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THE BOOK OF
DEUTERONOMY
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Submitted to:
Prof. Ptr. REYNALDO S. RAZO JR.
GLU Professor

Submitted by:
RIZZA T. CANSINO
GLU Student

April 29, 2023

The Book of Deuteronomy

INTRODUCTION:

The Hebrew name of the book is elleh haddebarim ("These are the words") or, more simply,

debarim ("words"; see 1:1). The word "Deuteronomy" (meaning "repetition of the law") arose from a

mistranslation in the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT) and the Latin Vulgate of a

phrase in Dt 17:18, which in Hebrew means "copy of this law." The error is not serious, however, since

Deuteronomy is, in a certain sense, a "repetition of the law".

The principles governing the Deuteronomic historian’s presentation of Israel’s history are set

forth in the book of Deuteronomy: Faithfulness to Yahweh and obedience to his commands bring

blessings; the worship of foreign gods and negligence of Yahweh’s statutes bring a curse; Yahweh can be

worshiped in only one sacred place (Jerusalem) by all Israel; priests, prophets, and kings are subject to

Yahweh’s law granted through Moses. Thus, the attribution of Deuteronomy to Moses tends to place

Israel in an advanced stage of its history—when kings and a centralized cult were contemporary concerns

—under the requirements of renewed ancient traditions. Historically, it is presented already how God

works in all His creations and to His people. Just like what Pastor Rey Razo had shared in our previous

lectures, it is evident that God’s ways are no different than today so is His power ad might. When we

obey God, there comes blessings.

Authorship

It was Moses who was known to be traditionally wrote the book of Deuteronomy and he was

around 120 years of age.

Date of Writing

It was written during the 40 years of God’s people in the wilderness at around 1440 to 1400 BC.

There are scholars who suggest that a more exact date would be 1406 BC.

AUDIENCE OR THE RECIPIENTS

It is clear from the text of Deuteronomy that Moses is addressing the second generation from the

Exodus; those who, in obedience to, and trust in, Yahweh, will enter the land of Canaan and take

possession of it by conquest. Thus, Moses’ original recipients of Deuteronomy was the generation of the

Conquest. Furthermore, since Deuteronomy deals with the renewal of the covenant by the second

generation, a written record of the covenant stipulations would be necessary for that generation as well as

for succeeding generations. It is more important to the young generation during their 40 years in the

wilderness since it was written during the time of their journey for the promised land.

OVERVIEW

The book consists of 34 chapters that includes:

Introduction in Deuteronomy Chapter 1 – 4.

The Introduction states the audience who is the people in Israel and its setting was articulated to

be in the wilderness east of the river Jordan.

Three Major Speeches of Moses in Deuteronomy 1:5—30:20

Majority of the book was the message that Moses had spoken to Israel; his speeches is as follows:

1. It consists of three major themes these are: Moses’ reviews of God’s gracious acts from their time

at Horeb to Beth Peor at chapter 1:5 to 4:43. Second, Moses gives encouragements regarding the
 obedience to the law of the Lord in Chapter 4:1-40. And thirdly, in Chapter 4:41 – 43, three cities

were noted for people to flee involving situations like accidental deaths.

2. Moses' second speech is much longer, starting in Deuteronomy 4:44 and running through chapter

28. It provides the main teachings that includes Ten Commandments, fully obeying the Lord,

warnings against other gods, warnings about forgetting God, an example of past history of Israel’s

rebellion to God, and positive response or appeal to have fear on God, to love him and be

obedient to his commandments. Many specific areas is stated in Moses’ second speech addressing

instructions of worship, leadership, community laws, about first fruits and tithing and a call of

obedience.

3. The third speech of Moses in Deuteronomy 29:1—30:20. It emphasizes a renewal of the Mosaic

covenant (Deuteronomy 29) followed by repentance and forgiveness (Deuteronomy 30). It

concludes with the call to decide between life according to the Lord's ways, or death

(Deuteronomy 30:11–20).

Four Major Chapters of the Concluding Activities.

1. Moses’ transition of leadership to Joshua

2. Rules are given regarding the future reading of the law.

3. God commissioned with Joshua and the prophecies were given with regards to Israel’s future.

4. Moses’ records about his incoming death and offers a blessing to the people.

The book ends on Moses’ death at chapter 34. This part of the book have an authorship dispute well of

course due to its logical context that Moses died and no one knew where he was buried but some scholars

suggest that it is recorded by one of Moses’ witness who is Johua.

MAIN TEACHINGS

1. To have dread on God’s devotion, respect and have obedience to Him.

 2. Obedience in God’s laws strictly

3. Obedience comes blessings and Disobedience results in consequences.

4. It is expected to His people to spread the Word of God to other people and nation.

5. It is evident that in times of prosperity and abundance, people can easily forget about God.

6. The universal standard and holiness that applies to all facets of our daily life.

7. The love of God is seen and observed through people’s obedience to Him.

8. God wanted us to love and obey Him.

Historical Setting

Deuteronomy locates Moses and the Israelites in the territory of Moab in the area where the Jordan flows

into the Dead Sea (1:5) which is situated on the East Bank of the Jordan opposite the Canaanite city of

Jericho. As his final act at this important time of transferring leadership to Joshua, Moses delivered his

farewell addresses to prepare the people for their entrance into Canaan. In them, Moses emphasized the

laws that were especially needed at such a time, and he presented them in a way appropriate to the

situation. In contrast to the matter-of-fact narratives of Leviticus and Numbers, here the words of Moses

come to us from his heart as this servant of the Lord presses God's claims on his people Israel.

The Exodus generation had finally died off and Moses had led the new generation from

wandering in the wilderness to the Plains of Moab. Encamped there, they were waiting for the word from

Yahweh to cross the Jordan and enter the Land of Promise. But before that could take place certain other

events must happen. The covenant, which had been broken by the Exodus generation, must first be

renewed by the new generation. Thus, Moses leads the sons of Israel through a covenant renewal

ceremony which is not fully realized until Israel crosses the Jordan and declares the covenant curses from

atop Mount Ebal (chs. 27-30). Secondly, since God did not permit Moses to enter the Land of Promise

with Israel, his death must take place (34:1-7) along with the orderly transfer of leadership from Moses to
Joshua (31:1-8,14-21; 34:9), Yahweh's appointed replacement for Moses. All of this takes place over the

course of one month, after which all Israel mourns the death of Moses for 30 days (34:8).

SOCIO-CULTURAL ELEMENT

The socio-cultural context in which the events of Deuteronomy are played out has not changed

significantly from that of Numbers. In the former book, the Israelites were living a nomadic life for some

38 years while wandering about in the wilderness. Although the covenant-relationship between Yahweh

and Israel had been disrupted as a result of Israel’s refusal to obey Yahweh’s command to enter the land

promised to Abraham and take possession of it, the Mosaic Covenant had not been terminated. A fact that

is well documents by Moses in Numbers. Israelite society, therefore, is yet bound by the stipulations of

the Mosaic Covenant. As significant and complex is the socio-cultural context established by this

covenant, it has little effect on understanding the theological message developed by Moses in

Deuteronomy.

Special Function in the Bible

The trajectory of the story that unfolds in Genesis-Numbers seems to call for an account of the conquest

of Canaan as found in Joshua to bring closure to the movement from promise to fulfillment (see

Introduction to Joshua: Title and Theme). But Deuteronomy intervenes as a massive interruption. Here

there is very little forward movement. At the end of Numbers, Israel is "on the plains of Moab by the

Jordan across from Jericho" (Nu 36:33) and at the end of Deuteronomy, the people are still there (Dt 34:8)

waiting to cross the Jordan (see Jos 1:2). All that has happened is the transition from the ministry of

Moses as God's spokesman and official representative to that of Joshua in his place (Dt 34:9; see Jos 1:1-

2). But Moses' final acts as the Lord's appointed servant for dealing with Israel are so momentous that

Deuteronomy's account of them marks the conclusion to the Pentateuch, while the book of Joshua, which

narrates the initial fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs and the conclusion to the mission on
which Moses had been sent (see Nu 17:15-23; Jos 21:43-45), serves as the introduction to the Former

Prophets.

So, Deuteronomy creates a long pause in the advancement of the story of

redemption:

1. of deliverance from bondage to a world power (Egypt) to a place in the earth where Israel can be

a free people under the rule of God.

2. of deliverance from rootlessness in the post-Babel world (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) to security

and "rest" (see Dt 3:20 and note; 12:10; 25:19) in the promised land.

3. of deliverance from a life of banishment from God's Garden (Ge 3) to a life in the Lord's own

land where he has pitched his tent (Jos 22:19).

But in that long pause on the threshold of the promised land Moses, in this renewal of the Sinaitic

covenant, reminded Israel at length of what the Lord required of them as his people if they were to cross

the Jordan, take possession of the promised land and there enjoy the promised "rest" in fellowship with

him. It was a word that Israel needed to hear repeatedly. Upon reading the Pentateuch, Israel was brought

ever anew to the threshold of the promised land and its promised "rest" to hear again this final word from

God through his servant Moses. For this reason, all the history of Israel in Canaan as narrated in the

Former Prophets is brought under the judgment of this word.

Theological Teaching and Purpose

The theological background of Deuteronomy looks back on its previous four books of the

Pentateuch and summarizes all its theological revelations and its foundational teachings, basis and

context. The problem that arises where Israel’s covenant relationship with God was disturbed because of

the disobedience and therefore destroying them but God’s unconditional love still prevails and keeping

his covenant made with Abraham. This is significant because it demonstrates that God will fulfill all the
promises, He made with Abraham independent of Israel’s faithfulness to Him. This makes an unabridged

context of theological aspect of Deuteronomy as Covenant Renewal.

The love relationship of the Lord to his people, and that of the people to the Lord as their

sovereign God, pervade the whole book. Deuteronomy's spiritual emphasis and its call to total

commitment to the Lord in worship and obedience inspired references to its message throughout the rest

of Scripture. In particular, the division of the Hebrew Bible called the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges,

Samuel, Kings) is thoroughly imbued with the style, themes and motifs of Deuteronomy. Among the

Latter Prophets, Jeremiah also reflects strong influence from this book.

Structure and Outline

Deuteronomy's literary structure supports its historical setting. By its interpretive, repetitious,

reminiscent, and somewhat irregular style it shows that it is a series of unrehearsed addresses, sometimes

describing events in nonchronological order structure that lends itself to the Biblical emphasis on the

covenant between the Lord and his people. In this sense Deuteronomy is a covenant renewal document, as

the following outline shows:

I. Preamble (1:1-5)

II. Historical Prologue (1:6; 4:43)

III. Stipulations of the Covenant (4:44; 26:19)

A. The Great Commandment: The Demand for Absolute Allegiance (4:44; 11:32)

1. God's covenant Lordship (4:44; 5:33)

2. The principle of consecration (ch. 6)

3. The program for conquering Canaan (ch. 7)

 4. A call to commitment in the new land (ch. 8)

5. The lesson of the broken tablets (9:1; 10:11)

6. Another call to commitment (10:12; 11:32)

B. Supplementary Requirements (chs. 12-26)

1. Ceremonial consecration (12:1; 16:17)

2. Human leaders in God's righteous kingdom (16:18;21:21)

3. Sanctity of God's kingdom (21:22;25:19)

4. Confessions of God as Redeemer-King (ch. 26)

IV. Ratification; Curses and Blessings (chs. 27-30)

V. Leadership Succession under the Covenant (chs. 31-34)

a. Change of Leadership (31:1-29)

b. Song of Moses (31:30;32:47)

c. Moses' Testamental Blessing on the Tribes (32:48;33:29)

d. Death of Moses and Succession of Joshua (ch. 34)

APPLICATION MESSAGE

God wanted His people to be with Him at the coming of ages, the book of Deuteronomy

reminds us that people are fast on turning back but God’s call to repent and to renew our

commitment to obey the Lord and observe the laws that God had given us.
Citations:

1. The provenance of the book of Deuteronomy by Paul Sanders, S. 32

2. https://www.biblestudytools.com/deuteronomy/

3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Deuteronomy

4. Willmington’s Study guide of the bible. 30th Anniversary Edition. Dr. Harold L. Wellmington.

5. Austin Foundation, https://archive .org/details/willmingtonsguid00will, 2018.

6. Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, https://bible.org/seriespage/5-analysis-and-

synthesis-book-deuteronomy, 2018.

7. Adapted from Jack S. Deere. Deuteronomy, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, John

F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, eds. (USA: Publications, 1985) p. 260.