DEUTERONOMY INTRODUCTION

AUTHORSHIP
Despite form criticism theories of the eighteenth century Rationalists,
Jesus Himself identified Moses as its author so end of argument! (Matt.
19:7, 8; Mark. 10:3, 4; John 5:46, 47).

Other Old Testament books also assert the Mosaic authorship of

Deuteronomy (1 Kings 2:3; 8:53; 2 Kings 14:6; 18:6, 12). Jesus Christ
believed Moses wrote Deuteronomy (Matt. 19:7-8; Mark 10:3-5; 12:19;
John 5:46-47) as did the Apostle Peter (Acts 3:22), Stephen (Acts 7:37-38),
Paul (Rom. 10:19; 1 Cor. 9:9), and the author of the Epistle to the
Hebrews (Heb. 10:28).

The form in which Moses wrote Deuteronomy is very similar to that of

ancient Near Eastern suzerainty-vassal treaties dating before and during
the Mosaic era. This structural evidence confirms an early date of
composition.31

DATE
Around the 15th Century B.C.

NAME
The book has four Jewish titles. The first is ―these be the words …‖ (1:1).
It is derived from the first two words of the original (Heb ˒ēleh
hadbarīm). The second Jewish title is ―Fifth,‖ or the fifth part of the Law,
Deuteronomy being the fifth book in the Pentateuch. The third Jewish

1 See Meredith G. Kline, Treaty of the Great King.

name is ―the book of reproofs,‖ because there are so many admonitions in
it. The fourth Jewish name is ―iteration of the Law.‖ 2

The Septuagint title is ―Deuteronomion,‖ which means ―second law.‖ Our

English version transliterates the Greek; as a result we have Deuteronomy.
Therefore, Deuteronomy’s title comes from the fourth Jewish name,
―iteration of the Law.‖ 3

KEY VERSE
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing,
if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I
command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the
commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way
which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye
have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26–28).

The Greek title of the book ―Deuteronomy‖ comes from the LXX
translation chapter 17:18

“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom,
that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which
is before the priests the Levites” LXX reads, “this repetition of the
law”

Deuteronomy means ―second law‖ but the Hebrew title is the first line
―These are the Words‖ in keeping with the Hebrew custom of often titling
a book by its first words.

2
KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (Dt 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3
KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (Dt 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT

“These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD

commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of
Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.”
(Deuteronomy 29:1)

Here we are told of another covenant made apart from the covenant of
the law made at Sinai. This is known as the Palestinian Covenant.
Although Abraham was given the land unconditionally, Israel were to
enter it conditional upon their obedience to the law.
The keeping of the Sabbath was a symbol that verified the Palestinian
covenant.

THEMES
The book of Deuteronomy is not a mere repetition and summary of the
most important laws and events contained in previous books. Nor is it
merely a second copy of the Law intended for the people who did not
know the Law. The book of Deuteronomy is an oration by Moses wherein
he describes, explains, and seeks to reinforce the most essential contents
of the covenant revelation, including its laws, so that the people might
understand the spiritual principles of the Law for their well-being.4

Moses did not merely repeat the law for no Scripture is vain repetition. It
differs from the other book of the Pentateuch in that there is little
narrative. It comprises of three messages delivered by Moses before he
died.

Moses omits mention of the Tabernacle, the Priesthood and offerings, the
laws of sacrifice, and the three annual feasts, the Passover, Pentecost and
Tabernacles.

4
KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (Dt 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
He also mentions things not spoken of before – instructions concerning
the king whom the people would one day appoint and their relationship to
prophets, true or false and rules concerning how to wage war with the
Canaanites.

The grand lesson which it inculcates from first to last, is obedience, and
that, too, not in the mere letter, but in the spirit of love, and fear-an
obedience grounded upon a known and enjoyed relationship — an
obedience quickened by the sense of moral obligations of the weightiest
and most influential character. CHM

The new generation needed to hear the law as they entered the land. They
were taught that possession of Canaan would depend upon obedience to
the law. Obedience would bring blessing but disobedience would bring a
curse upon them and removal into captivity.
This book then shows the blessing of obedience and the curse of
disobedience.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves.” (James 1:22)

LOVE FOR THE LORD

Love is mentioned in different ways 14 times in Genesis of love between
family members or love for food but never of love towards God.
Love is mentioned 2 times in Exodus, once in regard to loving God and
secondly a servant’s love for his master.
Love is mentioned 2 times in Leviticus in regard to love for neighbours
and love for strangers.
Love is never mentioned in Numbers.

But love is mentioned 22 times in Deuteronomy. It is mentioned 8 times

concerning God’s love for man, 12 times concerning man’s responsibility
to love God, once concerning Israel’s responsibility to love strangers who
live amongst them and once concerning a stranger’s love for his Jewish
master.

Deuteronomy is the book that speaks much about love.

William Rogers notes that it is at the end of the Pentateuch and at the end
of the Bible in 1 John that we get an emphasis on love. He states, ―It
would seem as though Moses and John in their old days, when nearing the
end of their service among God’s people, realize more deeply than every
before the importance of the truth taught by Christ in Matthew 22:37-38,
etc… that love is the fulfilling of the law.‖

―In Mose’s view, one who did not love the Lord was no true Israelite,
however unimpeachable his genealogy may have been; and in that of john,
one without this love is no true Christian, however loud and clear his lip
profession may be.‖ (William Rogers)

William Rogers in his Bible notes and expositions gives three outstanding
marks of love for the Lord spoken of in 1 John and found also in
Deuteronomy, (1) Separation from the world; (2) Kindness towards our
brethren; and (3) Keeping God’s commandments.

THE HEART
Another reoccurring theme in Deuteronomy is the heart which is
mentioned 46 times.

Three times sayings in the heart are mentioned and there are lessons for us
today.

Unbelief in the heart

“If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how
can I dispossess them?” (Deuteronomy 7:17)

Self confidence in the heart

“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand
hath gotten me this wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:17)
Self righteousness in the heart

“Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath
cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the
LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the
wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from
before thee.” (Deuteronomy 9:4)

Selfishness in the heart

“Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying,

The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be
evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he
cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.”
(Deuteronomy 15:9)

Lack of discernment

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which
the LORD hath not spoken?” (Deuteronomy 18:21)

Presumption

“And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that
he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I
walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to
thirst.” (Deuteronomy 29:19)

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
 OUTLINE
The book comprises of three broad sections –

1. LOOKING BACK. Rehearsal of what God has done for them.

(Chapters 1-4:43)
Moses reaches into the past to remind the people of two undeniable
facts in their history: (1) the moral judgment of God upon Israel’s
unbelief, and (2) the deliverance and provision of God during times of
obedience. The simple lesson is that obedience brings blessing, and
disobedience brings punishment.5

2. LOOKING UP. What God expects from them. (Chapters 4:44-

26:19). 12:1 is the key to this section.
“These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall
observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy
fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon
the earth.”

These chapters review the three categories of the Law: (1) The
testimonies (5–11). These are the moral duties—a restatement and
expansion of the Ten Commandments plus an exhortation not to
forget God’s gracious deliverance. (2) The statutes (12:1–16:17). These
are the ceremonial duties—sacrifices, tithes, and feasts. (3) The
ordinances (16:18–26:19). These are the civil (16:18–20:20) and social
(21–26) duties—he system of justice, criminal laws, laws of warfare,
rules of property, personal and family morality, and social justice.6

3. LOOKING FORWARD. What God will do for them in the

future (Chapters 27:1-34:12)

5
Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (39). Nashville: T.
Nelson.
6
Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (40). Nashville: T.
Nelson.
 In these chapters Moses writes history in advance. He predicts what
will befall Israel in the near future (blessings and cursings) and in the
distant future (dispersion among the nations and eventual return).
Moses lists the terms of the covenant soon to be ratified by the
people.7

When the Lord Jesus was tempted of the Devil, He responded by quoting
three times from the first section. This covers all periods of Israel’s history
and man’s history.

7
Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (40). Nashville: T.
Nelson.