The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible).  It is essentially a record of Moses' farewell speeches to the new generation of Israelites on the Plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land of Canaan.  The Hebrew title of the book means "The Words," while the English title, Deuteronomy, comes from the Greek meaning "Second Law" or "Repetition of the Law."

 

Summary and Structure

 

Deuteronomy is structured as a series of sermons or speeches delivered by Moses over a short period:

 

1.  First Speech: Historical Review (Chapters 1–4)

 

• The Past Journey:  Moses recounts the Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness, focusing on their rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, despite their failures.

• A Call to Remember:  He reminds the people of their history to urge them not to repeat the mistakes of the previous generation.

 

2.  Second Speech: Restatement of the Law (Chapters 5–26)

 

• Covenant Foundation:  Moses restates the Ten Commandments (Chapter 5), re-establishing the core of the covenant with this new generation.

• Specific Laws:  This is the heart of the book, where Moses provides detailed laws and statutes for how they are to live once they possess the land.  These laws cover worship, social justice, family life, civil justice, leadership, and warfare.

• The Shema:  The most famous passage is the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), which mandates exclusive loyalty to one God and calls the people to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

 

3.  Third Speech:  Covenant Renewal and Choice (Chapters 27–30)

 

• Blessings and Curses:  Moses lays out a stark choice:  blessings will follow if they remain faithful and obedient to the covenant, but severe curses (including exile and disaster) will be the consequence of disobedience and idolatry (Chapter 28).

• Final Exhortation:  He makes a powerful appeal to the people to "choose life" by choosing to love and obey God.

 

4. Conclusion and Death of Moses (Chapters 31–34)

 

• Moses commissions Joshua as the new leader.

• He recites a final Song and pronounces a Blessing on the tribes of Israel.

• The book concludes with Moses viewing the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before he dies.

 

Major Themes

 

• Covenant Renewal:  The book functions as a formal re-affirmation of the covenant between God and the people of Israel, tailored for the generation about to enter the land.

• Obedience and Love:  The central message is that a relationship with God is founded on love, and this love is demonstrated through total obedience to His laws.  Obedience brings life and blessing; disobedience brings death and curse.

• Monotheism and Central Worship:  Deuteronomy constantly stresses the uniqueness of their God and warns against idolatry. It instructs them to centralize their worship at a single place God will choose (which later becomes Jerusalem).

• Remembrance:  Moses repeatedly urges the Israelites to remember their history, especially their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, as the basis for their trust and gratitude toward God.

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Deuteronomy is often considered the theological foundation for much of the rest of Israel's history in the Old Testament, as it establishes the covenant terms by which their success or failure in the land will be judged.

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