Deuteronomy: Remember, love, obey

Where Deuteronomy sits

In the story

Act IV, Israel · Redeemed, c. 1446–1406 BC

In the Bible

Old Testament · The Law · book 5 of 66

Before it in the story

Numbers

After it in the story

Joshua

The last book of the Law: Moses' farewell on the plains of Moab, renewing the covenant with the generation that will enter Canaan; Joshua takes up the story at the Jordan.

Deuteronomy summary

Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell: the speeches he gave on the plains of Moab in the last weeks of his life, to the generation that would cross the Jordan. In the first speech he retells the forty years from Horeb, the unbelief at Kadesh and the victories over Sihon and Og, and urges Israel to keep God's word and make no image (1:1–4:43). The second and longest restates the Ten Commandments, calls Israel to love the one LORD with all the heart (6:4–5), sets out the statutes and ordinances for life in the land, and ends with the blessings and curses that hang on obedience (4:44–28:68). The third binds all Israel and their children by oath, warns that the LORD has not yet given them a mind to understand, and promises that after judgment He will circumcise their hearts (29–30). Moses then hands the leadership to Joshua, writes the law and a song as witnesses, blesses the tribes, and dies on Mount Nebo in sight of the land (31–34).

Deuteronomy in context

Written by

Moses, who spoke these words and wrote them down (1:5; 31:9, 22, 24), as Jesus and the apostles assume (Matt 19:7–8; Acts 3:22); the account of his death (ch. 34) and a few explanatory notes, such as those on earlier peoples (2:10–12, 20–23), were added later under inspiration

Written to

The new generation of Israel, raised in the wilderness after their fathers died for unbelief, about to cross the Jordan into Canaan (1:34–39; 2:14–16)

Setting

The plains of Moab east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, after the defeat of Sihon and Og (1:1–5; 3:29; 4:44–46)

When

Spoken from the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year after the exodus (1:3), c. 1406 BC on the early exodus date (1 Kgs 6:1). The speeches and Moses' death fall within a few weeks before the crossing (34:8; Josh 4:19).

Why

To renew the covenant with the generation entering the land: to make them remember the LORD's faithfulness and their fathers' unbelief, to call them to love Him alone and keep His law in the land, to set life and death before them, to secure the succession from Moses to Joshua, and to point them to a coming Prophet and to a heart that God Himself must give.

Themes of Deuteronomy

• Covenant love
• One LORD, no rivals
• Remember and obey
• The place the LORD will choose
• Blessing and curse
• The heart Israel lacked
• The land and rest
• Leaders under the word
• Mercy for the weak

Key verses in Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 6:4–5

  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

• Deuteronomy 7:7–8

  The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

• Deuteronomy 18:15

  The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.

• Deuteronomy 30:6

  The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

• Deuteronomy 30:19

  I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,

• Deuteronomy 32:4

  He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

Deuteronomy chapter by chapter

Part 1 · First speech: what the LORD has done 1:1–4:43

1. 1
   Deuteronomy 1: From Horeb to Kadesh

   Moses retells how Israel refused to enter the land at Kadesh, and a whole generation was shut out.

2. 2
   Deuteronomy 2: Past Edom, Moab and Ammon

   The LORD leads Israel past the lands He gave Esau and Lot, then gives them Sihon's kingdom.

3. 3
   Deuteronomy 3: Og defeated; Moses may only look

   The LORD gives Og's kingdom to Israel but refuses Moses' plea to cross; Joshua will lead them in.

4. 4
   Deuteronomy 4: No form, no image

   Keep His statutes and make no image: at Horeb you saw no form, and He alone is God.

Part 2 · Second speech: the law for life in the land 4:44–28:68

1. 5
   Deuteronomy 5: The Ten Commandments

   Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, made with this generation at Horeb, and recalls Israel's plea for a mediator.

2. 6
   Deuteronomy 6: Hear, O Israel

   Hear, O Israel: the LORD is One; love Him with all your heart and teach His words.

3. 7
   Deuteronomy 7: A holy people, chosen in love

   Devote Canaan's nations to destruction; the LORD chose Israel not for its size but because He loved them.

4. 8
   Deuteronomy 8: Not by bread alone

   Remember how God humbled and fed you in the wilderness; do not forget Him in the good land.

5. 9
   Deuteronomy 9: Not because of your righteousness

   Israel takes the land not for its righteousness but for the nations' wickedness, for Israel is stubborn.

6. 10
   Deuteronomy 10: Circumcise your hearts

   God gives new tablets and sets apart Levi; He requires fear, love and service from a circumcised heart.

7. 11
   Deuteronomy 11: A blessing and a curse

   Love and obey for life in the land: Moses sets before Israel a blessing and a curse.

8. 12
   Deuteronomy 12: The place the LORD will choose

   Tear down Canaan's shrines and bring your worship to the one place where the LORD sets His name.

9. 13
   Deuteronomy 13: Do not follow the enticer

   Whether prophet, kin or a whole town, anyone who draws Israel to other gods must not be spared.

10. 14
    Deuteronomy 14: Sons of the LORD

    As the LORD's sons and holy people, Israel mourns and eats differently, and tithes with joy.

11. 15
    Deuteronomy 15: The year of release

    Every seventh year debts are released and Hebrew slaves set free, as the LORD set Israel free.

12. 16
    Deuteronomy 16: Three feasts before the LORD

    Keep Passover, Weeks and Tabernacles at the chosen place, and appoint judges who judge justly.

13. 17
    Deuteronomy 17: Courts and the king

    Justice rests on two or three witnesses, and Israel's king must be God's choice and read His law.

14. 18
    Deuteronomy 18: A Prophet like Moses

    The LORD is Levi's inheritance; Israel must shun divination, for God will raise up a Prophet like Moses.

15. 19
    Deuteronomy 19: Refuge, landmarks and witnesses

    Refuge cities protect the accidental killer but not the murderer, and false witnesses get what they intended.

16. 20
    Deuteronomy 20: When you go out to war

    In war the LORD fights for Israel; far cities are offered peace, but Canaan's cities fall under judgment.

17. 21
    Deuteronomy 21: Under God's curse

    Innocent blood is atoned for, the weak in families protected, and a hanged man buried before night.

18. 22
    Deuteronomy 22: A neighbor's ox, a parapet, a marriage

    Care for your neighbor's goods, honor God's created distinctions, and guard marriage and sexual purity.

19. 23
    Deuteronomy 23: The assembly and the camp

    The LORD's assembly and camp are kept holy; runaways sheltered, vows kept, and neighbors' fields respected.

20. 24
    Deuteronomy 24: Mercy for the weak

    Limit divorce, protect the poor and the foreigner, pay wages daily, and leave gleanings for the needy.

21. 25
    Deuteronomy 25: Justice, a brother's name, Amalek

    Limit punishment, free the working ox, raise up a dead brother's name, keep honest weights, remember Amalek.

22. 26
    Deuteronomy 26: A wandering Aramean

    Bring firstfruits confessing God's saving history; the LORD and Israel declare themselves each other's.

23. 27
    Deuteronomy 27: Ebal and Gerizim

    On Ebal Israel writes the law and builds an altar; the Levites pronounce twelve curses, each answered Amen.

24. 28
    Deuteronomy 28: Blessings and curses

    Obedience brings blessing in every sphere; disobedience brings curses ending in siege, exile and Egypt again.

Part 3 · Third speech: the covenant in Moab 29:1–30:20

1. 29
   Deuteronomy 29: The covenant in Moab

   Israel enters the covenant by oath, though the LORD has not yet given them a mind to understand.

2. 30
   Deuteronomy 30: Choose life

   After exile God will gather His people and circumcise their hearts; His word is near, so choose life.

Part 4 · Moses' last acts 31:1–34:12

1. 31
   Deuteronomy 31: Be strong and courageous

   Moses charges Joshua, writes down the law, and receives a song to witness against unfaithful Israel.

2. 32
   Deuteronomy 32: The Song of Moses

   The song praises the faithful Rock, indicts faithless Israel, and ends with judgment and mercy for His people.

3. 33
   Deuteronomy 33: The blessing of Moses

   Moses blesses each tribe under the God of Jeshurun: blessed is Israel, a people saved by the LORD.

4. 34
   Deuteronomy 34: The death of Moses

   Moses sees the promised land from Nebo and dies; Joshua leads, and no prophet like Moses has arisen.

See the outline of Deuteronomy