Book introduction
The book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell. On the plains of Moab, before Israel crosses the Jordan, he retells their story, repeats the law, and calls them to love God with everything. It ends with Moses’ death.
Read Deuteronomy 6Start at chapter 1
Who wrote Deuteronomy?
The book presents itself as Moses’ speeches, and tradition holds that he wrote them. Many scholars link its final form to the reforms of King Josiah (2 Kings 22–23) in the 600s BC, drawing on older material. The last chapter, on Moses’ death, was added by someone else.
When was it written?
Set about 40 years after the exodus. Dated by different views from Moses’ time to the 600s BC or later.
Main themes
- Love God with all you are
- The Shema in chapter 6 became Israel’s daily confession.
- Remember
- Moses keeps telling the people not to forget what God has done.
- Choose life
- Blessing and curse are set before them as a real choice.
Outline of Deuteronomy
Key verses
Hear, Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. Love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
He humbled you, let you go hungry, and fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that a person does not live on bread alone, but a person lives on everything that comes from the mouth of Yahweh.
Today I summon the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you: I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live,
Be strong and courageous. Have no fear of them and do not shrink back before them, for it is Yahweh your God who goes along with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Chapter 6 holds the Shema, the verse Jesus called the greatest commandment.
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