Deuteronomy 1

Review & Overview

Theme and Purpose—“Beware lest you forget” is a key theme in Deuteronomy. Moses emphasizes the danger of forgetfulness because it leads to arrogance and disobedience.

They must remember two things:

(1) when they prosper, it is God who has caused it, and

(2) when they disobey God, He will discipline them as He did when the previous generation failed to believe Him at Kadesh-barnea.

Deuteronomy is a call to obedience as a condition to blessing. God has always been faithful to His covenant and He now extends it to the new generation.

Deuteronomy is a covenant renewal document that uses the same format as Near Eastern treaties in the time of Moses.

These treaties had the following elements:

(1) a preamble (a list of the parties making the treaty; 1:1–5),

(2) a historical prologue (the benevolent dealings of the king in the past; 1:6–4:43),

(3) stipulations (conditions of the covenant; 4:44–26:19),

(4) ratification (blessings and cursings; 27–30), and

(5) continuity (provisions for maintaining the covenant; 31–34). There is an emphasis on choice, and the people are urged to choose life rather than death (30:19–20).

They are told to “hear” (50 times) and “do,” “keep,” “observe” (177 times) God’s commands out of a heart of “love” (21 times).