Old Testament Commentary - Deuteronomy

prepared by Don R. Hender


Contents by Chapter

.
 History of refusal to enter Canaan  Priests, Levites, Abominations; One like Moses
 2
  Leaving the desert; land of Edom; Amorites  Cities of refuge; witnesses
 Basham; land divided; Moses not to enter  Going to war
  4
  Obedience, not idolatry; law introduced  Murder; marriage of captives; rebellious son
 Commandments stated again  Marriage violations, good neighbors, animals
  Be faithful  Keep separate from the wicked
 Driving out the nations; accountability  Divorce; loans; dealing with the poor
 Remember the Lord when all is well  Going to court; kindness to animals; honest weights
 History of rebellion  Firstfruits; tithes; obedience
 The second set of tablets; the ark; fear God  Altar for Mt. Ebal; curses for idolatry, adultery, etc.
 Love and obey; false worship  Blessings and curses
 One place of worship; do not ask about gods  Importance and terms of the covenant
 Death for those who turn to idolatry  Summary; call to choose life
 Clean meat; tithe  Joshua new leader; law to be read; rebellion predicted
 Debts; the poor; slaves; firstborn animals  Final song of Moses
 Feasts of Passover and unleavened...  Final blessing of Moses
 Other gods; Levites judge; kings follow law  Moses dies on Mt. Nebo
Commentary Home
Next book, Joshua

Background, Purpose and Outline of Deuteronomy

The Children of Isreal had been forced to march around the nations of Edom and Moab on their last leg journey towards the land of promise rather than to take the more direct and traveled route of what was to be called the 'King's Highway' because Edom and subsequently Moab would not allow Israel's passage through the middle of their lands for likely various reasons. One can image what they were. Before going into the land of promise proper, Israel began to remove former inhabitants from the east side of the Jordan River and to settle therein. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and about half of the tribe of Manasseh secured their lands of inheritance there before the rest of Israel ever did enter into the land of promise proper, but they gave their assurance that they would aid the rest of Israel in their pursuits of obtaining their lands of inheritance on the west side of the river Jordan.

And thus was the body of Israel gathered upon the upper plains of Moah as Moses' administration unto Israel was coming to and end. Their about the site of Shittim Moses had Israel gather to hear his last words to them before he turned the duties over to Joshua and Israel entering into the promised land. Like King Benjamin of the Book of Mormon did in the beginning of the book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, Moses had done with Israel. He had called them together to hear his parting messages to them. It was a type of a conference perhaps even held about the time of the feast of the tabernacles and was a parallel event like unto King Benjamin's address at the site of the temple of Zarahemla. Moses would deliver a series of three talks or messages, perhaps on three separate days like what King Benjamin would do. The content of those sermons along with the recording of 'Moses' death' would constitute the book of Deuteronomy.

This fifth book of Moses completes what is call the Pentateuch. The word Deuteronomy means "Second Legislation" (after the first – the law given at Sinai). By the end of the fourty year 'wandering' in the wilderness of the children of Israel as led by Moses and according to the Lord's intent of preparing a generation apart from Egypt, Moses holds a great conference with the new generation to reiterate the history and the law of the people of God. This would not be unlike the gathering of the Nephites at the time of King Benjamin's address in the book of Mosiah, nor unlike the multi-day General LDS Conferences of today. Like King Benjamin's time and today's conferences, the messages were/are written down and published to the people that all might 'hear'. Certainly not all of Isreal could have heard Moses in one sitting and thus Moses' address and words must have been taken down and distributed unto the children of Israel. Moses delivered his addresses which are today contained in 34 chapters. This is not unlike the multiple talkes given at our conferences today which are distributed to the saints in the church's Ensign magazine and online upon the internet, other than in Moses' day and at this particular 'conference' the sermons were all delivered and given by Moses the prophet himself. Below is an outline of this final great set of addresses given by Moses to the children of Israel just prior to when the children of Israel were to be finally led from Shittim into the land of promise against Jericho by Joshua.

Deuteronomy ~ Fifth Book of Moses

  • Moses' Preamble or Introductory Explanation (1:1-5)
  • Historical Prologue or Summary of Events Precursoring Present Status (1:6-4:43)
  • Stipulations of the Covenant of God Unto Israel (4:44-26:19)
    • The Great Commandment: Demand for Absolute Alleginance to God (4:44-11:32)
      • God's Covenant Lordship (4:44-5:33)
      • The Principle of Consecration (ch. 6)
      • The Plan/Program for Conquering Canaan (ch. 7)
      • The Call to Commitment in the Land of Promise (ch. 8)
      • Lesson of the Broken Tablets (9:1-10:11)
      • Further Call to Commitment (10:12-11:32)
    • Additional Requirements Upon the Children of Israel (chs. 12-26)
      • Ceremonial Consecration (12:1-16:17)
      • Human Leaders in God's Righteous Kingdom (16:18-21:21)
      • Sanctity of God's Kingdom (21:22-25:19)
      • Profession and Acknowledgement of God as Redeemer & King (ch. 26)
  • Ratification: Blessings and Cursings of the Law (chs. 27-30)
  • Leadership Succession Under the Covenant (ch. 31-34)
    • Change of Leadership (31:1-29)
    • Sealing Song of Prophetic Events to Come by Moses the Prophet & Seer of God (31:30-32:47)
    • Moses' Testimonial Blessing on the Tribes of Israel (32:48-33:29)
  • Epilog: Death of Moses and Succession of Joshua (ch. 34)