THE BOOK of DEUTERONOMY - 9.23.09

DEUTERONOMY: God's Book of Remembrance
"These are the WORDS"

Deuteronomy is one of the most majestic, fascinating and significant books in the Old Testament. It is cited or quoted 195 times in the New Testament. It is exceeded only by references to Psalms, Isaiah, Genesis and Exodus in that order. Indeed, Jesus quoted from it on three occasions at the temptations (Matthew 4:1–11; cf. Deut. 8:3; 6:13, 16). He even quoted Deut. 6:5 when asked what was the greatest commandment.

TITLE: Deuteronomy means "second law," or "Repetition of the Law." It is based on an erroneous Greek translation of the three Hebrew words in 17:18, which is correctly rendered "a copy of this law." The Hebrew title is 'ellah had devarim, "These are the words," from the first two words in the original. Deuteronomy is more than a repetition of the law found in the preceding books of Moses. In this book the law is further expanded, interpreted, explained and applied to daily life of the Jewish people. Perhaps simply "Words" is the best title for the book.

AUTHOR: The book claims to consist almost entirely of the farewell speeches of Moses as he addressed the people of Israel just before they would cross over into the Promised Land. Internal and external evidence is strong for Moses as the author of this book along with all the first five books of the Old Testament (Deut. 1:1; 31:9, 22, 24ff; Exodus 17:14; 24:4, 7; Numbers 33:2). The author has a firsthand knowledge of the geographical details and history of the Exodus. Only Moses could tell of the details of the events in chapter three. Someone writing hundreds of years later would not be familiar with such details. Moses was a literate well-educated man and would have been familiar with the Near Eastern treaties and their form of writing. The Egyptian elements also favor Moses as the author. No Egyptologist has ever detected an anachronism or any trace of age or circumstances not confined to Moses' day. The very ancient Jewish conviction that Moses was the author is expressed in the alternative title for Deuteronomy, "The Fifth Book of Moses." Moses is stated as the speaker of nearly the entire book (1:1; 5:1; 27:11; 29:2; 31:1; 31:30; 33:1). He is definitely the responsible author of the book. He directed, controlled and was responsible for all that was in the original text. There is remarkable unity and consistency in this writing. The binding theme is the worship of God. Other than Christ, Moses is the greatest interpreter of that worship. Christ not only quoted the book, but attributed it to Moses (Matt. 19:7–9; John 5:45–47; cf. Deut 18:18). So do Luke, Peter, Paul and James in the New Testament. Probably Joshua wrote the obituary of Moses in Deuteronomy 34. Moreover, archaeology has proven that Moses could have been the author. There is nothing in the book that could not have come from the time of Moses. In fact, it contains what we would expect to come from the pen of Moses.
Much has been written about the documentary hypothesis or theory of the Pentateuch, which holds the view that some unknown editor, or editors went through the ancient books and abstracted various parts. Proponents add that Moses' name was given as the author to give status to the books. It is highly imaginative but lacks credibility because literature is not produced this way. It is unnatural and leads to absurdities and the false principle of evolution of religion for formulas in the formation of the Pentateuch. The documentary hypothesis contradicts the plain statements of both the Old and New Testaments that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch. One wag said: "If the five books of Moses were not written by Moses, they must have been written by somebody else named Moses." One of the best arguments for Moses authorship is the internal evidence that presents archaic words and obsolete constructions as an exhibit for Moses as author. Moses had helpers like Eleazar the priest and this would account of slight variations in style. Even though it has gone through wars, calamities, efforts of the enemies to destroy it, laid aside and lost for centuries, it still has the sense of the original and a trustworthy text. The authorship of Moses has had the unanimous unbroken tradition of both Jewish and Christian scholarship until recent years. Frankly, no one has proven that Moses did not write these five books. The documentary hypothesis as originally presented has almost completely deteriorated among scholarly students of the Pentateuch.

Chapters 28–30 are one of the most amazing prophecies in the Bible because it predicts the entire history of the Jewish people. It even points to the time when they cease to be a nation and are scattered over the face of the earth (28:64; 30:1–6). With graphically vivid word pictures Moses describes for them what would result if they turned from God to serve the idols of their neighbors. Consequently, Israel wandered for many centuries as a people without a land. Moses looked far into the future and saw the people dispersed in lands of captivity, and then he saw God gathering them again to a final restoration.
It is significant that Moses is never praised until after his death in keeping with his humility (34:10). It is very reasonable to conclude that this work is the result of a true historical connection between the man and the book that bears his name as author. It clearly reflects the personality of Moses, the geographical data of Egypt, the wilderness of Sinai and historical setting we would expect in its contents. It is a great book by a great author.

PLACE: The people of Israel are located at the last camp ground in the wilderness on the plains of Moab during the interval of forty days before crossing the Jordan to begin the conquest of Canaan. The physical setting is the same as the opening of Joshua in the wilderness. The entire book takes place on the plains of Moab. Those who left Egypt have wandered in the wilderness for nearly 38 years (Numbers 16:1–17:13; 20:1; Deut. 1:19–46). They are now in the same spot they were 38 years before. At the beginning of the fortieth year they are at Kadesh–barnea a second time (Num. 20:1–21:35), and now we have before us the last month in the life of Moses. What will the great leader have to say to his people? What will be his last will and testament?

TIME: c. 1406 B. C. and covers about forty days.

THEME: The theme of Deuteronomy is set forth in the words "possess" and "possession." These are exhortations and instructions concerning the possession of the Promised Land. We are on the verge of going across the Jordan River and taking possession of the land. The emphasis of the covenant in Deuteronomy is on the settlement in the Promised Land. This is a covenant of possession of the land. In this expanded covenant, there is also the provision for exile if the people reject God to serve idols.

KEY WORDS: "Remember," "possess," "obey"

PURPOSE: Deuteronomy is a restating of the instructions and laws to a second generation of Israelites who grew up in the wilderness journey. All of the first generation is now dead, except for Joshua, Caleb and Moses. Moses will die before Israel crosses over the Jordan. It is basically a review of the law before crossing into the Promised Land. This pivotal book helps the people adjust to a new leader and a new life in the covenant in a new land. The audience that heard these messages preached is described as "all Israel." However, the readers would be the people after they have settled in the land. The book serves as a reminder of God's purpose for Israel and how they should live as His people in the new land.

KEY VERSES: 10:12–13
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"