DEUTERONOMY
Context
Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch (Torah), containing Moses' final speeches to Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The name means 'second law' and represents a restatement and expansion of the Law given at Mount Sinai.
Written by Moses around 1400 BC, Deuteronomy serves as both a farewell address and a constitution for the nation of Israel. It emphasizes the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, based on obedience to God's commands.
Summary
First Speech: Historical Review (Ch. 1-4)
Moses reviews Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, reminding them of God's faithfulness and their past failures. He emphasizes the importance of obeying God's laws and warns against idolatry, which will lead to exile from the land.
Second Speech: The Law Restated (Ch. 5-26)
Moses restates the Ten Commandments and expands on the Law with detailed instructions for life in the Promised Land. This includes laws for worship, government, social justice, and daily living. The famous Shema (6:4-5) calls Israel to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength.
Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (Ch. 27-30)
Moses presents the choice between life and death, blessing and curse. Obedience leads to prosperity in the land, while disobedience results in exile and suffering. Yet even in judgment, God promises restoration when the people return to Him with all their heart.
Final Words and Death of Moses (Ch. 31-34)
Moses commissions Joshua as his successor and writes down the Law. He sings a song of warning and blessing, then blesses each tribe. The book concludes with Moses' death on Mount Nebo, having seen the Promised Land but not entering it due to his earlier disobedience.
Practice Questions & Answers
Deuteronomy means 'second law' and contains Moses' final speeches to Israel before they enter the Promised Land. It restates and expands on the Law, emphasizing the importance of loving and obeying God.
The central message is that Israel must love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, and choose life and blessing by obeying His commands rather than death and curse through disobedience.
Deuteronomy provides laws for worship, government, social justice, and daily life in the land. It warns against idolatry and emphasizes the need to remember God's faithfulness and remain faithful to Him.
The Shema is the foundational statement of Jewish faith: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.'
Deuteronomy prophesies that God will raise up a prophet like Moses (18:15-18), which points to Christ. The book also emphasizes the need for a new heart, which is fulfilled in the New Covenant.