Deuteronomy


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Deuteronomy Preparing for the Promised Land

Approaching Deuteronomy •

Who wrote Deuteronomy?



What kind of literature is Deuteronomy?



What is the structure of Deuteronomy?



What is the content of Deuteronomy?



How is Deuteronomy used in the Bible?

Approaching Deuteronomy •

Who wrote Deuteronomy? •

As with the rest of the Pentateuch, we believe that Moses wrote the vast majority of what we find in Deuteronomy. •

One way of looking at the book’s structure is as a series of three sermons preached by Moses to the people (1:6-4:43; 4:44-26:19; 27:1-31:30).



Deuteronomy records that Moses wrote down “this law” (31:9, 24) for the people.



Later OT/NT statements assume that Moses wrote the material found in Deuteronomy (Josh 23:6; 1 Kings 2:3; Matt 19:7-8; Rom 10:19).

Approaching Deuteronomy •

Who wrote Deuteronomy? •

Critical scholarship has denied Mosaic authorship—assigning the entire book to a “D” source that developed late in Israel’s history (late 7th century) •

The supposition is that the law “discovered” in 2 Kings 23 was not an old copy of Deuteronomy, but a Josiah-inspired law code to centralized power around King and Temple.



This “D” source provided both the form and content for the Joshua-2 Kings material—which came to be known as the “Deuteronomistic History”

Approaching Deuteronomy •

Who wrote Deuteronomy? •



As with other books, there are editorial additions in this book: •

“These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness” (1:1)



Various geographical (2:10-11, 20-23; 3:9, 11, 13b-14) or historical (10:6-9) details that must come later than Moses



The account of Moses’ death (chap 34)

However, we have good grounds for believing that Moses was the essential author of this book.

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What kind of literature is Deuteronomy? •

One of the more recent approaches to answering this question has actually strengthened the traditional attribution of Mosaic authorship.



Viewing Deuteronomy as a kind of “suzerain treaty” or covenant—which was typical in the mid-second millennium BC—would place it in the timeframe of the historical Moses.

Deuteronomy as an ancient (Hittite) treaty Treaty structure

Meaning

Deuteronomy

Preamble

Introduction identifies the suzerain king, giving his titles and attributes

1:1-5

Historical Prologue

Describes the historical relationships between the two parties in agreement

1:6-3:29

Stipulations

The terms of the agreement, explaining the obligations imposed on and accepted by the vassal

4-26

Provision for deposit in temple and regular reading

Regular public readings ensured that the entire vassal nation understood the agreement

31:9-13, 24-26

List the gods as witnesses

The Hittite gods served as witnesses and could be appealed to if the vassal state failed in its obligations

30:19, 31:19-22

Curses and blessings formula

Blessings are listed for those who obey the terms of the treaty; curses for those who did not.

28

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What kind of literature is Deuteronomy? •

If in fact Deuteronomy is a “suzerain treaty,” then we must understand it as a covenant between God and his people. •

The King (God) forges a covenant with his vassals (Israel) to do all his law (Deuteronomy)



And in fact it is a restatement of the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 20-24) for the second generation as they prepare to cross into the Promised Land (29:9, 12, 14, 21).

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the structure of Deuteronomy? •

There are a number of ways of approaching the structure of Deuteronomy. •

One is to recognize the structure provided by Moses’ speeches —each address specifies the location and setting in which it was given: •

“East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab” (1:5)



“In the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan” (4:44-49)



“In Moab” (29:1)

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the structure of Deuteronomy? •

Another approach recognizes a five-part concentric pattern



A third approach focuses in particularly on how chapters 12-26 serves to explicate the Ten Commandments

Deuteronomy: A Chiastic Structure •

The outer frame: A look backward (chap 1-3) •

The inner frame: Covenant summary (chap 4-11) •

• •

The central core: Covenant stipulations (chaps 12-26)

The inner frame: Covenant ceremony (chap 27-30)

The outer frame: A look forward (chap 31-34)

Deuteronomy as Exposition of the Ten Commandments Issues

Regarding God

Regarding Man

Authority

Commandment 1 (5:7)

chaps. 6-11

Commandment 5 (5:16)

16:18-17:13

Dignity

Commandment 2 (5:8)

12:1-32

Commandments 6-8 (5:17-19)

6th: 19:1-21:23

7th: 22:1-23:14

8th: 23:15-24:7

Commitment

Commandment 3 (5:11)

13:1-14:21

Commandment 9 (5:20)

24:8-16

Rights and Privileges

Commandment 4 (5:12-15)

14:22-16:17

Commandment 10 (5:21)

24:17-26:15

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the content of Deuteronomy? •

Though “Deuteronomy” literally means “second law” (following an early mistranslation of 17:18), it doesn’t represent a second law, but a second establishment of the Mosaic covenant—this time with the second generation.



In order to get to this re-establishment of the Mosaic covenant, Moses first recalls God’s past faithfulness to his people (his first speech 1:1-4:43). •

When he remembers the first generation’s failure, in Deut 1, he recalls the material in Numbers 1-20.



In Deut 2-3, he recalls the material in Numbers 21-36, especially focused on the journey through Moab and the defeat of Sihon and Og.

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the content of Deuteronomy? •

After Moses exhorts his people to be exclusively devoted to Yahweh who has brought them to the Promised Land, God through Moses renews his covenant with his people. •

He does this first in general terms (5-11), then specific terms (12-26).



In general terms, we find several things:

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the content of Deuteronomy? •



General: God’s good law and electing love (5-11) •

The reiteration of the Ten Commandments (5)



The Shema (6)



The nature and motivation of God’s election (7-9)



A call to circumcise the heart and to love God (10-11)

Specific: Application of God’s law to specific cases (12-26)

Approaching Deuteronomy •

What is the content of Deuteronomy? •

Ratifying God’s covenant (26-31) •

The ceremony (27)



Blessings and curses (28) •

We should not read these blessings and curses as universally true for all times and places; these were specific to Israel’s future in the Promised Land.



We should, however, read these blessings and curses as reminding us that our eternal destinies hang on whether we love and obey God or not—however, the circumstances of our present life may have little to do with our obedience or failure (John 9:1-3; Luke 13:4-5; Job).

Approaching Deuteronomy •

How is Deuteronomy used in the Bible? •

Old Testament •

While the old critical theory about reading Deuteronomy-2 Kings as a sixth-century “Deuteronomistic history” is wrong, it is the case that Deuteronomy does set the stage for evaluating Israel’s history as reported in Joshua-2 Kings.



Generally speaking, Israel prospers when she remains faithful to the covenant; she is oppressed when she disobeys the covenant.



Deuteronomy was likely the book discovered in 2 Kings 23

Deuteronomy in Josiah’s Day (2 Kings 23) Deuteronomy 12 required the destruction of Canannite high places and conducting worship at a centralized location

Josiah follows these provisions (2 Kings 23:4-20)

Deuteronomy 16 set the observance of the Passover at the central worship sanctuary

Josiah follows these provisions, observing the Passover at the Temple (2 Kings 23:21-22)

Deuteronomy 18 required the elimination of mediums, spirits and diviners from Israel

Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists

(2 Kings 23:24)

Deuteronomy 28 contains a series of curses upon Israel for failing to maintain covenant with God

The book presented to Josiah had a series of curses

(2 Kings 22:13, 19)

Deuteronomy 17 requires that Israel’s kings rule in accordance with a copy of the law

This action was attributed to Josiah

(2 Kings 22:11, 23:2-3)

Deuteronomy is structured throughout as a covenant treaty book.

The law book discovered by Josiah’s men was described as “a book of the covenant” (2 Kings 23:2)

Central to Deuteronomy’s theology is the sacredness of God’s name and the exclusive devotion demanded to that name.

The account in 2 Kings 23:27 noted that judgment that was coming to Israel for profaning God’s name.

Approaching Deuteronomy •

How is Deuteronomy used in the Bible? •

New Testament •

Deuteronomy is the third most quoted books in the NT (Psalms, Isaiah).



Central to NT expectation is that God would raise up a prophet like Moses (Deut 18) and that there hasn’t been a prophet like Moses since (Deut 34).

Approaching Deuteronomy •

How is Deuteronomy used in the Bible? •

New Testament •

Jesus is presented as a prophet like Moses, who performed deeds in the wilderness (Deut 34:11-12; John 6:14, 7:40; Acts 3:22, 7:37)



Jesus quotes Deuteronomy directly as he repulsed Satan in his temptation in the wilderness (Deut 6:13, 16, 8:3; Matt 4:1-10).



Above all, Jesus is the curse bearer (Deut 28; Gal 3:10)—he took his people’s curse for being covenant breakers upon himself.