws provided in Exodus and Leviticus. This includes the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5), fully obeying the Lord (Deuteronomy 6), warnings against other gods (Deuteronomy 7), warnings against forgetting God (Deuteronomy 8), examples of Israel's past rebellions (Deuteronomy 9—10:11), and the positive exhortation to fear God, love Him, and obey His commands (Deuteronomy 10:12—11:32).Many specific areas of application are then provided in this second address. They include instructions for worship (Deuteronomy 12:1—16:17), leadership (Deuteronomy 16:18—18:22), community laws (Deuteronomy 19:1—25:19), firstfruits and tithing (Deuteronomy 26:1–15), and a call to obedience (Deuteronomy 26—28).The third speech of Moses covers Deuteronomy 29:1—30:20. It emphasizes a renewal of the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 29) followed by repentance and forgiveness (Deuteronomy 30). It concludes with the call to decide between life according to the Lord's ways, or death (Deuteronomy 30:11–20).These three speeches are followed by a series of important concluding events. First, Moses transitions leadership to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1–8). Second, rules are given regarding the future reading of the law (Deuteronomy 31:9–13). Joshua is commissioned by God, God prophecies regarding Israel's future and instructs Moses to write a song and teach it to the people, and Moses calls the people together (Deuteronomy 31:14–29). The song of Moses is then recorded, covering an extended portion of material (Deuteronomy 31:30—32:47). Moses then records information about his coming death and offers a blessing to the people (Deuteronomy 32:48—33:29).The book ends with the record of Moses' death in chapter 34. This passage is the only part of the book connected to any authorship dispute. Most scholars believe this information was recorded by one of Moses' close associates after his death, possibly Joshua.