God reaffirms His covenant with a new generation.
Deuteronomy means “Second Law,” a name related to an instruction given in Deuteronomy 17:18 stating that future kings should make “a copy of this law.” The “first” Law was given at Mount Sinai (Ex. 19–31, 35–40; Lev. 1–7, 11–27), and the Book of Deuteronomy is believed to contain “this law,” or the second copy of the Law, which kings were to reproduce so that they, their subjects, and future generations would always have a faithful record of God’s commandments by which to govern their lives.
In spite of its name, however, Deuteronomy does not merely repeat previous material. It does review the Israelites’ travels through the desert and restate the Ten Commandments—but it also offers a fresh summary of a godly heritage, a record of God’s faithfulness during difficult years, and the final speech of an eminent leader.
As the days of this book unfolded, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb remained alive among their generation. The other adults who had witnessed the establishment of God’s covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai forty years earlier had died: because of their rebellion at Kadesh Barnea, they had been sentenced to wander and perish in the wilderness (Num. 14:26–35). It would be their children who would finally set foot in the Land of Promise.
Knowing that the people would soon enter Canaan without him (see “Overcoming Impulses” at Num. 20:10–13), Moses reviewed the covenant that had been made between their parents and the Lord. Many who listened to Moses had not yet been born when the events at Mount Sinai took place. Now adults, they needed to make their own agreement with the Lord before entering the Promised Land. Cast in terms of a treaty between God and His people (see “Deuteronomy as a Treaty” at Deut. 1:1), three points stand out in this version of the Law:
• The necessity of a heart commitment. The codes of Deuteronomy—and the rest of the Law—required more than conforming to the letter of God’s commands. Cold compliance would lead to legalism and empty ritual. Moses urged his listeners to pursue the spirit of the Law, summed up in what Jesus called the greatest of all commandments: to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37).
• The importance of telling future generations about the works and words of God. Deuteronomy instructs parents and grandparents to take pains to ensure that their offspring are brought up in the ways of the Lord (see “The Faith of Our Children” at Deut. 6:7–9).
• The connection between spiritual commitment and social responsibility. God’s people were not only to stay spiritually pure (Deut. 7:6–10; 8:6; 26:18, 19) but also to extend His blessings and justice to the humble. This included …
• strangers, or sojourners (Deut. 1:16, 17; 5:14; 10:18, 19; 24:17–22; 26:12, 13; 27:19; 29:11; 31:12),
• widows and orphans (Deut. 10:18; 24:17–22; 25:5–10; 26:12, 13; 27:19),
• priests and Levites (Deut. 14:27–29; 18:1–8; 26:12, 13),
• slaves (Deut. 15:12–18; 23:15, 16),
• rape victims (Deut. 22:23–29),
• debtors (Deut. 15:1–3),
• the poor (Deut. 15:4–11),
• the blind (Deut. 27:18),
• female prisoners of war (Deut. 21:10–14), and
• low wage earners (Deut. 24:14, 15).
Despite Moses’ warning to carefully preserve the Law, Deuteronomy was eventually lost, probably during the early days of the divided kingdom. Not until Josiah’s reign much later in Israel’s history (640–609 B.C.) did workers repairing the temple find a copy of “the Book of the Law” (2 Kin. 22:3–13). Josiah had it read publicly, and it sparked a revival among his people.
Deuteronomy is ascribed to Moses (Deut. 1:1; see also Moses’ profile at Ex. 2:10); the postscript regarding Moses’ death (Deut. 34:1–12) is believed to have been added later. The events of the book took place on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho (Num. 36:13; Deut. 1:1; see the map at Mount Nebo’s profile at Deut. 34:1). Moses addressed the people just prior to his death and their entry into Canaan, probably around 1400 B.C.
Key Events in Deuteronomy
• Moses proclaims the Ten Commandments a second time (Deut. 5:6–21).
• Moses gives what Jesus called the greatest of all commandments—to love God with all you have and all you are (Deut. 6:4, 5).
• Moses pronounces the curses and blessings of the covenant (Deut. 27–28).
• Moses dies on Mount Nebo (Deut. 34).