Key Themes in Deuteronomy

Outline

A summary of Israel’s journey from Sinai to the Promised Land

1:1-5                Introduction

1:6-8                The departure from Sinai

1:9-18              The appointment of judges

1:19-25            The 12 spies

1:26-48            The rebellion against entering Canaan

2:1–3:11          The wilderness wanderings

3:12-20            The division of the land east of the Jordan

3:21-29            Joshua appointed as Moses’ successor

4:1-14              Israel encouraged to obedience

4:15-31            Warnings against idolatry

4:32-40            God’s goodness towards Israel

4:41-43            The establishment of cities of refuge

The Law

4:44-49            Introduction

5:1-33              The Ten Commandments

6:1-25              Exhortations to obedience

7:1-26              Instructions for the conquest of Canaan

8:1-20              Exhortations to obey God

9:1-29              Israel’s history of rebellion

10:1-11            The Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone

10:12–11:32   Encouragements and warnings to obey God

12:1-32            The centralisation of worship

13:1-18            False prophets and idolaters

14:1–18:8       Regulations concerning uncleanness, festivals, worship and the priesthood

18:9-13            Warnings against adopting pagan practices

18:14-22         The coming prophet

19:1–21:14     Instructions concerning cities of refuge, witnesses, warfare, murders and marriage to foreign captives

21:15-21         Regulations concerning sons

21:22–26:19   Regulations concerning capital punishment, sexual offences, tithes and firstfruits

27:1-8              The command to build an altar on Mount Ebal

27:9–28:68     The demand for obedience

The renewal of the covenant

29:1-29            An appeal to Israel to keep the covenant

30:1-10            The benefits of the covenant

30:11-20         The choice between life and death

Conclusion

31:1-8              The appointment of Joshua

31:9-13            The command to read the law

31:14-29         Warnings of future apostasy

31:30–32:47   The song of Moses

32:48-52         Moses to see Canaan from a distance

33:1-29            Moses’ blessing of the tribes

34:1-12            The death of Moses

The long years of Israel’s wilderness travels were almost at an end and Moses knew that he could not accompany the desert pilgrims into Canaan. This was his final opportunity to preach God’s word before the people moved on to their new land. Deuteronomy (‘second law’) is a collection of well-constructed, brilliantly illustrated sermons, based on the messages given initially by God to Moses soon after he left Egypt.

Background and setting

Deuteronomy claims to contain the words of Moses as preacher (1:1-5; 4:1, 44-46; 5:1; 29:1-2) and writer (31:9, 24-26) in the closing period of his life, though these ascriptions have been widely challenged since the early nineteenth century. Some scholars have proposed a much later date of writing, though several details suggest otherwise: a lack of references to Jerusalem; regulations for the introduction of the kingship (17:14-20); judgment on the Amalekites (25:17-19), who had disappeared by the period of the monarchy; and the repetitive all Israel (e.g. 1:1). The preachers and writers of the New Testament accepted the book as the words of Moses (Mk 7:10; 10:3-5; Jn 7:19; Ac 3:22; 13:39; 28:23; Ro 10:5, 19; 1Co 9:9; 2Co 3:15; Heb 10:28). Nonetheless, even accepting the reliability of the biblical claim concerning its Mosaic origin, we should recognise that the concluding song and blessing, for example, and the account of Moses’ death, are likely to have been added to the earlier material, and there may have been further careful work on the narrative by later editors.

Scholars studying political treaties in the Ancient Near East have noted remarkable similarities between the Hittite covenants of the second millennium bc and the literary structure of Deuteronomy. These covenants followed a predictable literary pattern and were made when a stronger ruler (the suzerain) agreed to provide military protection and economic resources to a threatened one (the vassal) in return for submissive loyalty. The language, provisions and form of these treaties have greatly influenced our thinking about Deuteronomy where the covenant form has been transformed theologically to emphasise God’s unique commitment to Israel (not an agreement between equals) and to show that his grace far transcends what would be expected of any human treaty.

Themes and relevance

The covenant form of Deuteronomy underlines one of this book’s leading ideas. God has generously given law and land to the Israelites because, as the Sovereign Lord of the whole earth, he has chosen them as his special people. At Sinai he entered into a covenant or agreement with them because he wanted them to share a holy partnership with him. Furthermore this book reminds us that God has always taken the initiative in coming to us in undeserved grace and mercy. The Israelites have been chosen by him not, as they vainly imagined, on the basis of their superior numbers (7:7), power (8:17) or morality (9:4), but simply because he loves them (4:37; 7:8; 10:15; 23:5). The loving and serving begins with him, not with us.

The concept of God’s unique, authoritative and effective word is one of Deuteronomy’s central themes. God’s commands are not to be ignored, dismissed, manipulated or minimised by people who are meant to hear, follow and keep them (4:1-2). To follow his commands is to have life: Take to heart all these words for they are not just idle words for you – they are your life (32:46-47; cf. 30:11-20). There is a responsibility to pass the message on: by preaching (1:3; cf. 4:5; 10:1-5); writing (4:13; 10:1-3; 31:9); and family education (4:9-10; 6:6-7, 20-25; 11:19).

One of the most important words in this book is ‘remember’: the Israelites are urged to remember where they have come from and everything that God has done to save them. Remembering God’s saving acts will give them confidence to face their enemies (1:30; 7:18; 20:1) and to trust in God’s promises (6:20-23; 7:8-9). Remembering their time as slaves in Egypt will give them empathy with the oppressed in their own nation (15:15; 16:12; 24:18, 22); and remembering their struggles in the wilderness will remind them to be faithful to the Lord (8:1-3; 9:7; 11:1-8). Above all, their ongoing relationship with the Lord is built on remembering their history together: he is the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt (5:6; 8:14; 13:5, 10; 20:1; cf. 6:12; 9:12; 10:21). The Israelites are warned that forgetting the Lord will lead to terrible consequences (4:23-28; 6:12-15; 8:11, 19-20) – but that he will not forget them (4:31; cf. 32:36-43).

Deuteronomy also presents a wide range of social and ethical themes of crucial importance today, particularly in regard to the challenges of city life. This does not mean to say that every detail of this book’s teaching can be automatically transferred to the modern world or rigidly applied to complex contemporary issues. Its specific regulations are addressed to a different culture, but that does not make it irrelevant. The Israelites are to reflect the holiness and generosity of God in every part of life (e.g. 14:1-2; 23:14; 25:13-16), including care for the poor (14:28-29; 15:7-11; 16:11, 14; 24:12-13, 19-22; 26:11-13) and the fair treatment of workers and foreigners (15:12-18; 23:15-16; 24:14-15, 17; 27:19). This book provides us with an invaluable pattern of personal and corporate spirituality and we need to study its underlying principles in order to apply them to life in our very different world.

This blog post is extracted from the study notes of the NIV BST Study Bible, ahead of the publication of The Message of Deuteronomy, in the newly refreshed Bible Speaks Today Old Testament Series. Below you'll find some resources for digging in to Deuteronomy!