Deuteronomy
Ch 1Ch 2Ch 3Ch 4Ch 5Ch 6Ch 7Ch 8Ch 9Ch 10Ch 11Ch 12Ch 13Ch 14Ch 15Ch 16Ch 17Ch 18Ch 19Ch 20Ch 21Ch 22Ch 23Ch 24Ch 25Ch 26Ch 27Ch 28Ch 29Ch 30Ch 31Ch 32Ch 33Ch 34
Chapter 1
Israel’s History after the Exodus
1
These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Moses spoke reflects the prophetic character of Deuteronomy, the words carry God’s authority as Moses is God’s spokesman (Dt 1:3, 5:22-28, 34:10).
The first five verses describe the parties involved, Moses, as God’s representative, and Israel (1:1, 1:3), the time (1:3), and the location, Moab (1:5).
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
The beginning of the gospel of John evokes this verse by mentioning word, a higher Word in the opening.
2
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.
Horeb is Sinai.
Eleven days from Horeb is not too far, especially since they have been in the wilderness for forty years (next verse). This verse conveys a feeling of Israel’s having been stuck.
OT: Num 14:33
Forty years in the wilderness =? Jesus forty days? Temptation, obeying G-d's word.
Israel had to go through it to enter the promise land/His rest. Did Jesus do it so we don't have to? (?). Interesting, maybe.
3
In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, in accordance with everything that the LORD had commanded him to declare to them,
The people have been wandering for forty years in the wilderness (Num 14:33).
Israel spent forty years in the wilderness as a foreshadow of Jesus spending forty days in which Jesus faces temptation but does not sin.
4
after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and in Edrei.
The fights against Sihon and Og also appear in Num 21:21-35. After defeating Sihon and Og, Moab is terrified and they hire Balaam to curse Israel (Num 22-24).
See comment in 2:1.
These battles will be described with more detail in 2:26-37 and 3:1-22
5
Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this Law, saying,
Moses began to expound, to make clear, to explain the Law.
The word for Law is torah, which means instruction. Later on the Torah became a term to refer to the first five books of Moses, the Pentateuch.
6
“The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
Our lives as believers are to be productive, not simply revolving around a well-known environment.
In this part of the address (1:6-3:29), Moses recalls the time after being liberated from Egypt, the appointment of leaders and the refusal to enter and conquer the land. The address will catch up with the current time in Chapter 4 after the retelling of the defeats of Sihon and Og.
See comment in 2:3 where Israel is found again in a similar repetitive pattern.
7
‘Turn and set out on your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Negev, by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
After the giving of the Law and the building of the Tabernacle, God tells them to set out on your journey and go in and take possession of the land, which show that the deliverance from Egypt had a purpose and it was only the first step on a plan God had for Israel. After God delivered them with signs and wonders from Egypt, it was their time to fight and conquer the land (next verse).
Similarly, we are saved for works prepared for us (Eph 2:8-10). After we are saved, we are also to conquer areas in our lives that prevent us from entering into God’s rest.
The promise to Abraham was to include the land from the Nile to the Euphrates (Gen 15:18).
8
‘See, I have placed the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and their descendants after them.’
The promise to Abraham was delivered through the offspring of Isaac and Jacob; not all the biological descendants of Abraham are children of the promise (Rom 9:6-12).
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
While in Egypt, God had given Israel seven promises (see comment in Ex 6:6-8).
The first three were fulfilled with their deliverance from Egypt. Deuteronomy shows how the remaining are also fulfilled.
The fourth promise, God’s taking them as His people, comes to pass in Dt 27:9.
The fifth promise, God becoming Israel’s God, comes to pass in Dt 26:17.
The sixth promise, to bring them to the land, is fulfilled in Dt 1:19 as they arrive at the edge of the promised land.
The seventh promise, God’s giving of the land as a possession, comes to pass as He instructs them to take the land (Dt 1:8, 6:10, 9:5, 9:27, 29:13, 30:20, 34:4).
9
“And I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I am not able to endure you alone.
Notice that Moses' words are for all generations, these words are spoken forty years after the events, when most everyone old enough to remember has passed away.
Moses, as a good leader, knows his limits; and knows that it is ultimately God who cares for the people (1:31).
The story to select leaders is also in Ex 18:17-26, soon after leaving Egypt.
Jesus teaches that leaders are to be servants (Jn 13:12-17).
10
‘The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number.
This is the fulfillment of Gen 15:5 and it evokes the blessing of creation (Gen 1:28).
Depicting Abraham’s descendants as the stars of heaven is common in the Bible (Gen 15:5, 22:17, 26:4; Dt 1:10; Is 40:26).
Multiplying and abundance is an overarching theme in God’s blessings (Ps 23:5; Jn 1:16, 3:34, 10:10, 15:5, 15:8)
11
‘May the LORD, the God of your fathers increase you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you, just as He has promised you!
A beatitude spoken by Moses. Notice the eternal character of God emphasized here as the God of your fathers.
12
‘How can I alone endure the burden and weight of you and your strife?
Note how strife is a burden to leadership.
13
‘Obtain for yourselves men who are wise, discerning, and informed from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’
Moses, as a good leader, knows the time to delegate.
Notice the qualities for leadership: wise, discerning, and informed. Compare with the qualities listed in Ex 18:21 and the example of service in Jn 13:12-17.
14
And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’
15
So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and informed men, and appointed them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes.
Society needs a governing structure.
A number of roles are defined, commanders, offices, and judges (next verse).
16
“Then I ordered your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen and judge righteously between a person and his fellow countryman, or the stranger who is with him.
The stranger, the sojourner, might be a picture of the Gentiles becoming part of Israel.
Notice that the same rules were to apply to both Israelites and sojourners (Ex 12:49, 22:21).
Righteous judgement was a concern to Solomon (1Ki 3:9) and Jesus (Jn 7:24).
17
‘You are not to show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You are not to be afraid of any person, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’
All were to be equal under the Law, there is to be no partiality.
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
18
At that time I commanded you all the things that you were to do.
Despite referring to events that happened forty years earlier, Moses speaks to the people as though they had been present then.
19
“Then we set out from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, just as the LORD our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
The wilderness is described as great and terrible (1:19, 8:15), it is the set up to God asking the people to take possession of the land (1:20-21).
F: again for wilderness in 8:15 but for G-d in 7:21, 10:17. TODO terrible wilderness
20
And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is about to give us.
21
‘See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’
Entering and taking possession of the Promised Land is a picture of entering into God’s rest (Dt 3:18-20, 12:9-10, 25:19; Jos 1:13-15, 22:3-4; Ps 95:10-11).
Under the New Covenant, we have victory over our enemies in Jesus, and we are called to be more than conquerors (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:37, 1Co 15:17; 2Co 2:14; Rev 3:21, 12:10-11). However our enemies to defeat are non-physical (Eph 2:1-2, 6:12).
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
We’re still called more than conquerors Rom 8:37
22
“Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men ahead of us, so that they may spy out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up, and the cities which we should enter.’
The story here provides additional details. In the story as told in Num 13, the instructions to send spies come from G-d to report on the land (Num 13:1-2), but not to find the way to go.
In this version, the people approach Moses to figure out a way into the land. However, God was already showing them what way to go with a pillar of cloud and a pillar fire, see 1:33 (Ex 13:21).
Jesus’ disciples also asked to be shown the way (Jn 14:5-6).
23
The plan pleased me, and I took twelve of your men, one man for each tribe.
To Moses it seemed a good idea. God is not mentioned, God had been showing them the way, see 1:33.
24
Then they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out.
25
And they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us. They also brought us back a report and said, ‘The land that the LORD our God is about to give us is good.’
The report about a good land recalls the creation story and it is in contrast to the terrible wilderness in 1:19.
26
“Yet you were unwilling to go up; instead you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God;
See Num 13:27-14:10 for additional details.
A multitude of sins are listed in these verses, disobedience and rebellion (26), grumbling and bearing false witness about God’s love and plans for them (27), lack of faith by letting fear into their hearts (28). After all these, they added presumptuousness (43).
These were so serious that, as the story is told in Numbers, God was ready to kill them all (Num 14:12) as with the episode of the golden calf (Ex 32:10). Here in Deuteronomy, a verdict is declared in 1:34-35. Their fault is commensurable to the sins in Sodom and Gomorrah (Jud 1:5-7).
27
and you grumbled in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us.
This is perhaps the most serious offense, bearing false witness about God’s loving character and His plans for our lives.
28
‘Where can we go up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, by saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there.”’
The people of Anak or Nephilim were considered descendants of the Rephaim, people of great height and size (Num 13:32-33; Dt 1:28, 2:10-11, 2:21; Jos 11:21-22, 14:12-15, 15:13-14).
Cities fortified up to heaven recall the Tower of Babel story (Gen 11:4), likely an attempt to defy God.
The Nephilim were antediluvians mentioned during a time of great wickedness on the earth (Gen 6:4-5).
Contrast the spies being terrified of cities with walls to the sky with the subsequent conquering of high cities or with high walls (2:36, 3:5).
29
But I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, nor fear them.
After their transgressions, Moses as a leader tries to reason with them.
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
30
‘The LORD your God, who goes before you, will Himself fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
Moses reminds the people that the reason for not being afraid is that God is fighting for them (Dt 1:29-30, 7:18).
Though it is sometimes mentioned for the leaders, the role of going ahead of the people is a role reserved for God (Ex 13:21, 23:20-23; Dt 1:30, 1:33, 9:3, 31:3, 31:8; Is 45:2, 52:12; Mic 2:13; Mk 14:28; Jn 10:4, 14:3).
It is mentioned for Joshua, a foreshadow of the Holy Spirit (Num 27:16-18; Dt 3:28) and for the strong men (Dt 3:18). Joseph, a Messianic figure, went ahead of the people (Ps 105:16-17).
The people tried to replace God with the golden calf to go ahead of them (Ex 32:1, 23) and with a king to go before them in battle (1Sa 8:19-10).
It is also a post-resurrection promise of Jesus (Mk 14:28; Jn 14:3).
If we follow Jesus, wherever we go, He would be there first.
God was celebrated as a warrior in the Song of the Sea (Ex 15:3).
Victory is assured in the battle that God fights (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30, 3:22, 20:4; Neh 4:20). We should not think it is because of our power (Dt 8:17; Jos 24;12; Ps 44:3).
31
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, on all of the road which you have walked until you came to this place.’
Deuteronomy reveals God’s character, including God as a father of the nation (Dt 1:31, 8:5, 14:1).
How about these:
Mt 6:9
Heb 12:6-7
Psa 94:12
Job 5:17
Pro 3:11-12
Rev 3:19
God carried the people through the plagues (Ex 19:4), through the wilderness (Dt 1:31, 32:11), like a shepherd (Ps 28:9), like a pregnant mother (Isa 46:3), through time (Is 63:8-9).
32
Yet in spite of all this, you did not trust the LORD your God,
33
who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to make camp, in the fire by night to show you the way by which you should go, and in the cloud by day.
Compare with 1:22, there they wanted to find out a way, but God had been showing them the way all along.
See note in 1:30.
34
“Then the LORD heard the sound of your words, and He was angry and swore an oath, saying,
This sentence in 1:34-35 is severe, but their transgressions were serious: disobedience and rebellion (26), grumbling and bearing false witness about God’s love and plans for them (27), and a lack of faith by letting fear into their hearts (28). After all these, they added presumptuousness (43).
35
‘Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers,
God’s plans and promises will come to pass even if we get on the way.
This sentence is pronounced in Num 14:22-23 and Dt 1:35 and referred to throughout the Bible (Ps 95:11, 106:26; Ezk 20:15; 1Co 10:5; Heb 3:17).
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
36
except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him I will give the land on which he has set foot, and to his sons, because he has followed the LORD fully.’
God is able to look into each of our hearts; Caleb had displayed great faith (Num 13:30).
37
The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there.
Moses was denied because of the incident at Meribah (Num 20:6-13). Moses is not wrong to place some of the blame on the people as they contended with him (Num 20:30-5). Moses pleaded with God to be forgiven (Dt 3:23-26).
By Moses not being allowed into the Promised Land, some see here a picture of the Law not being able to deliver a full redemption (Rom 8:3).
38
‘Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall himself enter there; encourage him, for he will give it to Israel as an inheritance.
Joshua is appointed as Moses' successor. Joshua, along with the other spies, encouraged the people to take possession of the land (Num 14:4-9).
The announcement of Joshua as Moses’ successor brackets the book of Deuteronomy, it is highlighted at the beginning (Dt 1:38, 3:21, 3:28) and at the end (Dt 31:3, 31:7, 31:14, 31:23, 34:9).
39
‘Moreover, your little ones who, you said, would become plunder, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good and evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall take possession of it.
The story in Genesis (Gen 2:15-16), Adam and Eve know how to discern good and evil after eating from the tree in the middle of the garden (Gen 3:1-7). This verse would imply that there is a time in our lives when we eat the fruit from the tree, Num 14:29 would mark an age of 20. The children that left Egypt would suffer the consequences of the people’s unbelief (Num 14:33-35).
40
‘But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.’
A command to go backwards!
41
“Then you replied to me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD; we ourselves will go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.’ And every man of you strapped on his weapons of war, and you viewed it as easy to go up into the hill country.
It is true that God had commanded them, but it was then the wrong time to act.
42
But the LORD said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated by your enemies.”’
The same advice is in Num 14:41-43.
43
So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead, you rebelled against the command of the LORD, and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country.
44
And the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and they scattered you from Seir to Hormah.
The defeat is briefly mentioned in Num 14:45. They eventually conquered the city (Num 21:3).
45
Then you returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD did not listen to your voice, nor pay attention to you.
Our petitions are not answered if God decides against them.
46
So you remained at Kadesh for many days, the days that you spent there.
There is a time gap between this verse and the beginning of Chapter 2. After a few ordinances are given (Num 15:1-31), the events that followed are told in Num 15:32.
Chapter 2
Wanderings in the Wilderness
1
“Then we turned and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and we circled Mount Seir for many days.
After the events described in Chapter 1, there is a thirty-eight-year time span before this verse (2:14).
2
And the LORD spoke to me, saying,
3
‘You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north,
Forty years after leaving Egypt, the Israelites find themselves in a situation so similar that God repeats His words (Dt 1:6).
At some point in our lives we need to start conquering. Sihon (ch 2) & Og (ch 3) were defeated east of the Jordan. After a divine deliverance in Egypt conquering the land requires our participation. Important to notice that we need discernment as to know when/what to attack. Refrain in some cases (end of ch 1) and not at all in others (the Moabites and Ammonites in ch 2)
Entering into His rest. What does conquering mean nowadays?
Deu 3:20, 5:13-14, 12:10, 25:19, (death 31:16)
Psa 95:10-11
Main note: Jos 1:13
See note Mat 11:28, note Dt 12:9-10
4
and command the people, saying, “You are going to pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful;
Esau lived in Seir, Esau was Edom (Gen 36:8).
Jacob was afraid of Esau after returning from Haran (Gen 32:7).
The song of Moses tells of the dread Edom and Moab would experience (Ex 15:15-16).
Three peoples they are not to provoke, Edom, the Moabites, and the Ammonites (2:4, 2:9, 2:19).
5
do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even as much as a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
Joshua recalls the giving of Seir to Esau as Jacob went to Egypt (Jos 24:4)
6
You are to buy food from them with money so that you may eat, and you shall also purchase water from them with money so that you may drink.
Especially when we have means, we are to deal fairly with those we interact with. The reason being that God has blessed Israel for forty years (next verse). This is particularly important as taking advantage of someone is the easiest when they are afraid.
7
For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wandering through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked anything.”’
He has known your wandering reflects God’s concern for us. Even in their rebellion, God blessed them. Notice the contrast of this verse, God has been with you, with verse 1:42.
8
“So we passed beyond our brothers the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road, away from Elath and Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed through by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9
Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not attack Moab, nor provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot as a possession.’
The Moabites and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Gen 19:30-38). Their history becomes an object lesson for Israel: God shows how both nations dealt with mythical people, which were what had made Israel afraid (Dt 1:28). The Moabites defeated the Emim though they were tall like the Anakim and took possession of the land as God gave it to them (2:12, 2:20-21).
Three peoples they are not to provoke, Edom, the Moabites, and the Ammonites (2:4, 2:9, 2:19).
See note in 2:19.
10
(The Emim lived there previously, a people as great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim.
11
Like the Anakim, they too are regarded as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim.
Alter: ghosts or dwellers of the underworld. Emim term perhaps related to fear/terror
12
The Horites previously lived in Seir, but the sons of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and settled in their place; just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.)
The LORD gave the Moabites Seir (2:9).
13
‘Now arise and cross over the Wadi Zered yourselves.’ So we crossed over the Wadi Zered.
14
Now the time that it took for us to come from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war perished from within the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them.
This was pronounced in Num 14:22-23 and Dt 1:35 and it is referred to throughout the Bible (e.g. Ps 95:11, 106:26; Ezk 20:15; 1Co 10:5; Heb 3:17). Spending forty years in the wilderness is deep in Israel's identity as a nation.
The mentioning of men of war highlights their failure to fight (2:14, 16); their perishing is mentioned three times in verses 14, 15, and 16.
15
Indeed, the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from within the camp until they all perished.
16
“So it came about, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people,
Verses 2:14-16 highlight their perishing three times.
17
that the LORD spoke to me, saying,
18
‘Today you shall cross over Ar, the border of Moab.
19
‘When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not attack them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’
The Moabites and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Gen 19:30-38). Both nations dealt with mythical people. The Ammonites defeated the Rephaim though they were tall like the Anakim and they took possession of the land as God gave it to them (2:21).
Note the parallels for the sons of Lot starting in 2:9 and 2:19; both evoke some type of mythical people.
See note in 2:9.
Three peoples they are not to provoke, Edom, the Moabites, and the Ammonites (2:4, 2:9, 2:19).
20
(It is also regarded as the land of the Rephaim, because the Rephaim previously lived in it, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummin,
21
a people as great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before them. And they dispossessed them and settled in their place,
For the LORD had given them the land (2:19).
22
just as He did for the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; they dispossessed them and settled in their place, where they remain even to this day.
The Moabites and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Gen 19:30-38). Their history becomes an object lesson for Israel: God shows how both nations dealt with mythical people, which were what had made Israel afraid (Dt 1:28). The Moabites defeated the Emim though they were tall like the Anakim and took possession of the land as God gave it to them (2:12, 2:20-21).
23
And as for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and lived in their place.)
Caphtor likely was Crete, where the Philistines came from (Gen 10:14, Jer 47:4). They were descendants of Ham, Egypt (Gen 10:6:14).
Jeremiah prophesied about their destruction (Jer 47:4-7).
24
‘Arise, set out, and pass through the Valley of Arnon. Look! I have handed over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; start taking possession and plunge into battle with him.
After a divine deliverance in Egypt conquering the land requires their participation. At some point in our lives we need to start conquering.
It is important to notice that we need discernment as to know when and what to attack. We need to refrain in some cases (1:42) and not at all in others (2:4, 2:9, 2:19).
25
‘This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the faces of people everywhere, who, when they hear the news of you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.’
26
“So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
Even when they know that they will fight and defeat them, God’s message is one of peace.
27
‘Let me pass through your land; I will travel only on the road. I will not turn aside to the right or to the left.
28
‘You will sell me food for money so that I may eat, and give me water for money so that I may drink, only let me pass through on foot,
29
just as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I cross over the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.’
30
But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today.
Sihon plays a role similar to Pharaoh’s, as Pharaoh denies the Israelites sacrificing to God (e.g. Ex 3:18, 7:13), Sihon refuses to sell them water, and his heart becomes hardened.
31
And the LORD said to me, ‘See, I have begun to turn Sihon and his land over to you. Begin taking possession, so that you may possess his land.’
32
“Then Sihon came out with all his people to meet us in battle at Jahaz.
33
And the LORD our God turned him over to us, and we defeated him with his sons and all his people.
The victories over Sihon and Og are celebrated throughout the Bible (e.g. Jdg 11:19-22; Ps 135:10-12, 136:18-21).
Under the New Covenant, we have victory over our enemies in Jesus, and we are called to be more than conquerors (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:37, 1Co 15:17; 2Co 2:14; Rev 3:21, 12:10-11); however we have non-physical enemies to defeat (Eph 2:1-2, 6:12).
34
So we captured all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men, women, and children of every city. We left no survivor.
See Deu 9:5-8
35
We took only the animals as our plunder, and the spoils of the cities which we had captured.
36
From Aroer which is on the edge of the Valley of Arnon and from the city which is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was no city that was too high for us; the LORD our God turned it all over to us.
Contrast the conquering of high cities or with high walls (2:36, 3:5) to the spies being terrified of cities with walls to the sky (1:28).
37
Only you did not go near the land of the sons of Ammon, all along the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, and wherever the LORD our God had commanded us to avoid.
Chapter 3
Conquests Recounted
1
“Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og, king of Bashan, came out with all his people to meet us in battle at Edrei.
Bashan F: east & southeast of the sea of Galilee
2
But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have handed him and all his people and his land over to you; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.’
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
3
So the LORD our God also handed over to us Og, king of Bashan, with all his people, and we struck them until no survivor was left.
The victories over Sihon and Og are celebrated throughout the Bible (e.g. Jos 24:12; Psa 135:10-12, 136:18-21).
4
We captured all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
5
All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides a great many unwalled towns.
Contrast the conquering of high cities or with high walls (2:36, 3:5) to the spies being terrified of cities with walls to the sky (1:28).
6
We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city.
7
But all the animals and the spoils of the cities we took as our plunder.
8
“So at that time we took the land from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of Arnon to Mount Hermon
9
(Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir):
10
all the cities of the plateau, all Gilead, and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
11
(For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by the usual cubit.)
The people of Anak or Nephilim were considered descendants of the Rephaim, people of great height and size (Num 13:32-33; Dt 2:10-11).
See note in 9:2
The Nephilim were antediluvians mentioned during a time of great wickedness on the earth (Gen 6:4-5).
12
“So we took possession of this land at that time. From Aroer, which is by the Valley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead and its cities I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites.
13
The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob. (As to all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim.
14
Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, that is, Bashan, and named it after his own name: Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)
15
To Machir I gave Gilead.
Machir, a descendant of Manasseh, conquered Gilead (Num 32:39); later he was referred to as the father of Gilead (1Ch 2:21, 7:14).
16
To the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead even as far as the Valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley as a border, and as far as the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;
17
the Arabah also, with the Jordan as a border, from Chinnereth even as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.
Sea of the Arabath is the Sea of Galilee.
18
“Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God has given you this land to possess it; all you valiant men shall cross over armed ahead of your brothers, the sons of Israel.
Moses is likely addressing the tribes who received their land, Reubenites, Gadites, and one half of Manasseh.
19
‘However, your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you,
The land east of the Jordan river was suitable for cattle.
20
until the LORD gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return, each man to his possession which I have given you.’
In the Bible, entering into or being in God’s rest is depicted in different forms:
As entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 3:18-20, 12:9-10, 25:19; Jos 1:13-15, 22:3-4; Ps 95:7-11).
As having been liberated (Dt 5:15).
As being in God’s presence (Ex 33:14; Mt 11:28).
The invitation to enter into God’s rest still stands (Heb 4:1-5).
21
And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; the LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.
Our faith grows on previous trials and experiences.
22
‘Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the One fighting for you.’
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
Victory is assured in the battle that God fights (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30, 3:22, 20:4; Neh 4:20). We should not think it is because of our power (Dt 8:17; Jos 24;12; Ps 44:3).
23
“I also pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying,
24
‘Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?
25
‘Please let me cross over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country, and Lebanon.’
26
But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; instead, the LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Do not speak to Me any more about this matter.
Moses was denied because of the incident at Meribah (Num 20:6-13). Moses is not wrong to place some of the blame on the people as they contended with him (Num 20:30-5). Moses pleaded with God to be forgiven (Dt 3:23-26).
Moses knows that it is important to be persistent in our prayers (Lk 18:1-5).
Moses became a proxy or synonym for the Law (e.g. Mt 8:4, 19:8; Lk 16:19, 16:31, 24:27, 24:44). By Moses not being allowed into the Promised Land, we may see here a picture of the Law not being able to deliver a full redemption (Rom 8:3).
27
‘Go up to the top of Pisgah and raise your eyes to the west, the north, the south, and the east, and see it with your eyes; for you shall not cross over this Jordan.
Moses dies on Pisgah (Dt 34:4-5).
28
‘But commission Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across leading this people, and he will give to them, as an inheritance, the land which you will see.’
The commissioning of Joshua continues in 31:3.
Moses sees the land (Dt 34:1-3).
Though it is sometimes mentioned for the leaders, the role of going ahead of the people is a role reserved for God (Ex 13:21, 23:20-23; Dt 1:30, 1:33, 9:3, 31:3, 31:8; Is 45:2, 52:12; Mic 2:13; Mk 14:28; Jn 10:4, 14:3).
It is mentioned for Joshua, a foreshadow of the Holy Spirit (Num 27:16-18; Dt 3:28) and for the strong men (Dt 3:18). Joseph, a Messianic figure, went ahead of the people (Ps 105:16-17).
The people tried to replace God with the golden calf to go ahead of them (Ex 32:1, 23) and with a king to go before them in battle (1Sa 8:19-10).
It is also a post-resurrection promise of Jesus (Mk 14:28; Jn 14:3).
If we follow Jesus, wherever we go, He would be there first.
29
So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.
Chapter 4
Israel Urged to Obey God’s Law
1
“Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you will live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Moses started the retelling of past events in 1:6, in this verse the timeline returns to the “present” of the beginning of the book. This chapter is the last part of the introduction to the expanding of the Law in Chapters 5-31. The statutes close in 26:16-19.
Chapter 4 places a strong emphasis on the voice of God and on contrasting the senses of seeing and hearing; similar to the Good Shepherd speech that Jesus delivered to the Pharisees (Jn 9:40-10:5).
The goal is to live and to take possession of the land. (also 11:9)
This is the heart of the Old Covenant. See Rom 10:5-9, Deu 30:11-14, Gal 3:21. Jesus validates this John 12:50
TODO: Following the commandments is always associated with life (Dt 4:1, 4:3-4, 30:19).
In the garden, ignoring the commandment brought death (Gen 2:16-17).
Compare with Rom 1:17, Hab 2:4 where faith is the mean and John 17:2-3 where Jesus is the giver of life.
Therefore these words must point to/tell us about Jesus. See John 5:39
The commandments reflect the character of G-d, they help us know G-d. When we follow the commandment, we imitate G-d, we keep separate.
The commandments are to keep us from imitating the world Deut 18:9-10
See note in 6:25.
2
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I am commanding you.
The people are not to add to or remove from the Law (Dt 4:2, 12:32). In Matthew, (e.g Mt 5:17, 21-22, 27-28, 38-39) Jesus is both expounding on the commandments as Moses is doing here (Dt 1:5) and amending some of the statutes (e.g. Mt 5:31-32). See also Rev 22:18-19.
3
Your eyes have seen what the LORD has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, the LORD your God has destroyed them from among you.
The story is in Num 25 and recounted in Ps 106:28-31 and Hos 9:10; twenty four thousand people died.
4
But you who clung to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.
A contrast between the people who died (4:3) and the people who lived (4:4).
Moses reiterates that the result of clinging to God results in life in Dt 30:19.
Jesus expressed the same idea of clinging to God, abiding in Him in Jn 15:4-10.
5
“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you are to do these things in the land where you are entering to take possession of it.
Todo taking possession of the land
6
So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
God’s people will be known for their wisdom and understanding, not wealth or having conquered other nations.
Is this something we should be concerned about? What is to be "foolish for the LORD in this context?
1Co 1:23,2:14
7
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?
Other nations would set up ceremonies and rituals to talk to their gods.
8
Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today?
9
“Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
The children are particularly vulnerable to be turned away from God (Dt 7:4); thus the importance of raising the next generation in the knowledge of the LORD. This responsibility falls primarily on the parents (Dt 4:9-10, 6:6-7, 6:20-25, 11:19).
10
Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My words so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
Note that those who were there died, this message is timeless.
The theme of hearing
The theme of this chapter
11
You came forward and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire to the heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud, and thick gloom.
12
Then the LORD spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—there was only a voice.
Alter: emphasis in not seeing. Though the elders did see Ex 24:11. In Ex 20:18 they see the "sounds"
13
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
Literally it is the Ten Words, the Ten Commandments is a later term.
The Law is written on our hearts in the New Covenant (Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10, 10:16).
Some commentators have observed that the two tablets were likely two copies, one for each of the parties of the covenant.
TODO: the tablets represent our hearts
14
The LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you would perform them in the land where you are going over to take possession of it.
15
“So be very careful yourselves, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,
Alter: switching between "you" singular and "you" plural is common in Hebrew.
Emphasis on not seeing
Because they did not see any form, they should not attempt to use any form to represent God (4:15-19).
16
so that you do not act corruptly and make a carved image for yourselves in the form of any figure, a representation of male or female,
17
a representation of any animal that is on the earth, a representation of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
18
a representation of anything that crawls on the ground, or a representation of any fish that is in the water below the earth.
Note that verses 16-18 evoke the language of the creation story. Thus this is a warning about elevating the creation to the level of the creator.
19
And be careful not to raise your eyes to heaven and look at the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the heavenly lights, and allow yourself to be drawn away and worship them and serve them, things which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
Notice the negative connotation of seeing versus hearing
Comp Gen 3:6, Job 31:26-28, Mat 6:23
Comp Deu 1:19 creation reflects G-d's character: great and fearsome
See note in 4:34
Alter: seems to mean that G-d allowed all peoples to worship the stars ... but He chose Israel to worship Him.
20
But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people of His own possession, as today.
God fashioned Israel as a tool for His purpose, we too are instruments for the kingdom (Rom 6:13). Rather than we fashioned God into a shape of what we think He might look like (4:16-18), it is God who molds us into an instrument He can use (Isa 64:8; Jer 18:6; Rom 9:20; Eph 2:10; 2Ti 2:21).
21
“Now the LORD was angry with me on your account, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Fox: "because of your words", not because of the rock Num 20, but probably because of Num 13-14
Already brought this up in Deu 1:37, 3:26
Todo: good land.
22
For I am going to die in this land; I am not crossing the Jordan, but you are going to cross, and you will take possession of this good land.
Todo table announcement of death
23
So be careful yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.
24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Deuteronomy reveals God’s character. Todo global link. Father sometimes before.
The portrait of God as a consuming fire is common in the Bible (Ex 24:17; Dt 4:24, 9:3; Is 33:14; Heb 12:29). The manifestation of God in Sinai was as fire (Ex 3:2, 19:18; Dt 4:11-12, 4:15, 4:33, 4:36, 5:4-5, 5:22-26, 9:10, 10:4, 18:6). Jesus' second coming will be with fire (Is 66:15; 2Th 1:6-7).
25
“When you father children and have grandchildren, and you grow old in the land, and you act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger,
A long life and having children and grandchildren would be counted among blessings (todo).
26
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will certainly perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to take possession of it. You will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
Heaven and earth, man's fellow elements in creation, can bear witness about our deeds.
The opposite of living long lives in the land (previous verse) is to be scattered (next verse) and die.
See 31:28
27
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.
Verses 4:27-31 illustrate the prophetic character of Deuteronomy.
Though God will keep a remnant of a few, it is contrary to a blessing of abundance (todo).
28
There you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear, nor eat nor smell anything.
Alter: assimilation, polytheism was despicable
Todo God’s chastisement in kind, the consequences of making an idol (4:25) would be to serve idols.
29
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.
One of the several things in Deu we have to do "with all ..." TODO global link
30
When you are in distress and all these things happen to you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.
Listening to God’s voice directly or through the words of Moses, and the liability of the sense of seeing (4:15-19), is a prominent thread in this section of Deuteronomy (4:1, 6, 10, 12, 30, 33, 36) along with the inability of idols to hear or see (4:28).
TODO global link
31
For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
Deuteronomy reveals God’s compassionate character. Todo global link.
32
“Indeed, ask now about the earlier days that were before your time, since the day that God created mankind on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?
Note the vastness of the inquiry, from the beginning of history and across the heavens.
33
Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived?
See comment in 4:30 about God’s voice.
34
Or has a god ventured to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, just as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
Seeing is ok to see G-d's judgement. See next verse and Deut 4:34, 6:22, 11:2-7, 29:2
Seeing in deceiving see note in 4:19
35
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.
The signs and wonders (4:34) had a revelatory intent. See comment in Ex todo
Note the emphasis on the uniqueness of God todo reveal character.
36
Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.
God treats Israel as a Father (Dt 1:31), including discipline (Dt 8:5).
See comment in 4:30 about God’s voice.
37
Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power,
God’s love transcends generations and it is demonstrable (4:37, 10:15, 23:5).
Your fathers most likely refers to the patriarchs rather than those who lived in Egypt.
Todo play the long game
Note the emphasis of God Himself bringing them out of Egypt (todo add Exo refs)
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
38
driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is today.
An overarching theme in Deuteronomy and in the Bible at large is facing enemies stronger than the people (e.g. Dt 4:37-38; 7:1-2, 9:1-2, 11:22-23, 20:1; Jdg 7:2-9; 1Sa 17:4-11; 2Ch 20:12-18; Is 37:10-20, 37:33-37).
39
Therefore know today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
Compare with the words in the Lord’s prayer (Mt 6:9-10).
40
So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”
Note the Life and land again. In the New Covenant it means eternal life with God. TODO
Note the call to obedience and how the commandment leads to life
Todo global link
Todo play the long game.
41
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,
Fox: perhaps mentioned here because it is something Moses gets to do east of the Jordan
Setting the cities of refuge was announced in Ex 21:12-13.
42
for one to flee there who unintentionally killed his neighbor, without having hatred for him in time past; and by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
43
Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
44
Now this is the Law which Moses set before the sons of Israel;
A second introduction …
A second speech … TODO mark first speech
45
these are the testimonies and the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt,
As Moses is about to proclaim the Law, the time and place are stated to give the proclamation a legal standing (4:45-49).
46
across the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt.
47
And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were across the Jordan to the east,
48
from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of Arnon, even as far as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon),
49
with all the Arabah across the Jordan to the east, even as far as the sea of the Arabah, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah.
Chapter 5
The Ten Commandments Repeated
1
Now Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:
“Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I am speaking today for you to hear, so that you may learn them and be careful to do them.
“Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I am speaking today for you to hear, so that you may learn them and be careful to do them.
The commandments reflect the character of G-d. When we follow the commandments, we are imitating G-d, what He does.
Jn 5:19
Lk 6:36
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
2
The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
3
The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, all of us who are alive here today.
Notice the emphasis of us, we, today. In a literal way, the covenant had been made with the parents of those standing there; however the covenant transcends place and time.
4
The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire,
Compare with Jn 14:8-9.
5
while I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up on the mountain. He said,
Moses is a foreshadow of Jesus as a mediator.
Heb 9:15, 12:24
Todo mediator link
6
‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
God states His Name and what He has already done to enter into the covenant.
Our actions define our character, God is a liberator.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
TODO refer to the paraphrasis of the 10 commandments in Lv 19.
TODOsecond person singular
TODO to be applied in a community setting
7
‘You shall have no other gods besides Me.
Egypt, where they came from, and Canaan, where they are going to, had many gods.
Our LORD is a jealous God.
8
‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Note the three realms, the heavens, the earth, the underworld.
God is beyond representation.
See 4:17-18, 4:39
9
‘You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, even on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Hate towards God is manifested as disregard towards His statutes.
A constant reminder that we should play the long game.
10
but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Love towards God is manifested as keeping His statutes (Jn 15:13-14).
11
‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain.
In vain carries a sense of something futile, worthless, including enchantments or magic, or of something false, the word is repeated in the commandment against being a false witness (5:20). Leviticus warns against using His name for a false purpose (Lv 19:12). A paraphrase could be my name is Truth (Jn 14:6).
Note that the verb is not literally speak, or say, thus the commandment encompasses other non-audible actions or situations (Rom 2:22-24) that can profane the Name.
The people were guilty of breaking this commandment before the exile to Babylon (Jer 29:23).
TODO: The name is His presence, the temple was the residence of the name (Deut 12:5, 12:21, 14:24, the place of worship is described as a place where YHWH will choose to put his name or cause his name to dwell. In Solomon’s building a house “for the name of the LORD” (1 Kgs 8:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 44) and also quotes the LORD as saying “my name will be there” in the temple (1 Kgs 8:29).”
Excerpt From
The Ten Commandments through the Ages
Sara M. Koenig
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-ten-commandments-through-the-ages/id6742157284
This material may be protected by copyright.
12
‘Keep the Sabbath day to treat it as holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
Remember is to keep. To keep is to remember
13
‘For six days you shall labor and do all your work,
The commandment is to work six days of the week.
14
but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; you shall not do any work that day, you or your son or your daughter, or your male slave or your female slave, or your ox, your donkey, or any of your cattle, or your resident who stays with you, so that your male slave and your female slave may rest as well as you.
Note that the ox is a clean animal whereas the donkey is unclean, no distinction to be made in regard to the Sabbath.
Todo ox and donkey appearances
15
‘And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to celebrate the Sabbath day.
Alter: in Ex 20 it is because G-d rested (they had just left Egypt) in this it is because they will rule other peoples.
Todo creation “for the entire land such as Ex 23:10–11 and Lv 25:1–7. ”
“Proper observance of the Sabbath, according to Isa 58:13”
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
In the Bible, entering into or being in God’s rest is depicted in different forms:
As entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 3:18-20, 12:9-10, 25:19; Jos 1:13-15, 22:3-4; Ps 95:7-11).
As having been liberated (Dt 5:15).
As being in God’s presence (Ex 33:14; Mt 11:28).
The invitation to enter into God’s rest still stands (Heb 4:1-5).
16
‘Honor your father and your mother, just as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well for you on the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
A commandment without a not.
The relationship between God and Israel was similar to a Father-son.
Everyone has a father and a mother. Note that the commandment is to honor, which may be different than love or obey. We are expected to love and obey God.
Here the children need to reflect that same model with their earthly parents. The father and the mother are raised to a level analogous to the creator.
Just as the parents were responsible to teach their children, the children were compelled to respond to the instruction (todo link).
17
‘You shall not murder.
Jesus explained that verbal abuse may break this commandment (Mt 5:22).
Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve (Gen 4:1) became the first murderer (Gen 4:8).
God is a life-giving being; an affirmative phrasing of this commandment could be “Value and protect life”.
18
‘You shall not commit adultery.
Jesus teaches that this is not only a physical act but that it can be committed in spirit, in our hearts (Mt 5:27-28).
God was Israel’s faithful husband (Isa 54:5; Jer 31:32), thus by following this commandment we reflect God’s character.
Committing adultery is not only a transgression between people, it is also a serious transgression against God (e.g. Jdg 2:17; 1Ch 5:25; Jer 3:6-10; Ezk 16:30-32, 23:37); idolatry and adultery are manifestations of unfaithfulness.
The penalty under the Law is stated in Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22; see Jn 8:5.
19
‘You shall not steal.
Stealing can take place without taking a physical object away (2Sa 15:6).
God is not a robber; notice how the enemy is described by disobedience to the commandments: steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10).
Like the previous commandment, this one can also be a transgression against God (e.g. Mal 3:8).
See comment in Jer 7:9.
20
‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
False is the same word as vain, the term used in 5:11.
God Himself does not pervert justice with false testimony and we are to do likewise (Ex 23:7).
To misrepresent God’s character, or to lie to God are grievous faults against God (Gen 3:4-5; Dt 1:27, 13:5; Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-30; Lk 12:10-12; Act 5:3-4).
Though this commandment carries a legal flair, other texts charge to be truthful in other settings (e.g. Lv 19:11, 19:16; Pro 6:16-19; Zch 8:16-17).
The term neighbor appears in this commandment to signal that perverting justice affects not only an individual but a whole community.
21
‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male slave or his female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’
This is an "invisible" sin. One can see the others being committed, but this one is in the heart.
Coveting is like stealing in one's heart.
Moses Interceded
22
“These words the LORD spoke to your whole assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, from the cloud, and from the thick darkness, with a great voice, and He added nothing more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
The Bible includes very few instances in which God’s voice is heard (todo), one is the giving of the Ten Words, the Ten Commandments, which brings the giving of the commandments to a level at par with the creation story. Just as the creation story reveals God’s character, so do the commandments.
Notice that love is not mentioned as a commandment at all. Comp Rom 13:10
Notice. Comp Deut 4:2.
John 13:34-35
Comp Jer 31:33-34, Heb 8:10, 10:16.
The tablets of stone are a picture of our hardened hearts (TODO links), which God replaces when we believe in Jesus and are forgiven.
Comp Deut 6:6
TODO global link two tablets
23
And when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.
24
You said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with mankind, yet he lives.
Comp John 17:24, 1:14
Todo add to table show glory
25
‘Now then, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we will die!
26
‘For who is there of humanity who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Notice and compare with previous mention of gods. Comp 4:28
27
‘Go near and listen to everything that the LORD our God says; then speak to us everything that the LORD our God speaks to you, and we will listen and do it.’
Deut 18:18
28
“Now the LORD heard the sound of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the sound of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.
29
‘If only they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it would go well with them and with their sons forever!
Comp Rom 13:10. That's how the law is fulfilled.
A constant reminder that what we do has consequences for our children.
30
‘Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.”
31
‘But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, so that they may follow them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’
32
So you shall be careful to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.
33
You shall walk entirely in the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and that it may be well for you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
Live in the land.
Chapter 6
Obey God and Prosper
1
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may do them in the land where you are going over to take possession of it,
Deuteronomy has an emphasis in listening/hearing. About 24+4+15
2
so that you, your son, and your grandson will fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
Again a perspective of multiple generations.
Todo group
3
Now Israel, you shall listen and be careful to do them, so that it may go well for you and that you may increase greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Note the emphasis in hearing/listening
TODO long life, abundance, nourishing
4
“Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
Jesus points to this verse and the next as the greatest commandment (Mk 12:29).
Note how the role of the commandment is to reveal the character of God.
The divinity of Jesus does not break the oneness of God. Jesus and the Father are one (Jn 10:30, 17:11, 17:22); and there is equality between the Spirit and Jesus (2Co 3:17-18).
The word for one here can also imply unity as we see in Exodus, which emphasizes that the Tabernacle was built to be one, a unit (Ex 26:6, 11; 36:13, 18); the same word found here and in Zch 14:9.
Verses 6:4-9 are a prayer recited by Jewish people in the evening and morning known as the Sh’ma.
A strong enunciation of monotheism.
5
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Heart, soul, and strength encompass emotions, reason, character, and actions.
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
Alter: with all your being. The body/soul split is alien to biblical thinking. lit. "very". With all your "-ly" possible.
Deut 5:22.
Jer 31:33-34
OT: Psa 40:6-8
6
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
Jesus as the Word (Jn 1:1, 14) is to be in our hearts.
The tablets with the commandment were placed inside the ark, inside the Holy of Holiest. As we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19), the commandments should be in a special, innermost place.
7
And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
The instruction to the children is to be all day, every day, permeated into our daily life.
The verse reflects how the day was structured, first the evening when you lie down, then the morning when you get up.
The children are particularly vulnerable to be turned away from God (Dt 7:4); thus the importance of raising the next generation in the knowledge of the LORD. This responsibility falls primarily on the parents (Dt 4:9-10, 6:6-7, 6:20-25, 11:19).
Make them go inside. Whose responsibility is this? The parents, the community, the church, the schools?
See Dt 4:9
Alter: repeat incisively.
8
You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead.
A sign on the forehead is a symbol pertinent to the end times (Rev 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:4) but also one that the enemy will try to forfeit (Rev 13:16-17, 14:9-10, 20:4). See also Ex 13:9, 16. TODO global link.
Like a watch on our wrists might inform us it is time to do something or a wedding band reminds us to whom we belong, the commandments guide our daily lives and remind us to whom we belong.
Ex 13:9,16.
The tefillin.
External signs. The new covenant is about inner convictions.
9
You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
On the night of the Passover, the blood of the lamb was to be placed on the doorposts (Ex 12:7, 13, 22). After the liberation from Egypt, the words instead of the blood will mark the house. Both the blood and the words are a foreshadow of Jesus.
TODO prophetic they do not own houses.
A nice progression from where you sleep, to the door, to the gates. A calling to each family and to the community.
The gates of the city, perhaps an indication that the Sinai covenant was for the Jewish people only.
See Act 1:8, where it continues from Jerusalem, to Samaria, to the ends of the earth.
10
“Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
11
and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and carved cisterns which you did not carve out, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied,
Deuteronomy announces the contentment they will experience in the land (6:11, 8:10, 8:12, 11:15, 31:20), the blessing will extend to all (14:29, 23:24, 26:12).
12
be careful that you do not forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
The blessings of God can cause you to forget God.
The people are to remember Egypt v. 12, 21-23 but not long for it.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
13
You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.
This verse is used by Jesus when He rebuked Satan (Mat 4:10).
Notice that the commandment about taking the LORD’s name (Ex 20:7; Dt 5:11) is not about swearing. God Himself swore to Abraham (Gen 22:15-16), and Abraham’s servant swore about finding a wife for Isaac (Gen 24:2-4).
14
You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you,
15
for the LORD your God who is in the midst of you is a jealous God; so follow Him, or else the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.
16
“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.
Jesus quoted this verse when He was tempted in the wilderness (Mat 4:7).
The story of Israel tempting God is in Ex 17:1-7. Though the text does not mention it explicitly, it is likely that the Samaritan woman tests Jesus to give her His water (Jn 4:15).
17
You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His provisions and His statutes which He has commanded you.
18
You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may go well for you and that you may go in and take possession of the good land which the LORD swore to give your fathers,
This is an active commandment, you shall do … rather than a shall not.
We are called to do what is good and right is the sight of the LORD (Ex 15:26; Dt 6:18, 12:25, 12:28; 13:18; 1Ki 11:38; Rom 12:2). Left to our own devices, we would not know what to do (Dt 12:8; Jdg 17:6, 21:25). We need the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, and fellowship to know what is right and good in the sight of the LORD.
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
19
by driving out all your enemies from you, as the LORD has spoken.
Under the New Covenant, we have victory over our enemies in Jesus, and we are called to be more than conquerors (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:37, 1Co 15:17; 2Co 2:14; Rev 3:21, 12:10-11). However our enemies to defeat are non-physical (Eph 2:1-2, 6:12).
20
“When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the provisions and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?’
The children are particularly vulnerable to be turned away from God (Dt 7:4); thus the importance of raising the next generation in the knowledge of the LORD. This responsibility falls primarily on the parents (Dt 4:9-10, 6:6-7, 6:20-25, 11:19).
21
then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Under the New Covenant, we are freed from sin (Jn 8:31-32, 8:36; Rom 6:18, 6:22, 8:2).
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
22
‘Moreover, the LORD provided great and terrible signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household;
God uses our sense of vision to show us the consequences of our rebellion. See note Deut 4:34, 11:2
23
He brought us out of there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
24
So the LORD commanded us to follow all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our own good always and for our survival, as it is today.
25
And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to follow all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.
Verses 6:21-25 we see how the framework or the Sinai Covenant is also the framework of the New Covenant. Both have a before and an after piece.
In the Sinai Covenant … TODO
TODOSeeing is to understand judgment and the consequences of our rebellion (Dt 4:3).
The fruit of righteousness is life.
Under the Sinai Covenant, keeping the commandments leads to life (Lv 18:5; Dt 4:1, 4:4, 30:19; Neh 9:29; Pro 19:16; Ezk 20:11, 13, 21; Rom 10:5).
Faith is the way righteousness and life (Gen 15:6; Hab 2:4; Rom 21-22). Our righteousness is Jesus (Is 55:3; 1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:21). This is available to us under the New Covenant, a better covenant (Heb 7:22, 8:6).
But there is an unfortunate side effect, the commandment makes us aware that we deserve death (Rom 7:10).
Alter:"merit" or "boon" instead of righteousness.
Chapter 7
Warnings
1
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to take possession of it, and He drives away many nations from before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you,
Chapter 7 is about sanctification; God sanctified Israel to be an instrument for His judgement. Israel must keep itself separate, holy.
As Israel conquers the land, they are to exercise a complete separation from the other nations, no intermarriage, no covenants, no alliances. These are needed as the conquest will take time.
This is a type of great commission that Moses is giving to the people.
Seven nations are mentioned, seven as a sign of completeness. The great Hittite empire was located mainly in modern Turkey, but it extended to the land of Israel. The Jebusites were the people of Jerusalem, mentioned at the end perhaps to mark it as a final goal.
An overarching theme in Deuteronomy and in the Bible at large is facing enemies stronger than the people (e.g. Dt 4:37-38; 7:1-2, 9:1-2, 11:22-23, 20:1; Jdg 7:2-9; 1Sa 17:4-11; 2Ch 20:12-18; Is 37:10-20, 37:33-37).
Even today we should not be intimidated by big things. Though in our society individual effort is highlighted, there are spiritual enemies of the faith that need to be confronted as a community of believers.
2
and when the LORD your God turns them over to you and you defeat them, you shall utterly destroy them. You shall not make a covenant with them nor be gracious to them.
The instructions imply killing everybody. We do not know the actual transgressions of these seven nations (Dt 8:4-5). Some of the practices of the land are listed in Leviticus 18, see Lv 18:3. But its full measure must have been reached (Gen 15:16). Thus, Israel was to execute God’s judgement.
Recall that Israel did not attack Moab, or Edom (even though they were afraid of Israel), or the Ammonites (Deut 2:4-7, 9, 37).
See comment in 9:1.
Under the New Covenant, we have victory over our enemies in Jesus, and we are called to be more than conquerors (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:37, 1Co 15:17; 2Co 2:14; Rev 3:21, 12:10-11). However our enemies to defeat are non-physical (Eph 2:1-2, 6:12).
3
Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them: you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons.
Jacob's family stayed in Egypt isolated (Gen 43:32, 46:33-34; Ex 8:26), perhaps the reason was to prevent intermarriage.
4
For they will turn your sons away from following Me, and they will serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.
The children are particularly vulnerable to be turned away from God (Dt 7:4); thus the importance of raising the next generation in the knowledge of the LORD. This responsibility falls primarily on the parents (Dt 4:9-10, 6:6-7, 6:20-25, 11:19).
5
But this is what you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, smash their memorial stones, cut their Asherim to pieces, and burn their carved images in the fire.
The articles of worship are not separate from the peoples, they are to be destroyed too.
A holy people to the LORD must keep itself holy; these are the instructions to secure that position (7:2-5).
6
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
God took the initiative to choose Israel.
The reason to utterly destroy the nations listed in 7:1 is that the people are chosen and are to be separated (Ex 8:22, 19:5-6; Dt 7:6, 9:29, 14:2, 26:18-19); Is 41:8-10, 43:1; 1Pe 2:9).
7
“The LORD did not make you His beloved nor choose you because you were greater in number than any of the peoples, since you were the fewest of all peoples,
Our blessings are because of God’s grace, not because of our merit (Dt 7:7, 8:16-18, 9:4-5).
8
but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God is loving. God keeps His promises. God redeems His people; redeemed, ransomed is the same word used for what Jesus did for us (Lk 24:21).
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
9
Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His faithfulness to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments;
See Deu 5:9-10
God is faithful (2Ti 2:13). Todo God’s character.
10
but He repays those who hate Him to their faces, to eliminate them; He will not hesitate toward him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.
11
Therefore, you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.
Therefore … the response to God’s favor (7:6-10) should be obedience.
In verses 7:6-11 we see a foreshadow of the gospel:
Israel was chosen to become a holy people (7:6); believers are chosen (Jn 15:16, 19) to become a holy people (1Pe 2:9).
Love for Israel was unmerited (7:7); believers receive love and undeserved favor (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:6-8).
God.
Israel was freed from Egypt (7:8); believers are freed from sin (Rom 6:17-22).
God will judge the living and the dead (7:9-10); Jesus is the judge (Mt 25:31-33; Act 10:42; 2Ti 4:1).
The response is obedience (7:11); believers respond with obedience (Rom 6:15-18; 1Jn 5:3).
Promises of God
12
“Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep His covenant with you and His faithfulness which He swore to your forefathers.
13
And He will love you, bless you, and make you numerous; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain, your new wine, and your oil, the newborn of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you.
remember genesis.
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
New wine is a symbol of blessings (Gen 27:28; Dt 7:12-13, 11:13-14), of entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 33:27-28), and of the Messiah’s redemption (Jer 31:11-12; Hos 2:21-23; Zch 9:14-17).
Alter: the Canaanites had five gods for these five elements.
Fox: the names of four gods
14
You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no sterile male or infertile female among you or among your cattle.
15
And the LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not inflict upon you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will give them to all who hate you.
Comp Ex 15:26, 23:25
16
You shall consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God will turn over to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
17
“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’
18
you are not to be afraid of them; you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:
Moses reminds the people that the reason for not being afraid is that God is fighting for them (Dt 1:29-30, 7:18).
19
the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders, and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.
Again, eyes see judgement.
You are afraid … G-d sees into our hearts. He encourages and not recriminate.
20
Indeed, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish.
hornet … A: uncertain, perhaps "the terror" or some skin disease. See Ex 23:28
21
You are not to be terrified of them, because the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.
In your midst … He is near us.
F: 1:19, 8:15, 7:21, 10:17
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
22
And the LORD your God will drive away these nations from you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, otherwise the wild animals would become too numerous for you.
God is patient and gives us time to attain what He appointed for us to do. A similar encouragement was given in Ex 23:28-30.
Todo: God’s character patient.
23
But the LORD your God will turn them over to you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed.
24
And He will hand over their kings to you, so that you will eliminate their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.
25
The carved images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be trapped by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.
See Jos 7:13-26
26
And you shall not bring an abomination into your house and become designated for destruction, like it; you are to utterly detest it, and you are to utterly loathe it, for it is something designated for destruction.
Do we bring any abomination to our houses?
Chapter 8
God’s Gracious Dealings
1
“All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, so that you may live and increase, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers.
Chapter 8 is about the transformation Israel is going to undergo from the time in the wilderness to the time in the promised land . In the wilderness God led, humbled, tested, disciplined, provided, and gave health to the people. In the promised land, they will have abundant food, water, and natural resources, and they are warned not to forget God.
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
2
And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
The call to remember and not forget the LORD appears often in this chapter especially in the second half (8:2, 11, 14, 18, 19).
The undergoing of periods of testing is to reveal the content of our hearts.
TodoCompare the language with Mat 4:1, Mk 1:12, Lk 4:1,2
Testing comes from God, tempting from the enemy
3
And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the LORD.
God has us experience a need, then provides.
Jesus quoted this verse when He was in the wilderness and was tempted (Mt 4:4).
God knows daily sustenance is necessary (Pro 30:7-9), it is just not sufficient to live our lives.
Scripture presents God’s words and instruction as a type of sustenance, often sweet (e.g. Dt 8:3; Ps 19:9-10, 119:103; Jer 15:16; Ezk 3:1-3; Mt 4:4; Jn 4:31-32, 6:32-35; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12-13; 1Pe 2:2; Rev 10:9-11). This is particularly highlighted during eucharist, where we eat the Word, the bread of life, the body of Jesus.
comes out of … The words that the LORD speaks reveal His character and they lead us to knowing God intimately, which is eternal life (Jn 17:3).
Todo See Deut 4:1
4
Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.
Alter: same word as in Ex 12:35, taken from the Egyptians.
5
So you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
Deuteronomy reveals God’s character, including God as a father of the nation (Dt 1:31, 8:5, 14:1).
How about these:
Mt 6:9
Heb 12:6-7
Psa 94:12
Job 5:17
Pro 3:11-12
Rev 3:19
6
Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
7
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of streams of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in valleys and hills;
In contrast with the thirsty ground of the wilderness (8:15).
Evokes the description of Eden, a well-watered garden (Gen 2:10).
8
a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;
Like in the description of Eden (Gen 2:9), the promised land is pleasing to the senses, and there is no mention of eating animals.
This is a strong contrast against the monotonousness of eating manna (8:3, 8:16).
9
a land where you will eat food without shortage, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.
Fashioning tools and utensils from iron and copper is heavy work; the blessings of God may require a significant effort from us to fully enjoy.
10
When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
saying grace after a meal, a current practice.
11
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
TODO: call to remember in Dt
12
otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, and you build good houses and live in them,
Alter: note this is building after receiving and "inheritance" Deut 6:10-14
The prophetic character of Deuteronomy displays in verses 8:12-14, they describe the future lives of the people who will no longer live in tents but in houses that they will build.
13
and when your herds and your flocks increase, and your silver and gold increase, and everything that you have increases,
14
then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;
Alter: the blessing paradox.
Hos 13:6
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
15
He who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions, and its thirsty ground where there was no water; He who brought water for you out of the rock of flint.
Notice in 8:15-16 a picture of Jesus. He sets us free, He is the way, He gives living water, He is the bread from heaven. That would mean that we are in the wilderness, looking to enter the promised land and enter his rest.
F: terrible wilderness same as 1:19, 7:21, 10:17
Recall Num 21:6
Recall Ex 17:6, Num 20:11
The miraculous signs did not stop after leaving Egypt. We should not forget G-d is still at work.
16
In the wilderness it was He who fed you manna which your fathers did not know, in order to humble you and in order to put you to the test, to do good for you in the end.
Our blessings are because of God’s grace, not because of our merit (Dt 7:7, 8:16-18, 9:4-5).
17
Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
Victory is assured in the battle that God fights (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30, 3:22, 20:4; Neh 4:20). We should not think it is because of our power (Dt 8:17; Jos 24;12; Ps 44:3).
18
But you are to remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God gives us the abilities to make wealth.
19
And it shall come about, if you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and serve and worship them, I testify against you today that you will certainly perish.
He himself testifies. A promise like the promise of blessings.
20
Like the nations that the LORD eliminates from you, so you shall perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.
The key to life is not to stop listening to His voice (Jn 10:3-4, 27).
Chapter 9
Israel Provoked God
1
“Hear, Israel! You are crossing the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are great and fortified to heaven,
Chapter 9 is about the wickedness of humanity and the need for an intercessor. In regard to righteousness, there is no difference between Israel and the peoples of the land. On two different occasions, had Moses not interceded for Israel, they would have faced annihilation like the peoples of the land, God would have destroyed Israel too.
A few phases are repeated in this chapter. Moses wants Israel to understand.
... to heaven evokes Babel (Gen 11:4), this is perhaps a sign of the rebellion of these cities toward God.
An overarching theme in Deuteronomy and in the Bible at large is facing enemies stronger than the people (e.g. Dt 4:37-38; 7:1-2, 9:1-2, 11:22-23, 20:1; Jdg 7:2-9; 1Sa 17:4-11; 2Ch 20:12-18; Is 37:10-20, 37:33-37).
2
a people who are great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand against the sons of Anak?’
Num 13:22, 28, 33
Deut 1:28, 2:10-11, 21
Jos 11:21-22, 14:12-15,15:13-14
TODO consolidate notes about the anakim
3
So be aware today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over ahead of you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and eliminate them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you.
Note that it is God doing the fighting.
TODO link about fire
The portrait of God as a consuming fire is common in the Bible (Ex 24:17; Dt 4:24, 9:3; Is 33:14; Heb 12:29). The manifestation of God in Sinai was as fire (Ex 3:2, 19:18; Dt 4:11-12, 4:15, 4:33, 4:36, 5:4-5, 5:22-26, 9:10, 10:4, 18:6). Jesus' second coming will be with fire (Is 66:15; 2Th 1:6-7).
Though it is sometimes mentioned for the leaders, the role of going ahead of the people is a role reserved for God (Ex 13:21, 23:20-23; Dt 1:30, 1:33, 9:3, 31:3, 31:8; Is 45:2, 52:12; Mic 2:13; Mk 14:28; Jn 10:4, 14:3).
It is mentioned for Joshua, a foreshadow of the Holy Spirit (Num 27:16-18; Dt 3:28) and for the strong men (Dt 3:18). Joseph, a Messianic figure, went ahead of the people (Ps 105:16-17).
The people tried to replace God with the golden calf to go ahead of them (Ex 32:1, 23) and with a king to go before them in battle (1Sa 8:19-10).
It is also a post-resurrection promise of Jesus (Mk 14:28; Jn 14:3).
If we follow Jesus, wherever we go, He would be there first.
4
“Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them away from you, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to take possession of this land.’ Rather, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you.
Their measure of righteousness would be their obedience to the commandments given at Sinai (6:25).
Notice the admonishing of mentioning their own righteousness appears three times (9:4, 5, 6).
Some of the practices of the land are listed in Leviticus 18, see Lv 18:3.
Our blessings are because of God’s grace, not because of our merit (Dt 7:7, 8:16-18, 9:4-5).
5
It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to take possession of their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
6
“Know, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.
Fox: hard-neck. Idea of an animal that refuses to do the master's work.
Also stiff-neck.
Their stubbornness is mentioned three times (9:6, 13, 27).
In Deuteronomy the character of God is contrasted with the character of the people, our character.
7
Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.
How they provoked the LORD is mentioned three times (9:7, 8, 22).
Their rebellion is mentioned three times (9:7, 23, 24).
8
Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to anger, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.
On two occasions Moses interceded for Israel as God was ready to destroy them, in the episode of the golden calf (Ex 32:10) and when the spies refused to take possession of the land (Num 14:12).
Being about to be destroyed is mentioned three times (9:8, 14, 19).
9
When I went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I remained on the mountain for forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water.
Being on the mountain is mentioned four times (9:9, 11, 18, 25), two as Moses receives the tablets and two as he intercedes for the people.
10
The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.
See comment in 8:6.
11
It came about at the end of forty days and nights that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.
12
Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down from here quickly, because your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have behaved corruptly. They have quickly turned aside from the way that I commanded them; they have made a cast metal image for themselves.’
God disassociates Himself from Israel. This episode is told in Ex 32.
This episode shows that even though the people had been liberated, they were no longer slaves to Egyptian masters, they were still slaves to sin (Rom 6:16-23).
13
The LORD also said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people.
Alter: in biblical texts, this implies Moses did not respond to the previous words from God
14
‘Leave Me alone, that I may destroy them and wipe out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’
Israel deserved the same sentence that nations that occupy the land had received (9:3).
God’s intent to destroy Israel in mentioned three times (9:14, 19, 25); Moses’ intercession to prevent it is also mentioned three times (9:19, 9:26, 10:10)
15
“So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
16
And I saw that you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God. You had made for yourselves a cast metal image of a calf; you had quickly turned aside from the way that the LORD had commanded you.
17
So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my two hands, and smashed them to pieces before your eyes!
18
Then I fell down before the LORD like the first time, for forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed by doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.
19
For I was afraid of the anger and the rage with which the LORD was angry with you so as to destroy you; but the LORD listened to me that time as well.
The prophets interceded for the people, e.g. Moses (Ex 32:9-14; Num 14:13-19; Dt 9:16-20), Aaron (Ps 99:6), Samuel (1Sa 7:7-9, 12:22-23), Jeremiah (Jer 7:16, 11:14, 14:11, 14:19-21, 18:20), Amos (Amo 7:2, 5), and Paul (Eph 3:14-21; Col 1:9-12; 2Th 1:11-12). Jesus and the Spirit intercede for us too (Is 53:12; Jn 17:9, 17:20; Rom 8:26-27, 8:34; 1Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1).
20
The LORD was also angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.
21
And I took your sinful thing which you had made, the calf, and burned it in the fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the stream that came down from the mountain.
Moses destroyed Israel’s idol, just as the Israelites were to do with the idols in the promised land (7:5).
22
“Then at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah you kept provoking the LORD to anger.
The events at Tabera, Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah are in Num 11:1-3, Ex 17:1-7, and Num 11:31-35 respectively.
23
And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land which I have given you,’ you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither trusted Him nor listened to His voice.
Todo: global listen
24
You have been rebellious toward the LORD since the day I knew you.
25
“So I fell down before the LORD for the forty days and nights, which I did because the LORD said He would destroy you.
This is a second instance in which God would have destroyed Israel. This was not at Sinai but as they had approached the edge of the promised land, see comments in 1:26-27.
26
And I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand!
A reverent way to address God, as Lord GOD.
27
‘Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not turn Your attention to the stubbornness of this people, or to their wickedness, or their sin.
Comp v 5
28
‘Otherwise, the people of the land from which You brought us will say, “Since the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them, and since He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness!”
Event in Num 14:15-16
29
‘Yet they are Your people, and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm.’
Event in Num 14:15-16
Chapter 10
The Tablets Rewritten
1
“At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first two, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
After the rebellion described in cp 9, this chapter is about imitating God. Follow his way v 12, which then the rest of the chapter explains what is that the Lord does and requires
The ark has heavenly figures. How does that square with the ten commandments?
2
‘Then I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed to pieces, and you shall put them in the ark.’
Words (not commandments)
3
So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first two, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.
4
Then He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.
The Ten Words.
5
Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and they are there, just as the LORD commanded me.”
6
(Now the sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and there he was buried, and his son Eleazar served as priest in his place.
The context of this verse would place Aaron’s death not too long after leaving Egypt. A seeming discrepancy with the timing in Num 33:38, which times Aaron’s death at the end of the forty-year period in the wilderness.
Alter: in the previous chapter Aaron faced death but spared by Moses intercession
7
From there they set out to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.
8
At that time the LORD singled out the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him and to bless in His name, until this day.
9
Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God spoke to him.)
10
“I, moreover, stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights like the first time, and the LORD listened to me that time also; the LORD was not willing to destroy you.
Alter: this might be to contrast with v. 8 where it is mentioned the levites will minister before the Lord.
Todo forty ^^^ above is mentioned four times i think
11
Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, proceed on your journey ahead of the people, so that they may go in and take possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’
Similarly to how Adam and Eve had to leave the garden after eating from the tree, Israel is dismissed from Sinai (todo link)
God is someone who keeps His word.
In Deuteronomy, there is a strong emphasis in God’s fulfilling of the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18), Isaac (Gen 26:3), and Jacob (Gen 28:13) to give them and their descendants the land (Dt 1:8, 1:35, 6:10, 6:18, 6:23, 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11).
This was reiterated with the last of the seven promises proclaimed by God (Ex 6:6-8).
12
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Evokes Mic 6:8.
walk His ways … we are to imitate God, be like Him.
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
13
and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
Jesus equated loving with keeping the commandments (Jn 14:15).
14
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.
Alter: the heavens of the heavens. Comp v. 17
15
Yet the LORD set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day.
God’s love transcends generations.
We are chosen by God (todo link with John and table row).
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
16
So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.
F: remove the thickness
Alter: heart is the organ of understanding and feeling
See Romans 2:25-29
Gen 17 talks about circumcision
Todo global link
17
For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.
Who usually gives a bribe?
Jesus Lord of Lords
18
He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing.
The orphan, the widow, and the stranger are the three most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in a society. Committing wrong against them was a serious transgression (Ex 22:21-22).
19
So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
The underlying commandment is to imitate God (10:18).
Loving someone is much more than simply not afflicting them.
20
You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.
F: take an oath
Comp w Ex 23:13
21
He is your glory and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.
What does this mean to you?
22
Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Chapter 11
Rewards of Obedience
1
“You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His directive, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.
This chapter is about the difference between obedience and rebellion. Between finding a short or a long life. Short life like those that rebelled. Long life if we keep G-d's commandments.
The difference in terrain means a difference in provision. G-d wants us to be dependent on Him.
We will find a blessing and a curse.
Comp Jn 14:15-24,15:10
God’s love transcends generations and it is demonstrable (4:37, 10:15, 23:5).
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
2
Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the LORD your God—His greatness, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm,
Seeing is linked to discipline and judgement todo seen
Deut 6:22
See note 4:34
Todo: stretched our arm is a symbol of power Num 11:23; Ex 6:6; Dt 4:34, 5:15, 7:19, 9:29, 11:2, 26:8; Is 59:1; Jer 32:17
3
and His signs and His works which He did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land;
4
and what He did to Egypt’s army, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea engulf them while they were pursuing you, and the LORD completely eliminated them;
5
and what He did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place;
6
and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, among all Israel—
Rebellion of Num 16
F: Korah not mentioned. Perhaps a diff tradition
Alter: the rebellion in Num 16 is a challenge to the priesthood. Here is presented a political (?) rebellion.
What sin did they commit? What commandment did they break?
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
7
but your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did.
8
“You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and take possession of the land into which you are about to cross to possess it;
Following the commandments makes us strong.
9
and so that you may prolong your days on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Same promise as honoring your parents
Life is associated to following the commandments.
10
For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it by your foot like a vegetable garden.
Alter: foot water is urine. Perhaps an Egyptian device to irrigate.
11
But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,
Our land to posses is a place in the house of G-d. John 14:2
Alter: not a flat terrain that can be irrigated like Egypt
It is interesting that the water for Egypt comes from below, the water for Israel comes from above.
The promised land was described as plentiful in water from heaven (Dt 11:10-14, 28:12).
12
a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.
Alter: G-d watches over the land to give rain or to withhold it.
13
“And it shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
14
that He will provide rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, so that you may gather your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
Jam 5:7
F: latter=winter soaking rain
New wine is a symbol of blessings (Gen 27:28; Dt 7:12-13, 11:13-14), of entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 33:27-28), and of the Messiah’s redemption (Jer 31:11-12; Hos 2:21-23; Zch 9:14-17).
15
He will also provide grass in your field for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
16
Beware that your hearts are not easily deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods, and worship them.
17
Otherwise, the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the sky so that there will be no rain, and the ground will not yield its produce; then you will quickly perish from the good land which the LORD is giving you.
18
“You shall therefore take these words of mine to heart and to soul; and you shall tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead.
Not on stone
Similar to the Sh'ma
F: comp Ex 13:9,16
Comp Rev 14:9
19
You shall also teach them to your sons, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
In the home. A family responsibility.
See Dt 4:9
Evening and morning. At all times.
The children are particularly vulnerable to be turned away from God (Dt 7:4); thus the importance of raising the next generation in the knowledge of the LORD. This responsibility falls primarily on the parents (Dt 4:9-10, 6:6-7, 6:20-25, 11:19).
20
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
The city gates. Comp Act 1:8
TODO consolidate comment with Sh’ma
21
so that your days and the days of your sons may be increased on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
22
For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and cling to Him,
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
23
then the LORD will dispossess all these nations from you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.
An overarching theme in Deuteronomy and in the Bible at large is facing enemies stronger than the people (e.g. Dt 4:37-38; 7:1-2, 9:1-2, 11:22-23, 20:1; Jdg 7:2-9; 1Sa 17:4-11; 2Ch 20:12-18; Is 37:10-20, 37:33-37).
24
Every place on which the sole of your foot steps shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea.
Caleb: Dt 1:36, Jos 14:9
Joshua: 1:3
The mediterranean
F: "behind"
25
No one will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will instill the dread of you and the fear of you in all the land on which you set foot, just as He has spoken to you.
26
“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse:
Today : always
Big topic later ch 27-30. The Law is in 12-26, thus the topic of blessing and curses is taken up again in cp 27.
See Mal 2:2-3, Mal 3:9-12,
See Lev 26:14-18
27
the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today;
28
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.
29
“And it shall come about, when the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.
F: surround the cultic center of Shachem today Nabius
Alter: Gerizim is covered in vegetation. Ebal is desolate.
Moses does not get to this. Joshua does, Jos 8:30-3
30
Are they not across the Jordan, west of the road toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?
OT: Gen 12:6
31
For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall possess it and live in it,
32
and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am placing before you today.
The text reaches a point of closure. Starting on the next chapter, specific rules and regulations are given to guide them in their daily lives.
Chapter 12
Laws of the Sanctuary
1
“These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully follow in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth.
This chapter is about the correct places and practices of worshipping, doing what is good in God’s eyes (12:25, 28) rather than our own (12:8).
Notice the prophetic character of the commandments, these are instructions for the time when they have taken the land. Also note how God has given the land already.
God instructs to destroy all the cultic "places" of the peoples they are about to dispossess and points to a single place of worship. This is to make the distinction between polytheistic societies and the worship of the one true God. Even the way we worship must separate us from the world. These commandments reveal how God is jealous if we do not give Him our hearts and love.
What cultic places do we have in our heart that need to be destroyed?
Notice the bringing the first fruits and tithes opens the terms of the Law and it is also the closing topic in cp. 26
2
You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you are going to dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every leafy tree.
The places refers to cultic places, note the prevalence of these in the land.
In our heart?
Israel was not able to avoid the snare of these practices (e.g. 1Ki 14:23-24). Some eight hundred years later, the LORD spoke to Jeremiah about how Israel had become like the peoples (Jer 3:6-10, 13). Israel became like the peoples.
Every leafy tree conveys an idea of the lack of discernment in the land.
3
And you shall tear down their altars and smash their memorial stones to pieces, and burn their Asherim in the fire, and cut to pieces the carved images of their gods; and you shall eliminate their name from that place.
This is a reminder of what Moses told them at Sinai; the LORD is a jealous God (Ex 34:13-14).
They were to imitate what Moses did when he destroyed the golden calf (Ex 32:20).
$$$ A jealous girlfriend would make you throw away photos (?).
4
You shall not act this way toward the LORD your God.
The ways of the nations are not the way of the LORD (Jer 10:2).
Even the way we worship the L-rd must separate us from the world.
Note this is the opening bracket to verse 31.
5
But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and you shall come there.
The Temple was built at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2Sa 24:10-25).
The OT and Deuteronomy in particular present the Temple as the place where the Name of the LORD will dwell (e.g. Dt 12:5, 12:11, 12:21, 14:23-24, 16:2, 16:6, 16:11; Ezr 6:12). The Name encompasses fullness (2Ch 7:16).
Todo copy to Dt
See note in Jn 3:18
6
You shall bring there your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your vowed offerings, your voluntary offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.
Abraham gave Melchizedek the priest a tenth of his spoils (Gen 14:18-20).
Jacob dedicated a tenth of everything he acquired to God (Gen 28:20-22).
In the NT, tithing is mentioned only briefly by Jesus.
The tithe and offerings were the LORD’s (Lv 27:30); some specific offerings were given the priests (Num 18:8-19).
7
There you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
God does not prevent us from enjoying the fruit of our labor (Ecc 3:12-13); families were to eat the offerings and tithes in front of the LORD rather than giving them to priests (Dt 12:7, 14:23, 15:20).
The presenting of the tithe as a joyful occasion is emphasized in Deuteronomy (Dt 12:7, 12:12, 12:18, 14:26).
Todo: in the presence
8
“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
We are called to do what is good and right is the sight of the LORD (Ex 15:26; Dt 6:18, 12:25, 12:28; 13:18; 1Ki 11:38; Rom 12:2). Left to our own devices, we would not know what to do (Dt 12:8; Jdg 17:6, 21:25). We need the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, and fellowship to know what is right and good in the sight of the LORD.
9
for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.
10
When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,
Todo recon note 2:3,
In the Bible, entering into or being in God’s rest is depicted in different forms:
As entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 3:18-20, 12:9-10, 25:19; Jos 1:13-15, 22:3-4; Ps 95:7-11).
As having been liberated (Dt 5:15).
As being in God’s presence (Ex 33:14; Mt 11:28).
The invitation to enter into God’s rest still stands (Heb 4:1-5).
11
then it shall come about that the place in which the LORD your God will choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring everything that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice vowed offerings which you will vow to the LORD.
Todo See note in v 5
12
And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.
A prophetic vision of the people rejoicing.
Slaves were part of the household (12:7, 12:12, 12:18,
The presenting of the tithe as a joyful occasion is emphasized in Deuteronomy (Dt 12:7, 12:12, 12:18, 14:26).
13
“Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in any cultic place that you see,
14
but only in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes: there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do everything that I command you.
The emphasis on one place and not many.
15
“However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, whatever you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as the gazelle and the deer.
16
Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.
Blood is life.
See note in John 6:53.
The command to not eat life appears four times, once here and three times in 12:23-25.
17
You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, new wine, or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your vowed offerings which you vow, or your voluntary offerings, or the contribution of your hand.
18
But you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all your undertakings.
The rejoicing is for the entire household, excluding the unclean is not permitted (12:5, 22).
The tithe is to be eaten at the temple and shared with the priests.
The presenting of the tithe as a joyful occasion is emphasized in Deuteronomy (Dt 12:7, 12:12, 12:18, 14:26).
See note v6
19
Be careful that you do not abandon the Levite as long as you live in your land.
20
“When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire.
Adam and Eve were vegetarians. People could eat meat after the flood.
21
If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter animals from your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire.
See note in 14:24-28
Compare with the instructions in Lev 17 about killing an animal and drinking blood.
22
Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you may eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it.
23
Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
See note in John 6:53.
The command to not eat life appears four times, once in 12:16 and three times in 12:23-25.
24
You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
25
You shall not eat it, so that it may go well for you and your sons after you, since you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.
We are called to do what is good and right is the sight of the LORD (Ex 15:26; Dt 6:18, 12:25, 12:28; 13:18; 1Ki 11:38; Rom 12:2). Left to our own devices, we would not know what to do (Dt 12:8; Jdg 17:6, 21:25). We need the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, and fellowship to know what is right and good in the sight of the LORD.
26
Only your holy things which you may have and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the LORD chooses.
OT: Num 5:9-10
27
And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, and you shall eat the flesh.
28
“Be careful and listen to all these words which I am commanding you, so that it may go well for you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
Again emphasis on the next generation. The long view.
29
“When the LORD your God cuts off from you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and live in their land,
30
be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from your presence, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’
Do not imitate the world.
31
You shall not behave this way toward the LORD your God, because every abominable act which the LORD hates, they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire for their gods.
Note how this verse is the closing bracket to verse 4
32
“Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take anything away from it.
The people are not to add to or remove from the Law (Dt 4:2, 12:32). In Matthew, (e.g Mt 5:17, 21-22, 27-28, 38-39) Jesus is both expounding on the commandments as Moses is doing here (Dt 1:5) and amending some of the statutes (e.g. Mt 5:31-32). See also Rev 22:18-19.
Chapter 13
Reject Idolatry
1
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder,
Chapter 13 deals with agents that will try to lead us away from God and the contrast between listening to such agents’ words versus God’s words.
The first instance of such agents is false prophets or individuals with authority to speak to the people (13:1, 5); second, a trusted and caring relative or acquaintance (13:6); and third, a group of people or a city (13:12). We are to destroy anything and everything that leads us away from God, to utterly destroy it. Jesus does not use softer words (e.g. Mt 5:29-30) but points toward our inner being as the origin of sin whereas his chapter points outwardly.
Under the new covenant, in Mt 18:6-9,15-18, Jesus gives instructions on how to deal with people snared in sin.
The Pharisees and the people were correct in pondering if Jesus was a true prophet or if He was leading people astray (Jn 7:12, 40-48).
Todo Seeing is a liability. Comp v18 seeing a sign vs listening
Going against Jeremiah’s words, false prophets mislead the people declaring victory over Babylon (Jer 23:25-32, 27:9-11, 29:1-9) though it did not come true
At the end times, false prophets will arise (Mt 24:23-27; Mk 13:21-22, 2Th 2:8-12).
2
and the sign or the wonder comes true, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let’s follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let’s serve them,’
Even a factual and objective event that comes to pass can be deceptive.
The warning about being enticed to follow other gods appears three times (13:2, 6, 13).
3
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Listening in this verse is about following obediently to the false prophet in contrast with listening to God in the next verse. The apostle Peter warns us to be always on the alert (2Pe 2:1-3).
Does God test our faith in similar ways today?
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
4
You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
A picture of God as a shepherd with us listening to His voice and following Him (Jn 10:3-4, 11)
Todo listening to God’s voice
5
But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken falsely against the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.
Paul warns about people that falsely identify with the faith (1Co 5:9-11).
To misrepresent God’s character, or to lie to God are grievous faults against God (Gen 3:4-5; Dt 1:27, 13:5; Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-30; Lk 12:10-12; Act 5:3-4).
Ultimately, a false prophet is looking to manipulate and control people, to bring them into servitude.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
6
“If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is like your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’ (whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
After a false prophet (13:1), the second instance of someone leading away from God is a relative, someone who has our trust and love. Notice the intimate language when referring to a wife or friend and the secrecy that closeness can create.
Expressions like “cash is king” can lead us away from God.
The warning about being enticed to follow other gods appears three times (13:2, 6, 13).
7
of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you, or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end),
8
you shall not consent to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.
9
Instead, you shall most certainly kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.
10
So you shall stone him to death, because he has attempted to drive you away from the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
11
Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and will not do such a wicked thing among you again.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
12
“If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that
The third instance of an agent leading people away from God is a town.
13
some worthless men have gone out from among you and have seduced the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known),
Scoundrels will always infiltrate among the people.
The warning about being enticed to follow other gods appears three times (13:2, 6, 13).
14
then you shall investigate, search out, and inquire thoroughly. And if it is true and the matter is certain that this abomination has been committed among you,
15
you shall most certainly strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword. Utterly destroy it and all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword.
A city in this situation is to be treated like the previous nations that occupied the Promised Land (Dt 7:2).
16
Then you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of its public square, and burn the city and all its plunder with fire as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God; and it shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt.
Todo:
The city becomes an offering that takes place anywhere in Israel, that is not brought to Jerusalem.
17
Nothing at all from what is designated for destruction is to cling to your hand, in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He has sworn to your fathers,
See the story of Achan in Jos 7.
18
if you will listen to the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.
We are called to do what is good and right is the sight of the LORD (Ex 15:26; Dt 6:18, 12:25, 12:28; 13:18; 1Ki 11:38; Rom 12:2). Left to our own devices, we would not know what to do (Dt 12:8; Jdg 17:6, 21:25). We need the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, and fellowship to know what is right and good in the sight of the LORD.
Chapter 14
Clean and Unclean Animals
1
“You are sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave a bald spot above your forehead for the dead.
The first half of this chapter is about the guarding of the sonship, bracketed by verses 1 and 21. Then the second part is about tithing and the reason why there were money exchangers in the temple area in the time of Jesus.
This section is about the contrast between symbols of life and death. For example, do not mourn by inflicting injury . The living should not honor death by the shedding of blood (14:1), avoiding eating birds of prey (14:2-19), and not cooking a young goat in the nurturing of its mother's milk (14:21).
Deuteronomy reveals God’s character, including God as a father of the nation (Dt 1:31, 8:5, 14:1).
How about these:
Mt 6:9
Heb 12:6-7
Psa 94:12
Job 5:17
Pro 3:11-12
Rev 3:19
Leviticus 19 is a chapter under the cover of holiness (Lv 19:1-4), which includes instructions against lacerating or shaving the head for the dead were pagan customs of mourning (Lv 19:28). In particular, the shedding of blood should not be performed for the dead as blood is a symbol of life (Gen 9:4; Lev 17:10-14).
We are to honor our parents (Dt 5:16) but the honoring is not extended to include rituals for the dead.
The work of the Father (1Jn 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1, 5:4, 5:18), the Son (Jn 1:12), and the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14) make sonship possible.
2
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
The call to holiness, to be separate is constant in the Bible (e.g. Ex 19:6, 22:31; Lv 11:44, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26; Dt 7:6, 14:2, 21, 26:19, 28:9; Is 62:12; Eph 1:4; 1Pe 1:16).
See note John 17:10
Global link about chosen possession, table in John
3
“You shall not eat any detestable thing.
In verses 14:3-21, the list is not comprehensive as it does not list all animals in Creation. An added difficulty is the translation of names. Some speculate that the unclean animals would have higher levels of toxicity if ingested by people
There seems to be some generalities about birds of prey, carnivores, and scavengers being unclean.
No carnivores or scavengers: birds or land animals.
The ostrich is a bird but cannot fly.
See the episode with Peter and his vision in Act 10:9-17.
Today, we need spiritual food for our spiritual growth (e.g. Dt 8:3; Ps 119:103; Jer 15:15; Ezk 3:1-3; Mt 4:4; Lk 4:4; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; 1Pe 2:2).
4
These are the animals that you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
Land animals have to have split hooves and be ruminants.
5
the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6
And any animal that has a divided hoof and has its hoofs split in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, that animal you may eat.
7
However, you are not to eat these among the ones that chew the cud, or among those that have the hoof divided in two: the camel, the rabbit, and the rock hyrax, for though they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are unclean to you.
8
And the pig, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, nor touch their carcasses.
We wonder why they had pigs in Luke 8:30-34
9
“These you may eat of everything that is in the water: anything that has fins and scales you may eat,
10
but anything that does not have fins and scales, you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.
From the water it has to be a fish with scales and fins. Sharks, octopi, and sea mammals like dolphins and whales have no scales. Shrimp and lobster do not have fins, thus do not swim.
11
“You may eat any clean bird.
12
But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard,
Note these birds are predators.
13
and the red kite, the falcon, and the kite in their kinds,
14
and every raven in its kind,
15
and the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, and the hawk in their kinds,
16
the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,
17
the pelican, the carrion vulture, the cormorant,
18
the stork, and the heron in their kinds, and the hoopoe and the bat.
19
And all the swarming insects with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
Leviticus flags the locust, crickets, and grasshoppers as exceptions and clean (Lv 11:20-23).
20
You may eat any clean bird.
21
“You shall not eat anything which dies of itself. You may give it to the stranger who is in your town, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a stranger; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Note that this included clean animals. The strangers in their towns would be residents.
The instruction about the young goat appears three times in the Torah (Ex 23:19, 34:26 ( There must be a separation; observant Jewish people follow strict separation of dairies and meats.
22
“You shall certainly tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes from the field every year.
Num 18 has the regulations for the tithe
Lev 27:30, belongs to the L-rd.
23
You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
A point made in 12:5, 17, 18.
24
But if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,
25
then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
This is why there were money exchangers at the temple. A twist of the commandment
26
And you may spend the money on whatever your heart desires: on oxen, sheep, wine, other strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
This verse shows the overlap between the commandment and the revelation of prophecy. You shall eat … and rejoice speaks both of what the people are to do but it also reveals the loving character of commandment and its results in the future.
Notice how the tithing is for the whole household, blood family and servants.
The presenting of the tithe as a joyful occasion is emphasized in Deuteronomy (Dt 12:7, 12:12, 12:18, 14:26).
27
Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.
OT: see 18:1-2
28
“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and you shall deposit it in your town.
29
And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Chapter 15
The Sabbatical Year
1
“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.
Deut 31:10-12 is a picture of the Final Judgement, where everyone attends, the Law is read, and debts are canceled.
Alter: Ex 23:10-11. A similar passage about the land.
Interesting that G-d gives the land, His creation, a sabbath too.
Notice the multiple mentions of body parts, hand (3, 7, 8, 11), eyes (9), heart (7, 9, 10), ear (17).
Leviticus 25 deals extensively with the 7 & 50 yr rules.
2
And this is the regulation for the release of debts: every creditor is to forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S release has been proclaimed.
As this chapter deals with financial transactions, there is a reminder that the nation is a family, thus people will be dealing with their brothers (15:2, 15:3, 15:7, 15:9, 15:11).
3
From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall forgive whatever of yours is with your brother.
G-d made a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians for some of the plagues. The last plague required blood on the door
Alter: notice the image of releasing from the hand, letting it slip. V 7 mentions closing the hand.
4
However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will certainly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,
This is G-d's intent, something we should strive for but notice the "if only" in the following verse.
Notice that G-d would not give instructions about interest and helping the poor if there were not poor among them.
Poverty is hard to eradicate: Mat 26:11
The poor widow: Mk 12:42-43
G-d looks after the poor: Lk 11:41, Prov 14:31, 19:17, 28:27
A concern for the believers:Gal 2:10
5
if only you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God, to follow carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today.
The elimination of poverty rest on listen obediently to the voice of the LORD.
6
For the LORD your God will have blessed you just as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
Is borrowing anti-Christian? The lender is a ruler over the borrower.
7
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;
Notice "brother"
From v 4-5 some might argue that their poverty is because their lack of obedience. But many will not have as a consequence of others' disobedience.
Alter: this is not the "harden" of Pharaoh in Ex. More like strengthening.
Alter: notice the image of open and close hand for giving and keeping from.
8
but you shall fully open your hand to him, and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks.
Comp Lk 6:34-35, Mt 5:42
9
Be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in your heart, such as, ‘The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry out to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you.
Jesus command to give and not demand something back at all (Lk 6:30, 6:34-36).
Alter: "your eye is evil"
Interesting the images of body language.
Todo: compare with Matthew and the blurry eye
Brother
10
You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work, and in all your undertakings.
Alter: "your heart shall not be evil"
11
For the poor will not cease to exist in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’
Comp v4
Comp Jn 12:8, Mk 14:7, Mt 26:11
A touch of reality.
Brother
12
“If your fellow countryman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you for six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free.
Notice the sex-equality.
13
And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed.
14
You shall give generously to him from your flock, your threshing floor, and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.
Alter: notice the severance package the worker gets.
F: lit. Make a neckless
This is revolutionary. If companies were like this nowadays ...
15
And you are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I am commanding this of you today.
Economic dependencies can be used as a means of oppression (Pro 22:7)..
The commandment is to imitate God.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
16
But it shall come about, if he says to you, ‘I will not leave you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is doing well with you,
F: the connotation is of loyalty
17
then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant permanently. You shall also do the same to your female slave.
Notice the body part here too
18
“It shall not seem difficult for you when you set him free, because he has given you six years with double the service of a hired worker; so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever you do.
Here a hired man is like the consultant that charges more.
19
“You shall consecrate to the LORD your God all the firstborn males that are born in your herd and in your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
F: holiness in not inherent, it is willed.
This passage perhaps belongs with the following chapter that talks about the holidays.
OT: Abel did this Gen 4:4. Also Ex 13:2, 22:30
The females are needed for bearing more(?)
20
You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses.
Note that the family gets to participate in the meal.
In the priestly writings, one "gives" it.
F: comp Ex 22:29-30
21
But if it has any impairment, such as a limp, or blindness, or any serious impairment, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
22
You shall eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as a gazelle or a deer.
23
Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.
Chapter 16
The Feasts of Passover, of Weeks, and of Booths
1
“Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
Passover
Ex 12, a lamb is mentioned
Alter: this is in the spring
F: other holiday calendars Ex 23:14-17, 34:18,22-24, Lev 23.
Yeast=sin. 1Cor 5:6-8
Three holidays are mentioned
1. Passover, our redemption
2. Weeks, Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit
3. Booths, final judgement
2
You shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His name.
Technically, Passover and the Feast of unleavened bread are two different holidays, one celebrated right after the other. Here there seem to be a combined holiday.
The holiday of unleavened bread is mentioned by itself in Ex 23:15
Passover is described in Ex 12, Unleavened bread in Ex 13.
Originally the Passover was celebrated in each home, Ex 12:46. Here it points to the temple as the place for celebrating
Alter: sheep an cattle, cattle is new.
How do we celebrate the passover? See Lk 22:13-20
3
You shall not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in a hurry), so that you will remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
Alter: the bread of poverty
Matza is singular, matzot is plural of unleavened bread.
Notice that Passover is a somber holiday. We are to rejoice in Weeks and Booths.
4
For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in your entire territory, and none of the meat which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall be left overnight until the morning.
5
You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which the LORD your God is giving you;
Passover refers to the lamb.
6
but only at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt.
Jesus died on this day when the lambs were being sacrificed. People arriving to Jerusalem pulling their lambs would have seen Jesus on the cross as they were walking into the city
7
You shall cook and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents.
A,F: this is boiling. This is now allowed in addition to roasting as mentioned in Ex.
Alter: they don't have to stick around in the temple
8
For six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festive assembly to the LORD your God; you shall do no work on it.
Six plus one somewhere. Seven is mentioned in v 3&4
But six days plus one day of rest is reminiscent of the creation week. Is passover to be a reminder of creation and the fall?
9
“You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.
Pentecost means 50, the number of days in seven weeks.
This is seven weeks after the Passover (Lv 23:15-16).
10
Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a voluntary offering of your hand in a proportional amount, which you shall give just as the LORD your God blesses you;
This is Pentecost. Also commemorates the giving of the Law/commandments to Moses.
We celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Notice this is a freewill offering from the first fruits, not the tithing from the harvest.
11
and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your son and your daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your midst, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.
Compare with Passover.
12
You shall also remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful and comply with these statutes.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
13
“You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths for seven days when you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat;
Booths is to commemorate the life in the wilderness and how they lived in tents.
Notice how in 31:10-12 we have a picture of the Last judgement and Booths is the holidays that is being celebrated.
Notice it is a harvest festival
14
and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son and your daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your towns.
Compare with Passover. rejoice
15
For seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
Alter: in this case they have to stick around the temple
16
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths; and they are not to appear before the LORD empty-handed.
They added two later: Purim and Hanukkah.
OT: it was a Passover trip when Jesus stayed behind
Alter: Though the requirement is for the men, sons and daughters, male and female slaves are encouraged to attend, v 11,14
F: Notice the exception would be for mothers with young children. Every seven years, 31:11-12, everybody is expected to attend.
Ex 34:24 promises other peoples will not covet the land
Passover: Jesus Passion
Pentecost: Holy Spirit
Tabernacles: Jesus incarnated Jn 1:12-13, and the Holy Spirit in us
This seems to be in addition to the tithing. Free-will offering
17
Everyone shall give as he is able, in accordance with the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
18
“You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
This is a charge the Jesus reminds the people (Jn 7:24).
Notice the progression, passover, weeks, booths, then judgement. We see this picture in 31:10-12.
Note that the judges are local. Then there is a sort of superior court in Jerusalem to deal with difficult cases or perhaps appeals, 17:2-13.
Notice the order of the feasts: passover, weeks, booths. Passover is redemption, weeks is the giving of the Torah/the Holy Spirit. Booths is final judgement.
See Zch 14:1-19
John 7 is framed by the feast of booths. In 7:24 Jesus demands a "correct" judgement. Ch 7 is then bookended by the woman caught in adultery.
19
You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.
1Sam 8:1-9 illustrates the consequences of the failure of the administering of justice.
F: you're not to recognize anyone's face.
Again eyes are a liability.
OT: see 1Sam 8:1-3
This sounds like a proverb
20
Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Comp Gen 18:25
Notice how Jesus teaches the same in Jn 7-8. He speaks of righteous judgement. That episode includes the judgement of the woman caught in adultery.
Jn 7-8 covers the holidays, speaks of deliverance from Egypt, the giving of the Spirit, righteous judgement
21
“You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make for yourself.
This would be equating these symbols of pagan religions to the aroration of the living God.
OT: Ex 34:13, 1Ki 14:15, 2Ki 17:16, 2Ki 21:3, 2Ch 33:3
22
And you shall not set up for yourself a memorial stone, which the LORD your God hates.
sacred is added here to mean that G-d hates the cultic practices given to pillars.
Notice the patriarchs set up pillars.
Jos 24:26
Chapter 17
Administration of Justice
1
“You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the LORD your God.
This chapter should probably have started in 16:18. It is about the setting up of a state, government, and justice system.
Notice how planting an Ashera pole next to the altar (16:21-22) or offering an animal with a blemish (17:1) are inserted into the text about administering justice (16:18-17:20), thus highlighting the graveness of failing to exercise proper justice.
How can we apply this principle nowadays? What sort of thing can we bring as an offering that has defects? Expired cans of food?
Offering an animal with a blemish would be equivalent to despising God’s name (Mal 1:6-8).
2
“If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, by violating His covenant,
Perhaps a picture of illness (?), local contamination
Alter: notice the progression from public cult of poles to individual "secret" pagan cult
No distinction before the law man woman
3
and that person has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun, the moon, or any of the heavenly lights, which I have commanded not to do,
These and the transgressions listed in 16:21-22 are committed by Israel later
OT:
1Ki 14:15
2Ki 17:16
2Ki 21:3
2Ch 33:3
Notice the clarification.
Should we never do anything G-d didn't command? Or is this to clarify some sort of believe that He had allowed it?
4
and if it is reported to you and you have heard about it, then you shall investigate thoroughly. And if it is true and the report is trustworthy that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
5
then you are to bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil deed, that is, the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death.
Gates: To the local court (?) or outside the town (?)
6
On the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses, the condemned shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
This is why it was so hard to find evidence against Jesus, Jn 7:50-51
OT: Dt 19:15, Num 35:30, Mt 18:16, 2Co 13:1
7
The hands of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall eliminate the evil from your midst.
The witness must be willing to execute the sentence. There was punishment if it wasn't true, 19:15-21
Would this make you more likely or less likely to accuse someone?
OT: Jn 8:7. Jesus refers to this when He says "... Be the first to throw a stone"
8
“If a case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, that are cases of dispute in your courts, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
The local courts. See 1:9-18
9
So you shall come to the Levitical priests or the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict.
Note that these are priests
Not all Levites were priests, see Num 16:9
OT: Dt 19:17,24:8 Ez 44:24 Hag 2:11
Perhaps not a priest, but a judge nevertheless.
Perhaps these judges are the leaders from 1:9-18
10
Then you shall act in accordance with the terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which the LORD chooses; and you shall be careful to act in accordance with everything that they instruct you to do.
11
In accordance with the terms of the law about which they instruct you, and in accordance with the verdict which they tell you, you shall act; you shall not turn aside from the word which they declare to you, to the right or the left.
Obey the instruction from the priests
12
But the person who acts insolently by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that person shall die; so you shall eliminate the evil from Israel.
Die: This is the one who does not listen to the verdict
F: "burn" purge
13
Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act insolently again.
14
“When you enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you take possession of it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will appoint a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’
Right after a section about administering justice, the text switches to the appointing of a king. Note how in 1Sa 8:1-5 the misrepresentation of justice is the reason why Israel asks for a king.
The result from the people appointing a king would backfire (1Sa 8:18).
Does Jesus fulfill the requirements to be a king?
R: four things required of the king
1. Chosen by G-d
2. An Israelite
3. A copy of Deuteronomy
4. Not too many wives/horses/gold
a. Not arrogant
b. Write the law
Look at Ch 33 where God is already the king
In general G-d does not like when we imitate the peoples around us. In this case, G-d seems to tolerate the idea.
Dt 12:29-31
Lev 18:3
2Ki 21:2
15
you shall in fact appoint a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses. One from among your countrymen you shall appoint as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves, anyone who is not your countryman.
Alter: notice the parallel between v.8 and v.15. The L-rd chooses the place and the king.
Foreigner: Herod was not Jewish (?)
Jesus needed to be born to be a brother, an Israelite
16
In any case, he is not to acquire many horses for himself, nor shall he make the people return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’
Horses: Why? We should not put our trust in worldly strength. Psa 20:7, Isa 31:1
Salomon
Horses 1Ki 4:26, 1Ki 10:26-28
Wives 1Ki 11:1-5
Perhaps giving people as payment and making them slaves again, undoing G-d's deliverance.
See Ex 13:17-18. Always a danger to go back.
See 1Ki 10:26-29
Yearning for our previous lives is not good.
Alter: notice Ex 13:17.
G-d knows our weaknesses
17
And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.
See 1Ki 11:1-8 on how Solomon was mislead in the ways spoken in Deut 16:21-22.
18
“Now it shall come about, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
Alter: notice the king writes it himself
In 31:24-26 Moses writes a copy and places it next to ark.
We have copies and read them every day. We are a royal priesthood.
F: "Copy of this teaching" is also "repetition of this teaching" in Greek is Deuteronomy.
F: "Levitical priest" is a term confined to Deuteronomy.
19
And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully following all the words of this Law and these statutes,
2Ki 22. The law found was most likely a copy of Deuteronomy
We are like kings, having the scripture daily
Alter: a constitutional monarchy?
The point is that the king would submit to the law, rather than the king being the law
See 1Ki 3:3
20
so that his heart will not be haughty toward his countrymen, and that he will not turn away from the commandment to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may live long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.
Not arrogant. Not of "royal" blood.
Countrymen is really "brothers"
Chapter 18
Portion for the Levites
1
“The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall not have a portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD’S offerings by fire and His property.
TODO levitical priests … Notice the use of the phrase in the previous chapter. After the first advent, what is the significance of a passage about Levitical priests? The promise to David included the levitical priests.
Jer 33:14-22 presents David and the priests as one. This is why Deuteronomy brings this passage about the priests right after giving instructions about the king.
Verses 1-8 are part of the form of government started in 16:18 - judges, king, priests
Alter: notice that the levitical priests are in charge of explaining the Law to the king
OT:
Num 18:8-20
Jos 13:14
2Ch 31:2-8
Jer 33:14-22 - promise to David and the Levites
The inheritance for the nation of Israel was the promised land (Dt 18:1; Act 13:19; Heb 11:8-9), the Levites did not receive a portion of the land. Under the New Covenant believers are heirs (Rom 8:16-17; Gal 3:29, 4:7; Eph 3:6; Tit 3:7; Jam 2:5; 1Pe 3:7) to a spiritual inheritance (Act 20:32, 26:18; Eph 1:11, 14, 18; Col 1:12; Heb 9:15), Jesus prepares a place (Jn 14:2-3).
2
They shall not have an inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.
3
“Now this shall be the priests’ portion from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep: they shall give the priest the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the stomach.
4
You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep.
How can we apply this principle today?
How can we offer the first of the fruit of the Spirit back to God.
Giving God the first demonstrates that we trust that there will be a second for us.
5
For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand to serve in the name of the LORD always.
6
“Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides, and he comes whenever he desires to the place which the LORD chooses,
7
then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.
8
They shall eat equal portions, except for what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates.
Hebrew unclear
Spiritism Forbidden
9
“When you enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.
What is the acceptable way to learn the will of G-d? Through spiritist or through prophets?
Detestable appears three times (18:9, 12).
Example of kings who disobeyed
2Ch 28:1-4, 33:1-4
10
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
divination
F: notice they might say "true" things. Here the contrast is between consulting these people and hearing the voice of G-d through the prophets.
These might be true things, see Dt 13:1-5
Do not get too comfortable: 1Sam 15:23. Arrogance?
Alter: tapping the knowledge of departed spirits was a major industry in the Near East
Ex 22:18 instructs how to deal with sorcerers.
11
or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead.
Story of Saul (1Sa 28:5-16).
12
For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is going to drive them out before you.
Detestable appears three times (18:9, 12).
13
You are to be blameless before the LORD your God.
Noah was described as a blameless man (Gen 6:9); Abraham is called to live blameless (Gen 17:1). Jesus makes it possible (Col 1:22).
14
For these nations, which you are going to dispossess, listen to soothsayers and diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.
This the heart of the matter, who are going to listen to, the diviners or the prophets?
Watch out for false prophets.
15
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen; to him you shall listen.
The Prophet
What are the functions of this prophet?
- a fellow Israelite
- G-d will put words on His mouth
- He will speak the words
- G-d will require obedience to those words
The Prophet will
Teach the people (Dt 6:1).
Intercede for the people ()
Jn 1:21
Act 3:22-23
Dt 5:23-26
16
This is in accordance with everything that you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Do not let me hear the voice of the LORD my God again, and do not let me see this great fire anymore, or I will die!’
Dt 5:25-29 recalls the experience of listening to God’s voice.
Ex 20:18-20 after the Ten Commandments
17
And the LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well.
18
‘I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him.
Like you … Moses is a foreshadow of the Prophet.
Jesus delivered the words that the Father gave him (Jn 7:17, 8:28, 12:49, 14:10).
What is it to be like Moses?
An intermediary
Miraculous signs
Receiving and speaking instructions
Examples:
Baby boys tried to be killed
Cared by women
Picture of the resurrection in the box
A deliverer
Scene at the well
Water to blood/wine
19
‘And it shall come about that whoever does not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
require of him What does this mean?
F: it=a reckoning
20
‘But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
presumptuously F: speaking in G-d's name without being addressed
Same fate as a sorcerer
21
And if you say in your heart, ‘How will we recognize the word which the LORD has not spoken?’
22
When the prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you are not to be afraid of him.
Notice the "predictive" nature of the word.
OT: 1Sam 3:20. Samuel was attested
Jer 28:2-17
Chapter 19
Cities of Refuge
1
“When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and in their houses,
Num 35 deals with cities of refuge extensively.
God acknowledges the world is imperfect and provides ways to deal with unintentional sin.
Cp 18 & 19 deal with people who seek to use the Law to deceive others. By speaking a false word, by murdering and fleeing to a city of refuge, by moving a boundary stone, by presenting false charges
Ch 19: a rule is given, the. An example of a misuse is giving.
2
you shall set aside for yourself three cities in the midst of your land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
3
You shall prepare the roads for yourself, and divide into three regions the territory of your land which the LORD your God will give you as an inheritance, so that anyone who commits manslaughter may flee there.
4
“Now this is the case of the one who commits manslaughter, who may flee there and live: when he kills his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously—
5
as when a person goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live.
6
Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in the heat of his anger, and overtake him because the way is long, and take his life, though he was not sentenced to death since he had not hated him previously.
7
Therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall set aside for yourself three cities.’
8
“And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that He promised to give your fathers—
9
if you carefully follow all of this commandment which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
10
So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and guilt for bloodshed will not be on you.
11
“But if there is a person who hates his neighbor, and waits in ambush for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities,
What would be a modern equivalent? This person is abusing the system.
12
then the elders of his city shall send men and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die.
13
You shall not pity him, but you shall eliminate the guilt for the bloodshed of the innocent from Israel, so that it may go well for you.
Neglecting this would not be good.
Laws of Landmark and Testimony
14
“You shall not displace your neighbor’s boundary marker, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Deuteronomy is prophetic, it speaks about times and circumstances that will come to pass. The Israelites do not own any land at this point but there are given rules about the land.
Moving a boundary mark would break the commandments about coveting, stealing, and honoring the parents.
OT:
Job 24:2
Pro 15:25
Pro 22:28
Pro 23:10
Hos 5:10
This is stealing. What would be a modern equivalent.
15
“A single witness shall not rise up against a person regarding any wrongdoing or any sin that he commits; on the testimony of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
16
If a malicious witness rises up against a person to testify against him of wrongdoing,
Being malicious goes both ways, by bringing false charges and helping the guilty. Ex 23:1-2
17
then both people who have the dispute shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days.
Note the divine character of the court, it is not the temple but people are standing before the LORD.
18
And the judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has testified against his brother falsely,
19
then you shall do to him just as he had planned to do to his brother. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.
20
And the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.
21
So you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
Comp Ex 21:23-25. Comp Matt 5:38-41
Throughout the Bible we see that God’s chastisement resembles the transgression, a punishment in kind (e.g. Jer 5:13, 5:19, 9:3-16, 11:21-22, 14:15-16; 34:20; Hos 4:6; Obd 1:15). This principle is also reflected in the Law (e.g. Ex 21:23; Lv 24:19; Dt 19:21), where it reflects a commensurated response.
Chapter 20
Laws of Warfare
1
“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
Todo: hearing
Moses’ song celebrates how God the Warrior destroyed the riders and the chariots of Egypt (Ex 15:1-5).
An overarching theme in Deuteronomy and in the Bible at large is facing enemies stronger than the people (e.g. Dt 4:37-38; 7:1-2, 9:1-2, 11:22-23, 20:1; Jdg 7:2-9; 1Sa 17:4-11; 2Ch 20:12-18; Is 37:10-20, 37:33-37).
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
The promise of being along with His people is an overarching theme in the Bible (Gen 21:20, 21:22, 26:3, 26:24, 26:28, 28:15, 31:3, 35:3, 39:2-3, 39:21-23, 46:4, 48:21; Ex 3:12, 33:14; Dt 2:7, 20:1-4, 31:6-8, 31:23; Jos 1:5, 6:27; Jdg 1:19; 1Sa 18:14; 2Sa 7:9; 1Ki 11:38; 2Ki 18:7; Is 41:10, 43:2, 43:5; Jer 1:8, 1:19, 15:20; Ezk 34:30-31; Zch 8:23; Mat 1:23, 28:20; Act 7:9, 18:10; Phil 4:9). Failure and hardship awaits us when God is not with us (Num 14:42; Dt 1:42, 31:17-18).
2
When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people.
3
He shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or be terrified by them,
Hear, Israel … very common in Deuteronomy
See comment in 21:1 regarding listening to God and feeling afraid.
4
for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
The L-rd fights:
1Sa 17:45
Psa 20:7, 44:6-7
Isa 31:1, 35:3, 41:10
There is a difference between salvation and sanctification.
Salvation=Deliverance from Egypt, Ex 14:11-13, be still.
Sanctification=Conquering the land.
Who are the enemies of our salvation? Satan=enemy
Under the New Covenant, we have victory over our enemies in Jesus, and we are called to be more than conquerors (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:37, 1Co 15:17; 2Co 2:14; Rev 3:21, 12:10-11). However our enemies to defeat are non-physical (Eph 2:1-2, 6:12).
Victory is assured in the battle that God fights (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30, 3:22, 20:4; Neh 4:20). We should not think it is because of our power (Dt 8:17; Jos 24;12; Ps 44:3).
5
The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man that has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.
Four reasons to go home:
1. New house
2. New vineyard
3. Engagement. Deut 24:5. One year off.
4. Afraid
Some will die
6
‘And who is the man that has planted a vineyard but has not put it to use? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would put it to use.
7
‘And who is the man that is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.’
OT: Deut 24:5
8
Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so that he does not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart!’
Fear is contagious.
9
And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people.
Seems like leaders could change.
10
“When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace.
v15 says for whom this is.
How does this square with 7:2? This is only for far away cities, see 20:15-16.
11
And if it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and serve you.
12
However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
13
When the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall strike all the men in it with the edge of the sword.
14
However, the women, the children, the animals, and everything that is in the city, all of its spoils, you shall take as plunder for yourself; and you shall use the spoils of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you.
The women needed to fill the land
15
This is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.
This note is a little late
16
Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave anything that breathes alive.
17
Instead, you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the LORD your God has commanded you,
18
so that they will not teach you to do all the same detestable practices of theirs which they have done for their gods, by which you would sin against the LORD your God.
A matter of cult practices
See Lev 18:24-28
19
“When you besiege a city for a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, so you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a human, that it should be besieged by you?
20
Only the trees that you know are not fruit trees you shall destroy and cut down, so that you may construct siegeworks against the city that is making war against you until it falls.
Alter: perhaps a link to Gen where G-d made trees so people could have nourishment?
Chapter 21
Expiation of a Crime
1
“If a person who has been killed by someone is found lying in the open country in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who struck him,
The Law has a prophetic character. G-d will give them the land and he is telling them the sort of problems they're going to have and how to deal with them.
Even for crimes for which there are no witnesses there must be atonement. The people of the land are responsible.
Alter: land=soil=earth tierra
How does this passage contrast with the previous about engaging enemies
2
then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure the distance to the cities which are around the one who was killed.
3
And it shall be that the city which is nearest to the person killed, that is, that the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd that has not been worked and has not pulled in a yoke;
Why is a whole city responsible?
4
and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.
Alter: This probably a wadi with strong currents so it can not be cultivated.
Is this is a symbol of washing sins away?
5
Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, because the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the name of the LORD; and every dispute and violent crime shall be settled by them.
See 17:18-11
6
And all the elders of that city which is nearest to the person killed shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
Like Pilate Matt 27:24. But in that case Pilate knew who was going to commit the deed
7
and they shall respond and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see who did.
Alter: notice hands and eyes.
They might heard it though
8
‘Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, LORD, and do not place the guilt for innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel.’ And the guilt for bloodshed shall be forgiven them.
F: atoned, purged of, ransomed of
9
So you shall remove the guilt for innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
See Num 35:32-34. Bloodshed pollutes the land.
Domestic Relations
10
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take them away captive,
Alter: in this time, women would be taken as a prize, the fact that God gives rules is actually very progressive toward the women
We are captive too. And once we become part of the people of God, we can not "be sold". We are part of God's people forever
11
and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and are strongly attracted to her and would take her as a wife for yourself,
Alter: "comely feature". Same expression used for Joseph in Gen 39:6, same for Rachel 29:17.
Women and children could be spared, see 20:14
12
then you shall bring her into your home, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails.
Shaving is part of cleansing. See Num 8:5-10
Is this a symbol of humbleness? 1Cor 11:5-6
Especially in Lev 14:8-9 it is a symbol of being born again
13
She shall also remove the clothes of her captivity and shall remain in your house, and weep for her father and mother a full month; and after that you may have relations with her and become her husband and she shall be your wife.
The washing or changing of clothes is part of a renewal. Jacob and his family purify themselves and change clothes (Gen 35:2). Israel washes their clothes to meet God (Ex 19:10, 19:14). Women who become part of Israel receive new clothes (Dt 21:13). Believers receive the garments of salvation (Is 61:10). Attending the marriage feast requires the proper attire (Mt 22:2-14). Lazarus tomb bindings are removed (Jn 11:44).
Alter: same in Gen 6:4
14
But it shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; and you certainly shall not sell her for money, you shall not treat her as merchandise, since you have humiliated her.
Alter: not make a profit, slaving her, ... Verb only occurs here and 24:7
Alter: "you have abused her", raped her
15
“If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the unloved,
Jacob did not love Leah. Reuben was the firstborn. Gen 29:31-33. But Jacob loved Joseph
See note in Gen 29:32
Why would you marry someone you don't love?
16
then it shall be on the day that he wills what he owns as an inheritance to his sons, he is not allowed to treat the son of the loved wife as the firstborn, at the expense of the son of the unloved, who actually is the firstborn son.
17
On the contrary, he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of everything that he owns, for he was the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.
OT: notice the request Elisha made 2Ki 2:9
OT: Isa 61:7 as part of the Messianic promise Isa 61:1-7, His people will receive an inheritance like the firstborn, Jesus
Alter: perhaps means 2/3 as in Zech 13:8
Alter: the first yield of manhood. Same as in Gen 49:3
18
“If any person has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or his mother, and when they discipline him, he does not listen to them,
Words many times used to describe Israel (and us) Psa 78:8, Jer 5:23
19
then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.
20
And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us, he is thoughtless and given to drinking.’
Alter: indicates he is an adult
21
Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall eliminate the evil from your midst, and all Israel will hear about it and fear.
Alter: in this case it is not the accusers that throw the first stone
This is a case of not mixing that that gives life with that that gives death.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
22
“Now if a person has committed a sin carrying a sentence of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,
Some translations "pole".
Very common in Esther. Still practiced not too long ago.
See John 19:31
Alter: the Mishnah views this as a corpse hanging to a kind of cross after the execution
23
his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Jesus, Gal 3:13-14
Alter: God=Elohim
Notice the brackets in this chapter. Started with defiling the land and closes with the same topic.
Chapter 22
Various Laws
1
“You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and avoid them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman.
In Ch 21 we got the last instructions (?) about going into battle, the text now turns into giving instructions for daily life and interacting with other Israelites.
See note in 25:4.
Examples of the golden rule
Like Jesus we should be in the business of finding and restoring
Comp Ex 23:4-5
Alter: your countryman = your brother
2
And if your countryman is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your house, and it shall remain with you until your countryman looks for it; then you shall restore it to him.
Alter: probably the stable on the ground floor of the house. (Would this have been the situation for Joseph and Mary and Jesus)
3
You shall also do this with his donkey, and you shall do the same with his garment, and you shall do likewise with any lost property of your countryman, which has been lost by him and you have found. You are not allowed to avoid them.
Restoring is what the people of G-d are about.
4
You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the road, and avoid them; you shall certainly help him raise them up.
As 1Cor 9:9 says, God is nor concerned about oxen, what is he concerned about? What is the modern equivalent? A car broken on e side of the road?
5
“A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.
G-d "separated" man and woman. This goes against that separation. Do not mix what is to be separated.
Alter: word for "clothing" is a generic term that could mean "weapon" as there is no verb here for the wearing of the woman
6
“If you happen to come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs in it, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young;
7
you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may go well for you and that you may prolong your days.
The mother will produce more.
Is there a link to not cooking a kid in its mother's milk?
OT: Lev 22:28 ... why?
F: echoes the commandment to honor the parents
8
“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring guilt for bloodshed on your house if anyone falls from it.
People would go there at night especially
OT: Jos 2:8, 1Sam 9:25, 2Sam 11:2
What is the modern equivalent?
9
“You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, otherwise all the produce of the seed which you have sown and the yield of the vineyard will be forfeited to the sanctuary.
1Cor 3:9
Lev 19:19
Hos 10:12
See parable Lk 8
10
“You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
See 2Cor 6:14-16
An ox is clean, a donkey is unclean
The ox was a clean animal that could be eaten, the donkey is unclean.
Notice that Israel yoked itself with Baal, Israel participated in the cult of Baal (Num 25:3-5).
TODO: check Alter also 25:1 for the time.
11
“You shall not wear a material of wool and linen combined together.
Wool comes animal, linen from plants
Isa 61:10
The wool comes from sheep, an animal product. Linen is an agricultural product. Together they represent two origins that are not to be mixed, which is an overarching theme is Deuteronomy.
12
“You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.
Alter: not the same word used for tassels in Num 15:38-41
The commandment can be misused Mat 23:5
Laws on Morality
13
“If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then turns against her,
14
and he charges her with shameful behavior and publicly defames her, and says, ‘I took this woman, but when I came near her, I did not find her to have evidence of virginity,’
15
then the girl’s father and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of the girl’s virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
F: notice the parallel with the rebellious son in ch 21
16
And the girl’s father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, but he turned against her;
17
and behold, he has charged her with shameful behavior, saying, “I did not find your daughter to have evidence of virginity.” But this is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity.’ And they shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city.
18
Then the elders of that city shall take the man and rebuke him,
Alter: most likely flogging
19
and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give it to the girl’s father, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. And she shall remain his wife; he is not allowed to divorce her all his days.
20
“But if this charge is true, and they did not find the girl to have evidence of virginity,
See Joseph in Matt 1:18-21. Joseph would have have to throw the first stone(?)
Would the requirement of two witnesses have applied here.
21
then they shall bring the girl out to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death, because she has committed a disgraceful sin in Israel by playing the prostitute in her father’s house; so you shall eliminate the evil from among you.
Alter: perhaps the implication that it was actually in the house(?)
22
“If a man is found sleeping with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who slept with the woman, and the woman; so you shall eliminate the evil from Israel.
F: does not matter if the man is single. This is the biblical model
David was the man
Jesus made it clearer Mat 5:27-28
The commandment reflects the character of G-d. He would not do this
23
“If there is a girl who is a virgin betrothed to a man, and another man finds her in the city and sleeps with her,
F: the woman is guilty even if she's not married. A woman for whom the bride-price has been paid.
24
then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death: the girl, because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.
25
“But if the man finds the girl who is betrothed in the field, and the man seizes her and rapes her, then only the man who raped her shall die.
26
And you are not to do anything to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case.
We see a distinction in sins
1Jn 5:16-17
27
When he found her in the field, the betrothed girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.
28
“If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and has sexual relations with her, and they are discovered,
29
then the man who had sexual relations with her shall give the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife, because he has violated her; he is not allowed to divorce her all his days.
F:nobody dies but still a disgrace. Dinah in Gen 34:7
30
“A man shall not take his father’s wife in marriage, so that he does not uncover his father’s garment.
Gen 35:22 Reuben
Alter: the verb is "wed" not take. Thus it must be referring to a widow of the father. Perhaps related to Ham and Noah (?). Could also be a young divorcee.
OT: Lev 18:8
This was the case in Corinth 1Cor 5:1-5
F: the skirt refers to the wife's, which belongs to the father
Chapter 23
Persons Excluded from the Assembly
1
“No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off may enter the assembly of the LORD.
The name LORD appears many times in this chapter. In cp. 26 too.
Lev 21:16-23, more restrictive/detailed instructions for priests
To be in the kingdom we will be restored and made perfect:
Heb 10:14,11:40,12:23
Eph 5:27
Phi 1:6
Col 1:22
Angelo: not being able to multiply and fill the earth disqualifies you
What does assembly mean?
Alter: a civic assembly, "polis", become a naturalized citizen.
See Jos 8:34-35, 21:20-28. The assembly means the nation of Israel
2
No one of illegitimate birth may enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter the assembly of the LORD.
3
No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may ever enter the assembly of the LORD,
Ruth was a Moabite, but she converted. Shows the mercy of G-d
See the motifs revolving around Ruth, here we have Moab mentioned, then the harvest in 24:19-21, then the marriage in 25:5-6
This section of Deuteronomy is rich with passages about David. 22:22 is about adultery, 23:9-10 about celibacy in the camp (Uriah), 24:19 about the harvest (Ruth walking behind Boaz)
Gen 19:36-38, Ammonites and Moabites were the descendants of Lot and his daughters
Neh 13:1-3. Deuteronomy is called the book of Moses
4
because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
Num 23:5-8
See Mat 5:43-48
5
Nevertheless, the LORD your God was unwilling to listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you.
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
6
You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.
7
“You shall not loathe an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not loathe an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land.
OT: Gen 25:30
Alter: even when Pharaoh tried to kill them
Notice also Lev 19:34
8
The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.
9
“When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall be on guard against every evil thing.
10
“If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.
Alter: men were supposed to be celibate while in battle
OT: 1Sam 21:4-6
OT: Lev 15 deals with bodily discharges, both men's and women's
11
But when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter the camp.
12
“You shall also have a place allocated outside the camp, so that you may go out there to relieve yourself,
13
and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn and cover up your excrement.
14
Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to save you and to defeat your enemies before you, your camp must be holy; so He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.
Like He walked in the garden
He does not send us into battle alone. He is among us at all times
What is in our homes that may offend the L-rd?
Angelo: like Moses in front of the burning bush
Alter: implies sexual impurity
15
“You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.
How is this different from finding an animal/tool 22:1:-3
OT: 1Sam 30:11-16
What does this mean as a "sinner" comes to find refuge among the believers? Receiving someone who has been a slave to sin?
16
He shall live with you in your midst, in the place that he chooses in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him.
17
“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute.
Alter: term used by Hirah to refer to Tamar, Gen 38:21, perhaps classier than just whore, Gen 38:15
OT: became a problem in Israel 1Ki 14:22-24, 15:11-12, 22:45-46, 2Ki 23:4-7
18
You shall not bring the earnings of a prostitute or the money for a dog into the house of the LORD your God as payment for any vowed offering, because both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
What are the wages of a dog?
Alter: dog was a pejorative term for a male cult prostitute. Dog were not pets then
Could be that you could not sell something as unpleasant as a dog and use that money for an offering
Recall 2Pet 2:22, Prov 26:11
19
“You are not to charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned on interest.
Alter: lit "bite"
Deut 15:1-6 talks about forgiving debts and the poor that will be in the land
Interest would have been a way to make sure a loan is repaid before the seventh year
OT: Lev 25:35-37
20
You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.
21
“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly require it of you, and it will be a sin for you.
It is better not to make a vow at all, see next verse. One is commited to fulfill a vow, see v23.
See Eccl 5:1-6
Gen 28:20 Jacob makes a vow
Num 6:2 the Nazarites
Matt 5:33-37 Jesus advised against making vows.
F: vows Num ch 6&30*
Bad vow: Judg 11:30-31,35-36
Vows were a big deal
Job 22:27
Psa 15:4,61:5,65:1,76:11
Isa 19:21
22
However, if you refrain from making vows, it will not be a sin for you.
23
You shall be careful and perform what goes out of your lips, since in fact you have vowed a voluntary offering to the LORD your God, whatever you have promised.
Jesus spoke about this:
Mat 15:11,12:36-37
Lk 6:45
24
“When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat grapes until you are satisfied; but you are not to put any in your basket.
25
“When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you are not to use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.
Discussion with Jesus about the Sabbath, Mat 12:1-8, Mk 2:23-28, Lk 6:1-3
Chapter 24
Law of Divorce
1
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, that he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house,
This is probably the verse for Joseph trying to divorce Mary Matt 1:19. This seems to be a situation different from 22:13-19. However Jesus says this was not permissible Mk 10:4-12
"Indecency" is the same phrase as in 23:14
Alter: "Certificate of divorce" document of cutting off. See 1Sam 15:27
OT: Jer 3:8-15. God is a faithful husband
OT: freely divorce is not righteous Mal 2:15-16
Mat 5:31-32 Jesus banned divorce
2
and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife,
3
and the latter husband turns against her, writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house, or if the latter husband who took her to be his wife dies,
4
then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
No swingers
OT: Jer 3:1. God is willing to take Israel back even under these circumstances
5
“When a man takes a new wife, he is not to go out with the army, nor be assigned any duty; he shall be free at home for one year and shall make his wife whom he has taken happy.
F: enjoyment and not necessarily for procreation
Alter: happiness could be sexual or social. The concern is the woman's happiness.
A price would have been paid, this is an acknowledgement to it. Related to 20:7
Various Laws
6
“No one shall seize a handmill or an upper millstone as a pledge for a loan, since he would be seizing the debtor’s means of life as a pledge.
Alter: even small households had hand mills for daily use
Doing so would prevent the owner to eat/make a living and be able to pay back
Alter: "life" is repeated in the next verse, "a living person"
7
“If someone is caught kidnapping any of his countrymen of the sons of Israel, and he treats him as merchandise and sells him, then that thief shall die; so you shall eliminate the evil from among you.
Story of Joseph Gen 37
OT: Ex 21:16 penalty is for any kidnapping
8
“Be careful about an infestation of leprosy, that you are very attentive and act in accordance with everything that the Levitical priests teach you; just as I have commanded them, you shall be careful to act.
F: not leprosy
The priests were in charge of healing/medicine
Lev 13-14
9
Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.
Num 12:1-15
Alter: maybe she turned white because the wife was dark
10
“When you make your neighbor a loan of any kind, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge.
11
You shall stand outside, and the person to whom you are making the loan shall bring the pledge outside to you.
F: this is to protect the dignity of the debtor
Alter: notice the emphasis (three times) on not entering/staying outside
Sometimes they would take away children Job 24:9
12
And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge.
13
When the sun goes down you shall certainly return the pledge to him, so that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.
F:usually a cloak used as a blanket at night
See Ex 22:21-27
The righteousness is "granted" by the person giving thanks to the person showing kindness
OT: see 6:25
14
“You shall not exploit a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your strangers who are in your land in your towns.
OT: Lev 25:35 notice here the higher commitment towards a foreigner. Job 24:3-4 hiding the poor is oppressing them. Psa 14:31. We need to show kindness.
Pro 19:17. A loan to the L-rd.
15
You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets—for he is poor and sets his heart on it—so that he does not cry out against you to the LORD, and it becomes a sin in you.
See Lev 19:13
Parable Mat 20:1-8 about paying at the end of the day
Alter: his life lifts toward it
16
“Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin alone.
Alter: you killed my son, your son shall be killed was common in ancient near east legal codes
This is another way to be different from the peoples around them
17
“You shall not pervert the justice due a stranger or an orphan, nor seize a widow’s garment as a pledge.
F: three groups of oppressed people. Redemption from Egypt is the rationale.
Egypt: they were Psa 82:3, Ezk 22:7, Jam 1:27, Gal 2:10, Dt 14:29,27:19, Zch
Alter: even more restricted than returning it at night
OT: 10:18-19. G-d loves the foreigner. Be like G-d
From here to the end of the chapter G-d gives instructions to provide for the alien, the orphan, and the widows. Remember the story of Ruth.
Ex 22:18-28 has a set of rules similar to the verses we've seen in this section of Deut. Mistreating these people is right along dealing with sorcerers and blaspheming G-d
OT: many verses about showing concern for these people Psa 82:3, Ezk 22:7, Jam 1:27, Gal 2:10, Dt 14:29,27:19, Zch 7:10, Mal 3:5
18
But you are to remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and that the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.
Ex 1:13-14. The Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. Also Num 20:15-16, Ex 3:9
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
19
“When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you are not to go back to get it; it shall belong to the stranger, the orphan, and to the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Do not be stingy, greedy. What would be an equivalent nowadays?
OT: Lev 19:9-10
There is a promise from G-d See 8:18
20
When you beat the olives off your olive tree, you are not to search through the branches again; that shall be left for the stranger, the orphan, and for the widow.
Alter: beat the tree but not pluck the branches
21
“When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you are not to go over it again; that shall be left for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.
Alter: do not pluck the small grapes
In this verses:
1. The poor (oppressed) have to do something (it is not just given to them).
2. They don't have to ask those that they would have something to spare
22
And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.
Deuteronomy highlights God’s character as a liberator (Dt 5:6, 5:15, 6:12, 6:21, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5, 13:10, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22).
Chapter 25
Various Laws
1
“If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty,
This chapter is about legacy/remembrance. Talks about a man who dies without a son, a woman who damages the reproductive part of a man, about wiping out the Amalekites
The judges are instructed in 17:8-13
2
then it shall be if the wicked person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and have him beaten in his presence with the number of lashes according to his wrongful act.
Jesus gives an example of this sort of punishment in Lk 12:45-48.
according to todo examples of commensurate punishment (Ex ??).
3
He may have him beaten forty times, but not more, so that he does not have him beaten with many more lashes than these, and that your brother does not become contemptible in your eyes.
2Co 11:24, Jer 20:1-2
Jesus received this punishment
A: rabbinical law stipulated 39 so as to not pass 40 accidentally. The bible does not mentioned which crimes deserved this sort of punishment apart from Dt 22:18
F:human dignity is still a concern during punishment
G-d is protecting the dignity even during sentencing and punishment
4
“You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.
1Co 9:9, 1Tim 5:18
5
“When brothers live together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall have relations with her and take her to himself as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.
A: same extended household or in proximity. In Ruth this rule extended to distant cousins. If a man had no son, nobody would receive the inheritance (land) and the man would be forgotten.
6
It shall then be that the firstborn to whom she gives birth shall assume the name of his father’s deceased brother, so that his name will not be wiped out from Israel.
... son of ....
Ruth story, 1:12-13, 4:1-11
Judah, his sons, and Tamar, Gen 38:6-11
Question to Jesus, Mat 22:24-30, Mk 12:19-25, Lk 20:28-36
7
But if the man does not desire to take his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel; he is not willing to perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’
8
Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak to him. And if he persists and says, ‘I do not desire to take her,’
9
then his brother’s widow shall come up to him in the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall declare, ‘This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house!’
10
And in Israel his family shall be called by the name, ‘The house of him whose sandal was removed.’
11
“If two men, a man and his countryman, have a fight with each other, and the wife of one comes up to save her husband from the hand of the one who is hitting him, and she reaches out with her hand and grasps that man’s genitals,
A: contrast with v5
A: Though not mentioned it probably implies damage to the man's organ. This action would endanger the man's ability to have children, the subject of the previous text
Could make him "impure" in the sense of 23:1
12
then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity.
13
“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small.
Double-standards is an abomination to G-d
14
You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.
Two buckets, the epha
OT: Pro 11:1,20:23, Mic 6:10-11
15
You shall have a correct and honest weight; you shall have a correct and honest measure, so that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Do a just day of work at the office
Similar to the fifth commandment
16
For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God.
17
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you came out of Egypt,
A: see Ex 17:8-16, 1Sam 30. Sounds like they attacked the stragglers
This was the sin of Saul, 1Sam 15.
F: Haman in Esther was descendant of Agag, an Amalekite king, Est 3:1, 1Sam 15:8
OT: Amalek was a descendant of Esau Gen 36:12.
18
how he confronted you on the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.
Following the passage about fair weights/measures, G-d gives a sentence corresponding the crime of the Amalekites.
19
So it shall come about, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall wipe out the mention of the name Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget.
What doe this mean to us?
Disobedience prevent us from entering into G-d's rest. Heb 3:16-19. Rest is entering/conquering the promised land.
Kind of ironic Amalek is remembered in the Bible
Notice the ironic "do not forget"
A: a campaign developed during Hezekiel
In the Bible, entering into or being in God’s rest is depicted in different forms:
As entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 3:18-20, 12:9-10, 25:19; Jos 1:13-15, 22:3-4; Ps 95:7-11).
As having been liberated (Dt 5:15).
As being in God’s presence (Ex 33:14; Mt 11:28).
The invitation to enter into God’s rest still stands (Heb 4:1-5).
Chapter 26
Offering First Fruits
1
“Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and live in it,
The Law is found in cp12-26. The outside brackets discuss obedience and the curses and blessings. The inside brackets are about bringing the first fruits and tithings to the place G-d will choose.
This chapter is about G-d making a nation from Israel/Jacob (v.18-19). He delivers them from Egypt, He provides a place for them to dwell in, fruit from the land for their sustenance, and become their treasured possession.
In John, Jesus also promises a dwelling, he is the living water and the living bread,
G-d provides the land as a dwelling place. Jesus provides a home, Jn 14:2
As in cp. 23, L-RD appears many, many times
Notice the emphasis on G-d giving (v. 1,2,3,9,10,11,15, the land, but it had to be conquered
Todo: prophetic character
2
that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.
some A: no amount specified
This is a reiteration of the commands in 12:1-9
3
And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the LORD my God that I have entered the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’
A: liturgy for each Israelite to recite
4
Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the LORD your God.
5
And you shall respond and say before the LORD your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and resided there, few in number; but there he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.
wandering A before picture
A: Abraham was Aramean, and Jacob spent twenty years in that land when fleeing from Esau
OT: Abraham wandered, Gen 20:13
Abraham's family was Aramean, Gen 25:20.
A: could also mean "lost"
F: having the land makes them a rooted people and wandering no more
6
‘And the Egyptians treated us badly and oppressed us, and imposed hard labor on us.
7
‘Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our wretched condition, our trouble, and our oppression;
Ex 3:9. Notice "cry".
Num 20:15-16
8
and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and with great terror, and with signs and wonders;
G-d delivered us from sin. How are we to present testimony?
G-d came down, Ex 3:8
9
and He has brought us to this place, and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10
‘And now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, LORD have given me.’ Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God;
We produce wealth but it is from G-d, Dt 8:18
A: along with v.4 both the priest and the farmer set the basket down
11
and you, the Levite, and the stranger who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household.
12
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Abraham gave the tenth Gen 14:10, which represents the Levites giving the tenth Heb 7:9-10
The third year was mentioned in 14:28-29
12:12, 16:11. Already mentioned before in Dt. This verse is bracketing the one in cp 12 to wrap the Law with the care for the disadvantaged and the priests
13
And you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and have also given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, in accordance with all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not violated or forgotten any of Your commandments.
Here is a picture of Jesus speaking because He only can fulfill the Law and the only one who obeyed and remembered all the commandments. Parallels with His prayer in Jn 17 include, having done everything G-d commanded, listening to the voice of G-d, a treasured possession being shared between the Father and the Son, offering the first fruits (the disciples), and forming a nation/believers
This looks like the tithe separated to be given to the Levite, alien, orphan, widow
See here how we are to imitate G-d and "also give"
I have not This is a tough statement, how can we recite this in front of G-d. Comp with Lk 18:9-14
Psa 119 speaks about not forgetting G-d's commandments v.141,153,176
14
‘I have not eaten of it while mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the LORD my God; I have acted in accordance with everything that You have commanded me.
A: Would have made it impure
A: Would have implied entering a burial site
Todo: The voice of G-d is a big topic in cp 4
I have This is what is required as get to the end of the Law.
Could this be Jesus speaking? Comp Jn 17:4. In Jn 17 Jesus could be presenting the Disciples as the first fruits
15
‘Look down from Your holy dwelling place, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey just as You swore to our fathers.’
Look OT: Psa 102:19, Isa 63:15,
G-d dwells in the heavens. Not the temple
A: not on a mountain like the Greeks had it
16
“This day the LORD your God commands you to perform these statutes and ordinances. Therefore you shall be careful to perform them with all your heart and with all your soul.
17
Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.
OT: Ex 19:8
While in Egypt, God had given Israel seven promises (see comment in Ex 6:6-8).
The first three were fulfilled with their deliverance from Egypt. Deuteronomy shows how the remaining are also fulfilled.
The fourth promise, God’s taking them as His people, comes to pass in Dt 27:9.
The fifth promise, God becoming Israel’s God, comes to pass in Dt 26:17.
The sixth promise, to bring them to the land, is fulfilled in Dt 1:19 as they arrive at the edge of the promised land.
The seventh promise, God’s giving of the land as a possession, comes to pass as He instructs them to take the land (Dt 1:8, 6:10, 9:5, 9:27, 29:13, 30:20, 34:4).
18
And the LORD has today declared you to be His people, His personal possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments;
See note John 17:10
This verse and next establish Israel as G-d's people
Comp v.18-19 with Ex 19:5-6
Psa 148:14 close to His heart
keep Important. Part of the deal/covenant
19
and that He will put you high above all the nations which He has made, for glory, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken.”
A promise if we obey, emphasized in 28:1,3,44. Fulfilled in David 1Ch 14:2,
Chapter 27
The Curses at Mount Ebal
1
Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I am commanding you today.
Do we have the power/authority to curse?
Lk 6:27-28
Rom 12:14
Jam 3:9
Rev 22:3
The elders, priests, Levites, now participate in the instruction, see v9,14
2
So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime
large stones Common practice in scripture
Jos 4:1-7, 24:25-27
1Sam 7:10-12
3
and write on them all the words of this Law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
Once the Law has been given (see the opening of cp 12), the text picks up the topic of blessing and curses that was mentioned when closing cp. 11:26-32
Lime/plaster would not survive rain and wind. Is this to mean that the law would be temporary? Or needed to be plaster because iron could not be used?
A: "This Law" cp 12-26 or maybe the whole book
Notice the end of cp 11 is the opening bracket closing now here un cp 27
When did he promise?
OT: Ex 3:8
Todo: consolidate with promise global link
4
So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.
Ebal This is in Shechem, Jos 24:25
5
Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.
A: comp Ex 20:25. Word of G-d give life, iron gives death. In 20:25 could mean sword.
Also Jos 8:30-32
6
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;
7
and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
8
You shall write on the stones all the words of this Law very clearly.”
Joshua seems to re-do everything in Jos 8:30-35
9
Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.
Why today?
See 26:18
While in Egypt, God had given Israel seven promises (see comment in Ex 6:6-8).
The first three were fulfilled with their deliverance from Egypt. Deuteronomy shows how the remaining are also fulfilled.
The fourth promise, God’s taking them as His people, comes to pass in Dt 27:9.
The fifth promise, God becoming Israel’s God, comes to pass in Dt 26:17.
The sixth promise, to bring them to the land, is fulfilled in Dt 1:19 as they arrive at the edge of the promised land.
The seventh promise, God’s giving of the land as a possession, comes to pass as He instructs them to take the land (Dt 1:8, 6:10, 9:5, 9:27, 29:13, 30:20, 34:4).
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
10
So you shall obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today.”
F: hearken the voice of G-d.
11
Moses also commanded the people on that day, saying,
12
“When you cross the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
See Matt 5:1, Jesus pronounce the blessings
13
For the curse, these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Do we have the power to bless/curse? See note in v1.
14
The Levites shall then respond and say to all the people of Israel with a loud voice,
15
‘Cursed is the person who makes a carved image or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall reply and say, ‘Amen.’
What is the role of the Ten Commandments here? The greatest commandments?
There were other curses Num 5:16-22
Part of the Ten, Ex 20:4, Dt 5:8.
A: notice with v24 the secret character or the transgression. Perhaps all these transgressions relate to secret activities
OT: Solomon did it in public 1Ki 11:4-11
16
‘Cursed is one who treats his father or mother contemptuously.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
One of the Ten Ex 20:12, Dt 5:16
17
‘Cursed is one who displaces his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
See note in 19:14
A bit like coveting, one of the Ten
18
‘Cursed is one who misleads a person who is blind on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
See Dt 19:14. Why is this such a problem. Would it be ok if they were not deaf/blind?
Jacob and Isaac
19
‘Cursed is one who distorts the justice due a stranger, an orphan, or a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Several times mentioned as the disadvantaged in the society.
See notes Dt 16:18-20
G-d defends these Dt 10:17-19
20
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s garment.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
OT: Lev 18:8
See note in Gen 35:22
21
‘Cursed is one who has sexual intercourse with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
See Gen 20:12. Abraham married his half-sister Sarai
OT: Lev 18:9
Remember David's children
23
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
OT: Lev 20:14
24
‘Cursed is he who attacks his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Cain and Abel
David and Uriah
OT: Ex 21:12
25
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to attack an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
A: a contract killer or perhaps a judge to sentence the innocent
OT: Ex 23:7-8
26
‘Cursed is anyone who does not fulfill the words of this Law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Not just for particular commandments but for any
Jer xxx
OT: Gal 3:10
Chapter 28
The Blessings at Mount Gerizim
1
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, that the LORD your God will put you high above all the nations of the earth.
A literal translation of obey the LORD is to listen to His voice, a theme in Deuteronomy. Also in verses 2, 15, 62.
OT: 26:9
2
And all these blessings will come to you and reach you if you obey the LORD your God:
Like this.
See v15
3
“Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the country.
Compare w. Beautitutes
Different livelihoods
There's another set of blessings in Dt 7:12-15
Cities have a negative connotation in Genesis especially Gen 4:17, 11:4-8, 13:11-13, 18:20-24, 34:20,
4
“Blessed will be the children of your womb, the produce of your ground, and the offspring of your animals: the newborn of your herd and the young of your flock.
Abraham and Sarah waited for a long time. Gen 25:20,26. Rebekah conceived after 20 yrs
5
“Blessed will be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Notice that food is provided for your offspring from the previous verse.
6
“Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out.
OT: Psa 121:8
7
“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated by you; they will go out against you one way and will flee at your presence seven ways.
A: v7&12 imply military and economic dominance
OT: Lev 26:8
8
The LORD will command the blessing for you in your barns and in everything that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Comp Mal 3:10-12
Check copper and ore
9
The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.
OT: Ex 19:6
10
So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.
Comp v.58.
We believe in the name of the Son, John 3:18.
11
And the LORD will give you more than enough prosperity, in the children of your womb, in the offspring of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
more than enough A: an extra measure
12
The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless every work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.
See 11:11. In a way rain is replacing mana. Lev 26:3
Even in the sabbatical year, there would be double, like with mana. Lev 25:19-22
The promised land was described as plentiful in water from heaven (Dt 11:10-14, 28:12).
13
And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will only be above, and not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God which I am commanding you today, to follow them carefully,
14
and do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or the left, to pursue other gods to serve them.
Consequences of Disobedience
15
“But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to be careful to follow all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
A: heed the voice of G-d
Many of these things happened to Job, Job 1-3
Since the curses accompany exile, many of these happened during the time of Jeremiah
Comp v2. Would render people helpless. Bracket to v45
See Zch 1:6
16
“Cursed will you be in the city, and cursed will you be in the country.
Clear parallel v3-6 w. v16-19
Did Jesus say anything similar? The fig tree
17
“Cursed will be your basket and your kneading bowl.
18
“Cursed will be the children of your womb, the produce of your ground, the newborn of your herd, and the offspring of your flock.
Notice 17-18 are in opposite order than 4-5, as though an undoing. First provision is removed then the offspring.
19
“Cursed will you be when you come in, and cursed will you be when you go out.
20
“The LORD will send against you curses, panic, and rebuke, in everything you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have abandoned Me.
21
The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has eliminated you from the land where you are entering to take possession of it.
22
The LORD will strike you with consumption, inflammation, fever, feverish heat, and with the sword, with blight, and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish.
you perish The person, family, or nation?
23
The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.
A: bronze, iron = sterile
OT:Lev 26:18-19
An image of being pressed
24
The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
Rain covers everyone, speaking to a nation
25
“The LORD will cause you to be defeated by your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways from their presence, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
OT: Lev 26:17
26
Your dead bodies will serve as food for all birds of the sky and for the animals of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
No burial
OT: Psa 79:2
27
“The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, the festering rash, and with scabies, from which you cannot be healed.
A,F: hemorrhoids
28
The LORD will strike you with insanity, blindness, and with confusion of mind;
A:madness ... heart, a psychological struggle
Comp v65
29
and you will be groping about at noon, just as a person who is blind gropes in the darkness, and you will not be successful in your ways; but you will only be oppressed and robbed all the time, with no one to save you.
OT: darkness was one of the plagues Ex 10:21-23
F: v29&31
30
You will betroth a woman, but another man will violate her; you will build a house, but you will not live in it; you will plant a vineyard, but you will not make use of its fruit.
Parallel w 20:5-7
31
Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat of it; your donkey will be snatched away from you, and will not be restored to you; your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you.
See v29
A contrast with Egypt when God came to save them. During the time of judges He sent people to save them over and over
32
Your sons and your daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes look on and long for them constantly; but there will be nothing you can do.
Comp v. 41
33
A people whom you do not know will eat the produce of your ground and every product of your labor, and you will never be anything but oppressed and mistreated continually.
34
You will also be driven insane by the sight of what you see.
35
The LORD will strike you on the knees and thighs with severe boils from which you cannot be healed, and strike you from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.
See Job 2:7-8, 7:5
36
The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you appoint over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods, made of wood and stone.
G-d was supposed to choose the king 17:14-15
The opposite of worshiping the One true God, a theme in Deuteronomy
37
And you will become an object of horror, a song of mockery, and an object of taunting among all the peoples where the LORD drives you.
Many references to this in Jer 18:16,19:8,24:9,25:9,25:18,29:18,42:18,44:8,48:27 Lam 2:15
38
“You will bring out a great amount of seed to the field, but you will gather in little, because the locust will devour it.
Hag 1:5-6
A plague Ex 10:4-5
39
You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink of the wine nor bring in the harvest, because the worm will eat it.
40
You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, because your olives will drop off prematurely.
41
You will father sons and daughters but they will not remain yours, because they will go into captivity.
42
The cricket will take possession of all your trees and the produce of your ground.
43
The stranger who is among you will rise above you higher and higher, and you will go down lower and lower.
Aliens were also like locust Judg 6:2-6
44
He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he will be the head, and you will be the tail.
45
“So all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.
Bracket to v15
See v2
46
And they will become a sign and a wonder against you and your descendants forever.
47
“Since you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a cheerful heart, in gratitude for the abundance of all things,
In this verse for not serving the L-ord in abundance, the result is serving the enemy in lacking with an iron yoke
Comp w "lack" in next verse
Serving the Lord while we have abundance is doubly important
48
you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and devoid of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
A: singular but refers to the enemy
Perhaps G-d has become the enemy
49
“The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, as the eagle swoops down; a nation whose language you will not understand,
50
a nation with a defiant attitude, who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.
A: fierce face
51
Furthermore, it will eat the offspring of your herd and the produce of your ground until you are destroyed; a nation that will leave you no grain, new wine, or oil, nor the newborn of your cattle or the young of your flock, until they have eliminated you.
52
And it will besiege you in all your towns until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout your land, and it will besiege you in all your towns throughout your land which the LORD your God has given you.
Notice here the charge of trusting the walls for protection. Modern equivalent?
53
Then you will eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, during the siege and the hardship by which your enemy will oppress you.
2Ki 6:27-29
OT: Lam 2:20, 4:9-10
54
The man who is refined and very delicate among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife he cherishes, and toward the rest of his children who are left,
55
so that he will not give even one of them any of the flesh of his children which he will eat, since he has nothing else left, during the siege and the hardship by which your enemy will oppress you in all your towns.
Jer 19:8-9
56
The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and tenderness, will be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,
57
and toward her afterbirth that comes from between her legs, and toward her children to whom she gives birth, because she will eat them secretly for lack of anything else, during the siege and the hardship with which your enemy will oppress you in your towns.
58
“If you are not careful to follow all the words of this Law that are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God,
Comp v10
OT: Ex 3:15
59
then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.
Like Egypt
60
And He will bring back on you every disease of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you.
61
Also every sickness and every plague, which are not written in the book of this Law, the LORD will bring on you until you are destroyed.
"Including but not limited to ..."
62
Then you will be left few in number, whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, because you did not obey the LORD your God.
A:heed the voice of G-d
63
And it will come about that, just as the LORD rejoiced over you to be good to you, and make you numerous, so will the LORD rejoice over you to wipe you out and destroy you; and you will be torn away from the land which you are entering to possess.
There is no mercy
F:deport
Just like Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden for disobeying, the nation will be expelled from the promise land
64
Furthermore, the LORD will scatter you among all the peoples, from one end of the earth to the other; and there you will serve other gods, made of wood and stone, which you and your fathers have not known.
65
Among those nations you will find no peace, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul.
Comp Lam 1:3
Why this three: heart, eyes, soul\
Compare w v28
66
So your lives will be hanging in doubt before you; and you will be terrified night and day, and have no assurance of your life.
67
In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ And at evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the terror of your heart which you fear, and the sight of your eyes which you will see.
Job 7:4
68
And the LORD will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way about which I said to you, ‘You will never see it again!’ And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.”
A: hard and difficult walking to the land, but quickly back by sea
A: back to square one when Joseph was sold as slave or the beginning of Exodus
Chapter 29
The Covenant in Moab
1
These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb.
F: part of Cp 29.
Hebice the separation of the covenants.
There was a covenant with Noah Gen 9:9-17.
There were two covenants with Abraham. First Gen 15:18-21 in which G-d promises Abraham descendants and land, as a result of Abraham believing G-d, Gen 15:
5-6 and Abraham asking for a pledge. Our believing is also credited to us as righteousness. Animals are cut as part of this covenant.
Second Gen 17:1-2, Abraham is promised to father many nations (including us), the sign of this covenant also involves cutting, circumcision (our hearts are circumcised). An external sign, not internal.
Horeb: the Ten Commandments. The burning bush was at Horeb, Ex 3:1. Deut 4:13 is a symbol of the covenant.
The covenant at Horeb has symbols
1. The tablets Ex 16:34. E.g. The sabbath is part of the covenant Ex 31:16
2. The book Ex 24:7
3. The blood Ex 24:8
4. The ark Ex 26:33
5. The tabernacle Ex 38:21
6. The salt Lev 2:13
7. The bread Lev 24:8
We are part of the covenant in Jer 31:31-34, 32:37-41, Isa 59:21, Ezk 37:24-27, and the new covenant Mat 26:28, Mk 14:24, Lk 22:20. Only Luke says "new" covenant. Heb 8:7-13 confirms this.
2
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants, and to all his land;
Seeing is related to punishment/judgement. See note 4:34. See next verse
Most of them didn't. Deuteronomy has a timeless aspect to it. Everyone listens to the words of Deut.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
3
the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.
4
Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.
Creation is not complete? Is this referring to heart/eyes/ears of the spirit? Is this what Jesus refers to in Jhn 3
A promise to provide a hear to know in Jer 24:6-7
It is also a sign of rebellion
Jer 5:21, Ez 12:2,
5
And I have led you in the wilderness for forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.
See note in 8:4
The Law is bracketed. Thing are mentioned before and after.
6
You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or other strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.
The last time they ate bread they were leaving Egypt
Dt 8:3 God made them hunger, then He fed them mana.
Lev 9:9-10. You cannot approach God after drinking wine
Why are the elements of the new covenant mentioned here?
Todo: the plagues were so Egypt would know
7
When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us for battle, but we defeated them;
The struggles are described in Dt 2:26-3:11 and Num 21:21-35
8
and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites.
9
So you will keep the words of this covenant and do them, in order that you may be successful in everything that you do.
10
“You stand today, all of you, before the LORD your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders and your officers, that is, all the men of Israel,
11
your little ones, your wives, and the stranger who is within your camps, from the one who gathers your firewood to the one who draws your water,
A way to describe slaves/servants. See Jos 9:20-28
12
so that you may enter into the covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath which the LORD your God is making with you today,
13
in order that He may establish you today as His people, and that He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14
“Now it is not with you alone that I am making this covenant and this oath,
Notice parallel John 17:20
15
but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God, and with those who are not with us here today
16
(for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we passed through the midst of the nations through which you passed;
17
moreover, you have seen their abominations and their idols made of wood and stone, silver and gold, which they had with them);
Abominations F: a derogatory term
A: turds?
18
so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.
A: a recurring idea, "to go" as though "to leave" not staying in the same place. See v26
One root is a danger to all
OT: This is referred to in Heb 12:15
19
And it shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will consider himself fortunate in his heart, saying, ‘I will do well though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land along with the dry.’
Or I am immune
F: the watered and the parched means total destruction
A: the just and the sinners
20
The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His wrath will burn against that person, and every curse that is written in this book will lie upon him, and the LORD will wipe out his name from under heaven.
F:lit. the nostrils will smoke
F: crouch upon him, unshakeable
21
Then the LORD will single him out for disaster from all the tribes of Israel, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant which is written in this Book of the Law.
22
“Now the future generation, your sons who rise up after you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, when they see the plagues of that land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it, will say,
23
‘All its land is brimstone and salt, burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.’
The whole land may suffer perhaps from a single poisonous root.
Could the people in these four cities argue that they were not under the covenant?
There are many examples of G-d's judgement, not just Israel, e.g. Mic 5:10-15, notice it says "nations". Or Zep 2:8-11.
The giving of the land to Israel was also G-d's judgement on the peoples of the land.
24
All the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done all this to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’
A: smoldering wrath?
25
Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.
26
‘And they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they have not known and whom He had not assigned to them.
A: "to go" as in v.18
Gives the idea of G-d having people appointed to idols (??)
27
‘Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book;
Note the image of fire
28
and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger, fury, and in great wrath, and hurled them into another land, as it is this day.’
Some may point to this as evidence that this was written. But it agrees with the timeless character of Deuteronomy: the many occurrences of "today" and "you have seen"
29
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, so that we may follow all the words of this Law.
There are still secret things, Act 1:7-8.
About legacy
Chapter 30
Restoration Promised
1
“So it will be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have placed before you, and you call them to mind in all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you,
Deuteronomy has a prophetic character.
This chapter contains a number of themes. One is its frequent use of the word heart, which is the organ thought of to keep one's character not only feelings. Another is life and it contrast to death/perishing. A third one is return/restoration
In its prophetic character, Deut already knows that an exile will take place and it will be followed by a restoration and a return to the land
2
and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul in accordance with everything that I am commanding you today, you and your sons,
return
A theme in this chapter
A: there's an assumption that the exile, the worst of the curses, has already happened.
Dt 4:26-30 speaks of the exile as though in the future. Here as though it already happened.
A theme in this chapter
3
then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
restore Also a theme of this chapter
Still to be done. Some prophesies are yet to happen
Jeremiah in particular speaks about returning to the land
Jer 12:15,16:15, 24:6, 29:14, 30:18, 33:10-11, 48:47(Moab), 49:6(Ammonites)
4
If any of your scattered countrymen are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.
Many references, Isa 43:5-7, Ez 20:34-42, Jer 29:14
5
The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will be good to you and make you more numerous than your fathers.
At the end of Genesis all they possessed was the burial ground.
6
“Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live.
We have to be enabled to love the LORD
Circumcision is about removing the hardening/callous parts, Isa 6:10, Eph 4:18. Rom 2:28-29
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
7
And the LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
G-d can punish people with the curses even if they are not part of the covenant
8
And you will again obey the LORD, and follow all His commandments which I am commanding you today.
9
Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in every work of your hand, in the children of your womb, the offspring of your cattle, and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;
Comp with 28:63
10
if you obey the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
The people need to return
11
“For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away.
No need to achieve a "higher plane"
12
It is not in heaven, that you could say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us, and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’
13
Nor is it beyond the sea, that you could say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’
The Israelites have been mostly herdsmen, sailing is not something they are used to. The idea is to portray something difficult
14
On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it.
Rom 10:5-10. Here's the key to salvation
No need to ascend to a higher place to receive the wisdom of the "gods"
Choose Life
15
“See, I have placed before you today life and happiness, and death and adversity,
A: life and good and death and evil.
Points to Genesis and the two trees, tree of knowledge of good and evil, and tree of life
16
in that I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you may live and become numerous, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to take possession of it.
The call to love the LORD is constant in Deuteronomy (Dt 6:5, 10:12, 11:1, 11:13, 11:22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:6, 30:16). Reason being that He demonstrates His love first (Dt 4:37, 7:8, 10:15, 23:5; Eph 2:4-5; 1Jn 4:10, 4:19).
17
But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them,
Todo @0064:
18
I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and take possession of it.
19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
Lots of brackets Dt 4:26
See 31:28
"Choose life" Quite a few passages in John where Jesus claims choosing Him is choosing life, John
1:4, 3:15-16,36, 5:24,40, 6:48,63, 11:25, 14:6, 17:3, 20:31, as opposed to choosing death
20
by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding close to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, so that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
John also places a strong emphasis on His voice Jn 10:4
What does holding close to Him mean today?
Chapter 31
Moses’ Last Counsel
1
So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
Theme: Joshua is commissioned to lead the people. Striking in this chapter is the repetition of Joshua's commissioning. Three times mentioned v7&14&23. Perhaps like Jesus and Peter, John 21:15-17
A: An Moses finished speaking
Compare this verse with John 18:1
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
2
And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today; I am no longer able to go out and come in, and the LORD has told me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’
Moses was 80 when speaking with Pharaoh, Aaron was 83 (Ex 7:6).
3
It is the LORD your God who is going to cross ahead of you; He Himself will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who is going to cross ahead of you, just as the LORD has spoken.
Both God and Joshua are mentioned to be going ahead of the people, Joshua is carrying a divine mission.
Notice how this verse picks up from Dt 3:28 where the giving of the Law was about to start.
Though it is sometimes mentioned for the leaders, the role of going ahead of the people is a role reserved for God (Ex 13:21, 23:20-23; Dt 1:30, 1:33, 9:3, 31:3, 31:8; Is 45:2, 52:12; Mic 2:13; Mk 14:28; Jn 10:4, 14:3).
It is mentioned for Joshua, a foreshadow of the Holy Spirit (Num 27:16-18; Dt 3:28) and for the strong men (Dt 3:18). Joseph, a Messianic figure, went ahead of the people (Ps 105:16-17).
The people tried to replace God with the golden calf to go ahead of them (Ex 32:1, 23) and with a king to go before them in battle (1Sa 8:19-10).
It is also a post-resurrection promise of Jesus (Mk 14:28; Jn 14:3).
If we follow Jesus, wherever we go, He would be there first.
4
And the LORD will do to them just as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them.
5
The LORD will turn them over to you, and you will do to them in accordance with all the commandments which I have commanded you.
6
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”
Be strong … is plural for the people.
Note Matt 28:20
See v8, 23
7
Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance.
Be strong … is singular for Joshua, also in verse 23.
The commissioning of Joshua is mentioned three times in verses 7, 14-15, and 23. It is also mentioned in Num 27:15-23 when Moses asked God to appoint a shepherd for the people. Jesus appoints Peter as a shepherd three times too (Jn 21:15-17).
The commissioning in this verse is public; compare with the one in verses 14-15.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
8
And the LORD is the One who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.”
God is aware of how we feel. He calls His people to not fear when confronting a significant challenge. We see this in Deuteronomy when the people are to judge cases (Dt 1:17) and to enter and conquer the land (Dt 1:21, 1:29, 3:2, 3:22, 7:18, 7:21, 20:1, 20:3, 31:6, 31:8).
9
So Moses wrote this Law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
Law, the Torah, instruction, teaching.
Though Moses was a prophet, he wrote the Law as a foreshadow of the kings (Dt 17:18-19). Note in verse 24 that Moses finished writing the words of the Law.
10
Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of the release of debts, at the Feast of Booths,
The conclusion of a seven year period. SZecht 15:1,16:13-16.
Noticed how Feast of Booths is mentioned along with the reading of the law, along with remission of debts. This is a picture of the Last Judgement.
See note 16:18 "righteous judgement"
Amos 9:11-15
Zech 14:1-19
11
when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this Law before all Israel so that they hear it.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
12
Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law.
In a way, verses 11-12 are a reenactment of the people arriving at Sinai, hearing the voice of God giving the Commandments, and reacting in fear and trembling (Ex 19:16-20:22).
But the fact that this is on the year of releasing debts, when Israelites and non-Israelites and young and old are present, during the Feast of Booths, a eschatological holiday, it is more so a foreshadow of the Last Judgement
13
And their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
Israel Will Fall Away
14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, and I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.
In addition to the public commissioning in verses 6-7, here we see a commissioning in the tent of meeting.
15
And the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance of the tent.
16
The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the prostitute with the foreign gods of the land into the midst of which they are going, and they will abandon Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.
17
Then My anger will be kindled against them on that day, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will find them; so they will say on that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have found us?’
OT: Job 13:23-24. Common expression in the psalms
When we do not want to pay attention
18
But I will assuredly hide My face on that day because of all the evil that they will have done, for they will have turned away to other gods.
19
“Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.
20
For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they eat and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.
21
Then it will come about, when many evils and troubles find them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of their descendants); for I know their inclination which they are developing today, before I bring them into the land which I swore.”
22
So Moses wrote down this song on the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel.
Joshua Is Commissioned
23
Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
Be strong … is singular for Joshua, also in verse 7.
24
It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this Law in a book until they were complete,
25
that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
26
“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.
27
For I know your rebellion and your stubbornness; behold, as long as I have been alive with you until today, you have been rebellious against the LORD; how much more, then, after my death?
28
Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against them.
29
For I know that after my death you will behave very corruptly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will confront you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands.”
30
Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were complete:
Chapter 32
The Song of Moses
1
“Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth!
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth!
2
-“May my teaching drip as the rain,
My speech trickle as the dew,
As droplets on the fresh grass,
And as the showers on the vegetation.
My speech trickle as the dew,
As droplets on the fresh grass,
And as the showers on the vegetation.
3
-“For I proclaim the name of the LORD;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
Ascribe greatness to our God!
4
-“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and just is He.
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and just is He.
5
-“They have acted corruptly against Him,
They are not His children, because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
They are not His children, because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
6
-“Is this what you do to the LORD,
You foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father who has purchased you?
He has made you and established you.
You foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father who has purchased you?
He has made you and established you.
7
-“Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of all generations.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.
Consider the years of all generations.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.
8
-“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
When He separated the sons of mankind,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
When He separated the sons of mankind,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
9
-“For the LORD’S portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
10
-“He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling wasteland of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the apple of His eye.
And in the howling wasteland of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the apple of His eye.
11
-“As an eagle stirs up its nest,
And hovers over its young,
He spread His wings, He caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
And hovers over its young,
He spread His wings, He caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
12
-“The LORD alone guided him,
And there was no foreign god with him.
And there was no foreign god with him.
13
-“He had him ride on the high places of the earth,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He had him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He had him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
14
Curds of the herd, and milk of the flock,
With fat of lambs
And rams, the breed of Bashan, and of goats,
With the best of the wheat;
And you drank wine of the blood of grapes.
With fat of lambs
And rams, the breed of Bashan, and of goats,
With the best of the wheat;
And you drank wine of the blood of grapes.
15
“But Jeshurun became fat and kicked—
You have become fat, thick, and obstinate—
Then he abandoned God who made him,
And rejected the Rock of his salvation.
You have become fat, thick, and obstinate—
Then he abandoned God who made him,
And rejected the Rock of his salvation.
16
-“They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
17
-“They sacrificed to demons, who were not God,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not know.
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not know.
18
-“You forgot the Rock who fathered you,
And forgot the God who gave you birth.
And forgot the God who gave you birth.
19
“The LORD saw this, and spurned them
Because of the provocation by His sons and daughters.
Because of the provocation by His sons and daughters.
20
-“Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end will be;
For they are a perverse generation,
Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.
I will see what their end will be;
For they are a perverse generation,
Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.
21
-‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God;
They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,
They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,
22
For a fire has flared in My anger,
And it burns to the lowest part of Sheol,
And devours the earth with its yield,
And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
And it burns to the lowest part of Sheol,
And devours the earth with its yield,
And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23
‘I will add misfortunes to them;
I will use up My arrows on them.
I will use up My arrows on them.
24
-‘They will be wasted by famine, and emaciated by plague
And a bitter epidemic;
And the teeth of beasts I will send against them,
With the venom of crawling things of the dust.
And a bitter epidemic;
And the teeth of beasts I will send against them,
With the venom of crawling things of the dust.
25
-‘Outside the sword will make them childless,
And inside, terror—
Both young man and virgin,
The nursing child with the man of gray hair.
And inside, terror—
Both young man and virgin,
The nursing child with the man of gray hair.
26
-‘I would have said, “I will wipe them out,
I will remove the mention of their name from humanity,”
I will remove the mention of their name from humanity,”
27
Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy,
That their adversaries would misjudge,
That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant,
And the LORD has not performed all this.”’
That their adversaries would misjudge,
That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant,
And the LORD has not performed all this.”’
28
“For they are a nation destitute of counsel,
And there is no understanding in them.
And there is no understanding in them.
29
-“If only they were wise and they understood this;
If only they would discern their future!
If only they would discern their future!
30
-“How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had given them up?
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had given them up?
31
-“Indeed, their rock is not like our Rock;
Even our enemies themselves judge this.
Even our enemies themselves judge this.
32
-“For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,
And from the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of poison,
Their clusters, bitter.
And from the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of poison,
Their clusters, bitter.
33
-“Their wine is the venom of serpents,
And the deadly poison of vipers.
And the deadly poison of vipers.
34
‘Is it not stored up with Me,
Sealed up in My treasuries?
Sealed up in My treasuries?
35
-‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution;
In due time their foot will slip.
For the day of their disaster is near,
And the impending things are hurrying to them.’
In due time their foot will slip.
For the day of their disaster is near,
And the impending things are hurrying to them.’
36
-“For the LORD will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
37
-“And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they took refuge?
The rock in which they took refuge?
38
-‘Those who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your protection!
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your protection!
39
-‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can save anyone from My hand.
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can save anyone from My hand.
40
-‘Indeed, I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,
And say, as I live forever,
41
If I have sharpened My flashing sword,
And My hand has taken hold of justice,
I will return vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
And My hand has taken hold of justice,
I will return vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
42
-‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’
43
-“Rejoice, you nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will return vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will return vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
44
Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he, with Joshua the son of Nun.
45
When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
46
he said to them, “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you will command your sons to follow carefully, all the words of this Law.
47
For it is not a trivial matter for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
48
Now the LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying,
49
“Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession.
50
Then you are to die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,
51
because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.
52
For you will see the land at a distance but you will not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.”
Chapter 33
The Blessing by Moses
1
Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.
2
He said,
“The LORD came from Sinai,
And dawned on them from Seir;
He shone from Mount Paran,
And He came from the midst of myriads of holy ones;
At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.
“The LORD came from Sinai,
And dawned on them from Seir;
He shone from Mount Paran,
And He came from the midst of myriads of holy ones;
At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.
3
-“Indeed, He loves the people;
All Your holy ones are in Your hand,
And they followed in Your steps;
Everyone takes of Your words.
All Your holy ones are in Your hand,
And they followed in Your steps;
Everyone takes of Your words.
He must likely refers to God, also in 33:5.
4
-“Moses issued to us the Law,
A possession for the assembly of Jacob.
A possession for the assembly of Jacob.
5
-“And He was king in Jeshurun,
When the heads of the people gathered,
The tribes of Israel together.
When the heads of the people gathered,
The tribes of Israel together.
He must likely refers to God, also in 33:3.
6
“May Reuben live and not die,
Nor may his people be few.”
Nor may his people be few.”
7
And this was regarding Judah; so he said:
“Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,
And bring him to his people.
With his hands he contended for them,
And may You be a help against his adversaries.”
“Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,
And bring him to his people.
With his hands he contended for them,
And may You be a help against his adversaries.”
8
Of Levi he said,
“Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man,
Whom You tested at Massah,
With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;
“Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man,
Whom You tested at Massah,
With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;
9
Who said of his father and his mother,
‘I did not consider them’;
And he did not acknowledge his brothers,
Nor did he regard his own sons,
For they kept Your word,
And complied with Your covenant.
‘I did not consider them’;
And he did not acknowledge his brothers,
Nor did he regard his own sons,
For they kept Your word,
And complied with Your covenant.
10
-“They will teach Your ordinances to Jacob,
And Your Law to Israel.
They shall put incense before You,
And whole burnt offerings on Your altar.
And Your Law to Israel.
They shall put incense before You,
And whole burnt offerings on Your altar.
11
-“LORD, bless his strength,
And accept the work of his hands;
Smash the hips of those who rise up against him,
And those who hate him, so that they do not rise again.”
And accept the work of his hands;
Smash the hips of those who rise up against him,
And those who hate him, so that they do not rise again.”
12
Of Benjamin he said,
“May the beloved of the LORD live in security beside Him
Who shields him all the day long,
And he lives between His shoulders.”
“May the beloved of the LORD live in security beside Him
Who shields him all the day long,
And he lives between His shoulders.”
13
Of Joseph he said,
“Blessed of the LORD be his land,
With the choice things of heaven, with the dew,
And from the deep waters lying beneath,
“Blessed of the LORD be his land,
With the choice things of heaven, with the dew,
And from the deep waters lying beneath,
14
And with the choice yield of the sun,
And the choice produce of the months;
And the choice produce of the months;
15
And with the best things of the ancient mountains,
With the choice things of the everlasting hills,
With the choice things of the everlasting hills,
16
And with the choice things of the earth and its fullness,
And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.
Let it come to the head of Joseph,
And to the top of the head of the one who was prince among his brothers.
And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.
Let it come to the head of Joseph,
And to the top of the head of the one who was prince among his brothers.
17
-“As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his,
And his horns are the horns of the wild ox;
With them he will gore the peoples
All at once, to the ends of the earth.
And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”
And his horns are the horns of the wild ox;
With them he will gore the peoples
All at once, to the ends of the earth.
And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18
Of Zebulun he said,
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
And, Issachar, in your tents.
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
And, Issachar, in your tents.
19
-“They will call peoples to the mountain;
There they will offer righteous sacrifices;
For they will draw out the abundance of the seas,
And the hidden treasures of the sand.”
There they will offer righteous sacrifices;
For they will draw out the abundance of the seas,
And the hidden treasures of the sand.”
20
Of Gad he said,
“Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad;
He lies down as a lion,
And tears the arm, also the crown of the head.
“Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad;
He lies down as a lion,
And tears the arm, also the crown of the head.
21
-“Then he selected the choicest part for himself,
For there the ruler’s portion was reserved;
And he came with the leaders of the people;
He executed the justice of the LORD,
And His ordinances with Israel.”
For there the ruler’s portion was reserved;
And he came with the leaders of the people;
He executed the justice of the LORD,
And His ordinances with Israel.”
22
Of Dan he said,
“Dan is a lion’s cub;
He leaps out from Bashan.”
“Dan is a lion’s cub;
He leaps out from Bashan.”
23
Of Naphtali he said,
“Naphtali, satisfied with favor,
And full of the blessing of the LORD,
Take possession of the sea and the south.”
“Naphtali, satisfied with favor,
And full of the blessing of the LORD,
Take possession of the sea and the south.”
24
Of Asher he said,
“More blessed than sons is Asher;
May he be favored by his brothers,
And may he dip his foot in olive oil.
“More blessed than sons is Asher;
May he be favored by his brothers,
And may he dip his foot in olive oil.
25
-“Your bars will be iron and bronze,
And as your days, so will your strength be.
And as your days, so will your strength be.
26
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
Who rides the heavens to your help,
And the clouds in His majesty.
Who rides the heavens to your help,
And the clouds in His majesty.
27
-“The eternal God is a hiding place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
And He drove out the enemy from you,
And said, ‘Destroy!’
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
And He drove out the enemy from you,
And said, ‘Destroy!’
28
-“So Israel lives in security,
The fountain of Jacob secluded,
In a land of grain and new wine;
His heavens also drip down dew.
The fountain of Jacob secluded,
In a land of grain and new wine;
His heavens also drip down dew.
New wine is a symbol of blessings (Gen 27:28; Dt 7:12-13, 11:13-14), of entering and taking possession of the Promised Land (Dt 33:27-28), and of the Messiah’s redemption (Jer 31:11-12; Hos 2:21-23; Zch 9:14-17).
29
-“Blessed are you, Israel;
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
The shield of your help,
And He who is the sword of your majesty!
So your enemies will cringe before you,
And you will trample on their high places.”
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
The shield of your help,
And He who is the sword of your majesty!
So your enemies will cringe before you,
And you will trample on their high places.”
Chapter 34
The Death of Moses
1
Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan,
2
and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea,
3
and the Negev and the territory in the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
4
Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not go over there.”
5
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, in accordance with the word of the LORD.
6
And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows his burial place to this day.
7
Although Moses was 120 years old when he died, his eyesight was not dim, nor had his vigor left him.
8
So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
9
Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
10
Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11
for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land—
12
and for all the mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Deuteronomy emphasizes the fullness of all Israel, especially as it is mentioned in the both first and last verses (Dt 1:1, 5:1, 11:6, 13:11, 21:21, 27:9, 29:2, 31:1, 31:7, 31:11, 32:45, 34:12). Deuteronomy speaks to all generations (Dt 29:14-15).
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.
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www.lockman.org
Copyright © 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
www.lockman.org