Categoria: Deuteronomy

Moses in this chapter continues to prepare the Israelites for their entrance into Canaan by reminding them of their past errors which must not be repeated. He reminds them how God in his mercy replaced the stone tablets with the law after the original ones were smashed as a reaction to the golden calf episode. He remembered too how God had set aside the Levites to minister and pronounce blessings on them in his name.

Moses stresses that the Israelites must always fear the Lord, walk in his ways, love him and serve him with all their heart and soul. He says that they must circumcise their hearts and not be stiff necked as regards the God of gods and Lord of lords, who defends the fatherless and the widow and loves the alien. He reminds Israel how they started out as just 70 when they went down to Egypt but God had made them “as numerous as the stars in the sky.”

Moses went on to tell Israel that upon crossing the Jordan God will give the victory despite the strength of the opposing armies and warriors. The Israelites will drive out the incumbent people and annihilate them. But Israel should be careful not to think that their victories are because of their own righteousness. God will give the victory to Israel because of the incumbent nations’ wickedness and because of his covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Moses then goes on to remind the Israelites of two classic examples of their stiff-necked rebellious attitudes to God. First of all the case of the creation of a golden calf idol when Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God. Just because Moses took a long time the people slipped into rebellious idolatry. (Exodus 32) In the second place was the case of Israel abandoning faith in God and becoming despaired at the negative reports by the majority of spies sent into Canaan. (Numbers 13 and 14) In both these cases God was tremendously angry and was about to destroy the Israelites, had Moses not fervently interceded for forgiveness from God.  Thus Moses reminded Israel of their weaknesses which could not be repeated in Canaan.

Moses now goes on to remind Israel how God had guided them in the desert, humbled them, tested them and fed them with manna so that they might realize that “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” During 40 years the people’s clothes never wore out!

So the Israelites must observe the commands of the Lord because he is bringing them into a land with abundant water, full of wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates, olive oil and honey so that they “will lack nothing.” But the people must be careful not to forget the Lord in their plenty. Moses says that they must remember that all they have with nice houses, herds and flocks has come from God. For if the people forget God the Lord will destroy them.

The culture at this time was one of ‘kill, conquer and plunder’ which stretches our understanding.

God now tells the Israelites to massacre the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites to possess the promised land. They are to show no mercy, are to kill everyone, and are to destroy all their cultural symbols such as their altars, idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. They are not to inter-marry with the inhabitants of the promised land.

The text says that this invasion of Canaan is in keeping with God’s covenant with the Israelites’ forefathers which he calls “a covenant of love” which will bring them great blessing as long they “follow the commands, decrees and laws” of God. God tells Israel not to fear the fact that the peoples they will drive out are stronger than them as he will give them victory bit by bit. However they were not to keep the silver and gold from the idols as it was “detestable”.

In this chapter the preparations continue for the Israelites to cross the Jordan and possess the promised land of Canaan, stressing that their priorities must be love for God and obedience to his commandments. These key factors of love and obedience must be instilled in the children Moses says. Deuteronomy 6 is an important text as it contains the Jewish confession of faith known as the Shema.

Moses declares that the people must love the Lord, their God, with all their hearts, souls and strength. Moses says that people must impress this on their children and that everyone should imbibe this in their hearts. People should always talk about this wherever they go and should surround themselves with this conviction and commitment.

Moses also stresses that everyone must be careful to not forget God once they are installed in cities they did not build and have vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. Moses continues that they must keep clear of other gods and they must do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight.

Then when the children ask why so many laws and decrees the parents should recount all that God had done for Israel leading to their commitment and covenant with him.

Moses now reminded the Israelites of the 10 commandments: 1. Do not make idols. 2. Do not worship other gods. 3. Do not use the name of the Lord in vain. 4. Observe the Sabbath. 5. Honour your father and mother. 6. Do not commit murder. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not lie. 10. Do not covet that which belongs to your neighbour.

Moses then reminded Israel about all the extraordinary circumstances when God gave him the 10 commandments on tablets of stone and how the elders heard the voice of God and were afraid. The elders had asked Moses to spare them hearing God’s terrifying voice, preferring for Moses to hear from God privately and pass it on to them. But now Moses was reminding Israel of all this just prior to them entering Canaan. Above all else the Israelites had to obey God.

Moses now goes on to review the commandments of God given to his people so that as they go into the promised land they might prosper. Moses says the Israelites must never add or subtract from God’s law, and they must revere the law as an exclusive national treasure, teaching it to their children and to their children’s children.

Then Moses repeats God’s ban of idolatry in whatever form. As God gave the law at Horeb without revealing any form so Israel must not create gods of any shape or form. Neither should Israel worship the sun, moon or stars. For God is a jealous God who requires exclusive devotion. If however Israel forgets God’s law and goes after strange gods then God will scatter them amongst the nations. Then God would only bless his people if they repent as he would not forget his covenant with their forefathers.

Moses went on to underline the exclusive extraordinary relationship which Israel had with God. God revealed himself to them through many signs and wonders and was about to give them the promised land. He says the people should acknowledge God exclusively and keep his decrees and commands so that they might live long in the land.

Moses then recalled the creation of cities of refuge (Numbers 35) for people who committed manslaughter. Then Moses speaks some words about the law preparing for his words on the 10 commandments in the following chapter.

Moses relates now the victory of the Israelites over King Og of Bashan and all his army. They captured their 60 cities despite them being walled and having gates and bars, and they massacred all their men, women and children, capturing all their livestock and goods as plunder. King Og had been a giant sleeping on an iron bed measuring 4 metres long and 1.8 metres wide!

The distribution of this land to the Gadites, Reubenites and half the tribe of Manasseh was recalled, as previously seen in Deuteronomy 32, and Moses reminded these tribes of the agreement for them to fight together with Israel when they invaded Canaan.

Then Moses encouraged Joshua, who was about to replace him as leader, to trust the Lord as they crossed the Jordan because the same God would be with him as the God who gave victory over King Sihon, King Og and their armies. Moses again tried to get God to change his mind and let him go into Canaan, but God was resolute. Instead God told Moses to view the promised land from the top of Mount Pisgah. He could view it but not go into it.

This chapter gives details of Moses’ recollections about the Israelites 40 year wanderings in the desert, their passing through Edom and Moab, and their crossing of the Zered Valley which marked the end of their meanderings in the desert.

Moses remembered how God told him not to clash with the Edomites in the country of Seir because he had given that land to the descendants of Esau. God similarly told Moses not to provoke the Moabites and Ammonites to war as he had given their land to them as they were the descendants of Lot.

However Moses recalled how God gave them victory over King Sihon of Heshbon and the Amorites. The Israelites massacred the entire army of the king, and they went on to kill every woman and child too, leaving no survivors. They kept all their livestock and goods as plunder.

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell speech, or speeches, and the final chapter concludes with his death. This book probably is the fruit of Moses’ final weeks in the plains of Moab when his people, but not him, were about to finally enter the promised land of Canaan. Moses reminds his people of God’s law and warns them against disobedience.

The first chapter is dated on the 1st day of the 11th month of the 40th year, in the desert on the east of the River Jordan, after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Moses reminded the people of how God had commanded them to leave Mount Sinai (Horeb) 40 years earlier, and to proceed to Canaan and conquer the land.

Moses then recalled how he had appointed judges from each tribe to help him govern the people and resolve disputes. He also recounted how 12 spies had been sent into Canaan to assess the land and the enemy, and the majority verdict was very negative leading to generalized grumbling and revolt. God was angered and said that that generation would not enter Canaan except for Caleb and Joshua, who were the only positive spies. The people tried to rectify things with God but his decision had been taken so the Israelites were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years whilst the older generation died off.