Deuteronomy

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.

~ Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

Title and Setting

English = “second law” = LXX = Vg

Deut 17:18 LXX deuteronomion “second law” (i.e., copy of); Heb mishneh torah “copy of the law”

Cf. Deut 29:1 (covenant at Horeb = 10 commandments 4:14, 5:2-19; chs. 6-26 & 28 understood as private revelation to Moses, only revealed now)

Hebrew = devarim “words”

Cf. Deut 1:1

Deuteronomy is largely Moses’ words

10 words (cf. Deut 10:4) is the term for the 10 commandments, which are delivered here for the 2nd time (but these are divine speech!)

Deuteronomy’s Distinctives

Style: Sermonic (exhortative), pedagogic (emphasis on teaching the next generation, children), with a distinctive vocabulary and set of convictions

God shows no form; God’s words mediate God’s presence

God’s name dwells in the sanctuary

Sacrifice permitted in one spot alone

“LORD your God”

“Hear/listen/obey”

“Love … with all your heart, soul, mind”

“Levitical priests”

Remember: “Egypt”, e.g., Deut 26:5-10

Content: A rehearsal of Israel’s deliverance, the giving of the law, and wilderness wonderings as well as a new law code, esp. chs. 12-26. Frequently Deuteronomy is an awkward fit with previous instruction and narrative

The Covenant Code, Exod 20-24

The Ritual Decalogue, Exod 34

The Priestly Law, Exod 25-32; 36-40; Lev 1-16; Num 1-9, 15, 19

The Holiness Code, Lev 17-26

The Deuteronomic Law, Deut 12-26

Why Moses cannot enter the promised land, Deut 1:34-37; 3:26; 4:21; cp. Num ??? (but see Deut 32:51)

Laws concerning slavery: Deut 15:12-17; cp. Exod 21:2-11

The decalogue: Deut 5:1-21; cp. Exod 20:1-17

Where sacrifice is permitted: Deut 12; cp. Exod 20:22-26

Passover transformed, Deut 16:1-8; cp. Exod 12

Structure and Key Texts and Themes

The First Discourse of Moses, Deut 1:1-4:43: Historical Review (from Kadesh) and Exhortation to Obey

Kadesh to Peor: a rebellious people

The threat of exile, Deut 4:25-31

Exclusive loyalty to the only God, Deut 4:32-41; but cf. Deut 32:8 and language elsewhere in the book, e.g., Deut 10:17

The Second Discourse of Moses, Deut 4:44-28:68: The revelation at Horeb/Sinai; the requirement to love/obey; the legal corpus; ceremonies upon entering the land, announcing blessing and curse

The Ten Commandments, ch. 5

The Shema, ch. 6

The Herem/ban “utterly destroy them”, ch. 7

The Why and the How of God’s Election of Israel, chs. 7-9

Sin at Horeb, ch. 9

Heart circumcision, ch. 10

The Legal Corpus, chs. 12-26

Sacrifice and the place of the name, ch. 12

The law of the king, ch. 17:14-20

The prophet like Moses, ch. 18:15-22

The Third Discourse of Moses, Deut 29:1-30:20: Ratification of the covenant, the people’s recalcitrance, exile and restoration, ability to obey

Future failure and exile foreseen, as good as done, Deut 29:4, 28-30:1 (cf. Deut 31:16, 26-29)

Heart circumcision again, but different, Deut 30:6ff

The Formation of the Book of the Covenant, Appointing a Successor, A Song, A Blessing, and the Death of Moses, Deut 31:1-34:12

The outlook for Israel after Moses’ departure is pessimistic

Behind the Text of Deuteronomy

The Days of King Josiah, 2 Kings 22

The book of the law as the basic core of Deut 12-26?

Deuteronomy as anti-imperial tractate, a counter-covenant? cf. Deut 6:4-6

Editors of the book as those also responsible for the Deuteronomistic history, Joshua to 2 Kings

And yet, the final form of Deuteronomy appears to be post-exilic and to address an audience reckoning with the failures of the past and faced with the call to obedience to an ancient covenant

In Front of the Text of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy in the temptation narrative of Matt 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13

Deuteronomy in the great commandment, Mark 12:29-30 par.

Deuteronomy in Paul’s creative reading, Rom 10:6-10