Introduction to Deuteronomy
“Deuteronomy” (from Gk. deuteros + nomos) means “the second giving of the law” (Deut. 5:6–21; 17:18). After forty years of wilderness wandering, Israel has come to the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, on the verge of entering and conquering the land. As Moses prepares to die, he preaches a series of farewell sermons exhorting Israel to faithfulness to the covenant. Yet Moses knows Israel will fail. He therefore looks ahead to the New Covenant—a theme later developed by Jeremiah and the other prophets. Moses also passes leadership to his successor, Joshua (ch. 31).
Outline
Section titled “Outline”ESV Study Bible
- Preamble (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (chs. 27–28)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (chs. 29–30)
- Succession of Leadership (chs. 31–34)
- Commissioning of Joshua (31:1–29)
- The Song of Moses (31:30–32:47)
- The Blessing of Moses (32:48–33:29)
- The Death of Moses (ch. 34)
The Ancient Near Eastern Suzerainty Treaty
Section titled “The Ancient Near Eastern Suzerainty Treaty”- YHWH is the great King—or suzerain—and Israel is YHWH’s vassal or servant.
- The vassal owes absolute loyalty and faithfulness to the suzerain.
- The blessings and curses of Deut 27:11—26:68 are the sanctions demonstrating that this is a genuine covenant with historical enforcement.
| Preamble | Deut. 1:1-5: “These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. [2] It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. [3] In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them, [4] after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. [5] Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to explain this law, saying …” (ESV) |
| Historical prologue | Deut. 1-3: - God commands Israel to leave Horeb and take the promised land - Moses appoints tribal leaders and judges to help govern the people - Israel sends spies from Kadesh-barnea, and the people rebel out of fear - God decrees that the wilderness generation (except Caleb and Joshua) will not enter the land; Moses is also barred - Israel attacks anyway against God’s command and is defeated at Hormah - Israel wanders around Mount Seir for many days, then is directed north - Israel passes peacefully by Edom, Moab, and Ammon, whose lands God gave them - The wilderness generation dies off after thirty-eight years - Israel defeats Sihon, king of Heshbon, and takes his land - Israel defeats Og, king of Bashan, and takes sixty cities - Moses allots the Transjordan to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, on condition they fight alongside the other tribes - Moses charges Joshua to trust God for the conquest ahead - Moses pleads to enter the land, is refused, and is told to view it from Pisgah and commission Joshua |
| Stipulations | Deut. 4-11 (basic): The demand for exclusive covenant loyalty (love) for God Deut. 12-26 (detailed): - Worship at the central shrine — “the place the LORD will choose to put his name and make his habitation” (Deut 12:5) - Punishment for those who promote the worship of other gods - Clean and unclean food; tithes - The annual festivals - The law of the king - Various judicial laws |
| Documentary clause | Deut. 31:9-13, 24-26: Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. [10] And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, [11] when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. [12] Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, [13] and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” … [24] When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, [25] Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, [26] “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.” (ESV) |
| Witnesses | Deut. 30:19 — “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” (ESV) Deut. 31:19-22 — “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel. [20] For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. [21] And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.” [22] So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel. (ESV) Deut. 31:24-29 — “When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, [25] Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, [26] “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. [27] For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death! [28] Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. [29] For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.” (ESV) |
| Sanctions | Deut. 27:1-26 - Six tribes on Mt Gerizim for the blessing - Six tribes on Mt Ebal for the curse - Deut 27:26 — “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them” (quoted by Paul in Gal 3:10). - Deut 28:1-14 — The blessings for obedience - Deut 28:15-68 — The curses for disobedience — the exile prophesied |
| Ratification ceremony | Deut. 29:1, 10-15: “These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb … “You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, [11] your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, [12] so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God is making with you today, [13] that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. [14] It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, [15] but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.” (ESV) |
Select New Testament Quotations of Deuteronomy
Section titled “Select New Testament Quotations of Deuteronomy”| Deuteronomy | New Testament |
|---|---|
| 6:4–5 — “Hear, O Israel … the LORD is one. You shall love with all your heart” | Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:29–30 |
| 6:13 — “You shall worship the LORD your God and him only shall you serve” | Matt. 4:10; Luke 4:8 |
| 6:16 — “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test” | Matt. 4:7; Luke 4:12 |
| 8:3 — “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word … [from the] mouth of God” | Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4 |
| 17:7 — “Purge the evil person from among you” | 1 Cor. 5:13 |
| 18:15 — “The LORD will raise up for you a prophet like me …” | Acts 3:22; 7:37 |
| 19:15 — “Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses” | Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19 |
| 21:23 — “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” | Gal. 3:13 |
| 27:26 — “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things in the law” | Gal. 3:10 |
| 29:4 — God gave them “a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see, ears …” | Rom. 11:8 |
| 30:12–14 — “Do not say in your heart … The word is near you” | Rom. 10:6–8 |
| 32:21 — “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation” | Rom. 10:19 |
| 32:43 — “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people” | Rom. 15:10 |
Moses’ Pessimism and Eschatological Hope
Section titled “Moses’ Pessimism and Eschatological Hope”Moses prepares the way for the prophets.
Pessimism: Israel Will Break the Mosaic Covenant
Section titled “Pessimism: Israel Will Break the Mosaic Covenant”Israel will be unfaithful to YHWH.
- 28:15–68: The covenant curses become a prophecy of Israel’s apostasy and exile.
- 29:25–28: “They abandoned the covenant … bringing upon [the land] all the curses in this book.”
- 31:21: “I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land.”
- 31:29: “I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly.”
- 32:5, 23: “They are a crooked and twisted generation … I will heap disasters upon them.”
Hope: Looking Beyond Exile to the New Covenant
Section titled “Hope: Looking Beyond Exile to the New Covenant”- 30:1–10: “When all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse … and you return to the LORD your God … then I will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you.”
- 30:11–20: “This commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off … The word is very near you.” This points to the gospel (Rom. 10:6–8).
- 32:36: “For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.”
- 32:21, 43: The Gentiles will be included (Rom. 10:19; 15:10).
- 34:1–5: Moses stands on Mount Pisgah viewing the land, while God reiterates his promise to Abraham.