The Chapters – Quick Access
Basics
BOOK: Deuteronomy
Description: 5th book of the Pentateuch, the Law of Moses – recounting recent history and laws
Author: Mostly Moses but obviously with additions by a later scribe.
Date written: somewhere about 1400 BC (latter part of Moses’ life)
Chapters: 34
Brief Synopsis
- A series of addresses given by Moses (with help later on) at the end of the forty years wandering in the desert and just before entering the Land
- Recounts recent history of Israel, and then reminders of the Law they have received, followed a number of injunctions to remain faithful to the Lord as they go into the Land.
Why Read Deuteronomy
In this book we find Moses speaking a number of times to Israel on the Plains of Moab. It is perhaps one of the most dense, compact and repetitive sets of writings in the whole Bible. Why? Because Moses is aware that his time on earth is rapidly coming to an end, and he is about to hand over the baton of leadership to Joshua who is going to have to lead the people into battle to take the Promised Land. It brings together the previous three books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, reiterating the laws and the events and the commands we find in those books.
Characteristics
There are several very clear characteristics we should note:
1. Goal Centred: The goal ahead of them, that was first seen in the early chapters of Exodus, was to take the Promised Land, and the Lord reminds them of that again and again.
2. God Focused & Testimony Empowered: Above all else, Moses reminds the nation that that goal has been God -initiated and God-enabled so far and must be God-enabled in the future if it is to be successfully accomplished. Now to achieve this God-awareness, if we may call it that, Moses reminds them again and again of their recent past and God’s role in it, (i.e. their Testimony) that goes back to Horeb (Sinai) – 4:10, after having been released from slavery in Egypt – 5:17, 15:15,16:12,24:18,22, where God dealt with Pharaoh – 7:18, delivered them – 16:3, and led them in the desert – 8:2, even when they were rebellious there – 9:7. Yes, the word ‘remember’ occurs a number of times. But those verses are complemented by verses calling on Israel not to “forget” their past [4:9,23, 6:12, 8:11,14,19, 9:7, 25:19) All of these many calls to remember the past were because ALL of these things involved the Lord and what He had done for them.
3. Obedience-commanded: Put another way, the call to ‘remember’ and ‘not forget’ is linked to a call to obey all the laws and commands that God puts before them. Indeed, their success in taking the Promised Land is conditional upon them obeying them. Note the use of the following:
‘Follow these commands’: 4:1,5,13,14, 5:1,31, 7:11,12 8:1, 11:11, 12:1, 15:5, 16:12, 17:19, 19:9, 24:8, 26:16, 27:10, 28:1,13,15,58, 29:9,39, 30:8, 31:12 (26 times)
‘Obey’: 6:3,24,25, 8:20, 11:13, 27,32, 12:28, 13:14,18, 15:5, 21:18, 27:10, 28:1,2, 15,45,62, 30:2,8,10, 32:46 (21 times)
‘Walk in obedience’: 5:33, 8:6, 10:12, 11:22, 19:9, 26:17, 28:9, 30:16 (8)
Structure
The book comprises 34 chapters, the vast majority of which comprise four talks or addresses that Moses gave the nation while they were on the Plains of Moab before crossing the River Jordan and entering the Land to take Jericho.
The following imply divisions and new starts of the four talks or addresses:
“These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel…” (1:1)
“Moses summoned all Israel and said…” (5:1)
“Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them…” (29:2)
“Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel…” (31:1)
Contents
The following indicate those ‘talk divisions’ and a suggested chapter grouping as well as individual chapter contents. If you wish to go to these chapters, click on the ‘Quick Access’ chapter numbers above. Each grouping will be shown at the top of each chapter of text in order to remind the reader of the Context.
As usual we have reformatted each chapter, providing subheadings and additional notes as we thought appropriate in order to help the reader take in the text more easily.
TALK ONE
Part 1: Ch.1-4 Moses Reminds Israel how they got here
[The reminders seek to bring a desired conclusion – obedience.]
- Ch.1 – Reminders of Failure at Kadesh
- Ch.2 – Reminders of Guidance to get to this point
- Ch.3 – Reminders of Triumphs & Direction
- Ch.4 – Encouragements to Obedience
TALK TWO
Part 2: Ch.5-11 Moses brings Encouragements
[A Mixture of more reminders and encouragements to aid obedience.]
- Ch.5 – Reminders of the Ten Commandments
- Ch.6 – Remember & Keep the Commands
- Ch.7 – Make Sure you Clear the Land
- Ch.8 – Helps to Remember the Lord
- Ch.9 – Recognize your Vulnerability
- Ch.10 – Reassurances
- Ch.11 – More Encouragements
Part 3: Ch.12-20 Moses reminds them of Stipulations for a Holy Nation
- Ch.12 – The One Place of Worship
- Ch.13 – Beware Deception
- Ch.14 – Food & Tithing
- Ch.15 – Year Seven Changes & Firstborn Animals
- Ch.16 – Festivals, Justice & Worship
- Ch.17 – Worship, Justice & any Future King
- Ch.18 – Maintain Right Spiritual Practices
- Ch.19 – Rules for Cities of Refuge
- Ch.20 – Rules for Going to War
Part 4: Ch.21-25 Moses lays out Relational Laws
- Ch.21 – Misc. Administrative Laws
- Ch.22 – Civil Laws, Marriage Laws & Abuse Laws
- Ch.23 – Holiness & Righteousness in the Nation
- Ch.24 – Relational Laws for a Holy Community
- Ch.25 – Sentencing, Succession, Misc. Laws
Part 5: Ch.26-30 Preparing to Enter Commitment Issues
- Ch.26 – First-Fruits, Tithes & Covenant
- Ch.27 – Ceremonies of Blessing & Cursing
- Ch.28 – The Blessings & Curses
TALK THREE
- Ch.29 – Renewal of the Covenant
- Ch.30 – Choices for Now & the Future
TALK FOUR
Part 6: Ch.31-34 Moses Finale
- Ch.31 – Succession, the Law & Warning
- Ch.32 – The Song of Moses
- Ch.33 – Moses blesses the tribes
- Ch.34 – The Death of Moses
Concluding Comments
Apart from the first four chapters recounting their recent past, Deuteronomy has a certain feeling of repetition about it for the new reader. Again and again there is the call to remain faithful to the Lord as they enter the Promised Land. However, as well as
• The calls to remain faithful and
• The reminders of the Law given
we also see
• The many promises of blessing on obedience as well as
• Awful warnings of misfortunes (curses) that will befall them for disobedience.
The reader who knows their Bible will know that eventually those curses can be seen as prophetic for they were all seen as a result of Israel’s ongoing unfaithfulness. That said, we can also see the blessing of God coming on them again and again when they called out for His help. The greatest lesson that we can ever learn is that God knows best! Living a life in harmony with His guidance and direction is guaranteed to receive His blessing.