Deuteronomy - Overview 1 of 6 Deuteronomy - Overview Deuteronomy is the 5 th and final book of the Pentateuch, or the Law. 1. Genesis covers approximately 1,500 years of history. (Beginnings) 2. Exodus covers approximately 80 years. (These are the names) Elle Shemoth - Shemote 3. Leviticus about 30 days. ( And the Lord called ) Yahweh qara 4. Numbers covers 38-40 years. ( In The Wilderness ) 5. Deuteronomy will cover 37 days. The theme of Deuteronomy is two fold: 1. Obedience to God s word. 2. God s love. Deuteronomy means 2 nd Law (Septuagint, 250 BC) not a 2 nd as in a different law, but the 2 nd telling of the Law. In the Jewish Bible the title of this book is simply The Words based on the first few words of Chapter 1 verse 1. Moses loves the children of Israel, in this book he makes the transition from being the Law giver and teacher to being a prophet. Knowing that the time is short he delivers 5 last teachings or sermons. Chapter 1: History lesson: Many of the people didn t see the parting of the Red Sea or remember the bondage in Egypt, they may not have been aware of the hazards of the wilderness years so Moses reviews their history with them. V: 2 There are eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of Kadesh-Barnea. The journey from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea, which is the entrance to the promise land is about 126 miles and takes 11 days to cover. They ve been journeying for 40 years and 11 months. There is a legitimate wilderness time, which is intended to be fairly short and there is an illegitimate wilderness time that can be greatly extended through disbelief and disobedience to God s Word. V: 30 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. God has been with them throughout this wilderness experience. Hebrews 13:5 thee. for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake Chapter 2: Wandering in the desert.
Deuteronomy - Overview 2 of 6 V: 7 For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee, thou hast lacked nothing. Moses testifies to God s greatness and His miracles. Close to 3 million people travelled through the wilderness for 40 years, yet lacked nothing. V: 36b there was not one city too strong for us: the Lord our God delivered all unto us. The children of Israel are being encouraged and assured of victory. Chapter 3: The children of Israel are assured of final victory and Moses is forbidden to cross the Jordan River into the promise land. V: 4-5 4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not fro them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside un-walled towns a great many. Part of the message of this chapter and this book for that matter is that God will go before you. Look, it is nothing with God, you don t have to worry about the walled cities or the giants. V: 22 Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God He shall fight for you. Moses prayed: V: 25-26 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, let is suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. The first time they asked for water, God told Moses to smite the rock. But the second time he was to speak to the rock. Moses in his anger and frustration struck the rock 2 times. Moses did not sanctify God before the people, he mis-represented God. The consequence was that he would not be allowed to enter into the promise land. God always answers our prayers, sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no. In this case the answer was no so that He might teach the nation an important lesson on obedience. Chapter 4: A call to obedience. V: 1-2 1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and judgments, which I teach you, for to do the, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I
Deuteronomy - Overview 3 of 6 command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Chapter 5: Repeating the 10 Commandments. 1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other god before Me. 2. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, nor bow down to them. 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4. Thou shalt keep the Sabbath. 5. Honor thy father and thy mother. 6. Thou shalt not kill. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor s stuff. Chapter 6: Brings us to the key verse for this book, the great commandment, a call to love God. V: 4-5 4 Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Loving God with our whole being, holding nothing back. Chapter 7: The children of Israel are reminded that they are a holy people unto the Lord thy God. (V: 6) This means being separated from the pagan culture around them, destroying their objects of worship. Again commanded to obey God: Chapter 8: The children of Israel are commanded to remember the Lord their God. V: 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep His commandment, or no. Chapter 9: Remembering their rebellion, learning from the past. V: 7 Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. Chapter 10: The 10 Commandments re-given, encouraged to reverence God. V: 12-13 12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord
Deuteronomy - Overview 4 of 6 thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy Good? V: 20-21 20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and swear by His name. 21 He is thy praise, and He is thy God, that hath done for thee theses great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. Chapter 11: Describes the blessings of obedience. Like chapters 6 & 28, it is an appeal for devotion to God s Word and obedience to His commandments as the basis for national prosperity. V: 1 Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, always. V: 26-28 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 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. Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15: Various ordinances, instructions about worship, dealing with false prophets, commands regarding food, and the 7 th year, the year of release. 12:13-14 13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: 14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. This amounts to worshipping God on His terms. There is a need for spiritual discernment: Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (Read) Chapter 16: Speaks of the required feast days: Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles. Chapter 17: Describes various ordinances, but ends up talking about future kings. V: 18-20 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: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read there in all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left Chapter 18: The Prophet to come speaking of Jesus.
Deuteronomy - Overview 5 of 6 V: 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. Chapter 19: Describes the cities of refuge, for those that killed someone by accident. Chapter 20: Describes the rule of warfare; those who had built a new house, or planted a new vineyard, or were newly married got to stay home and comfort their wives or enjoy their house. Those that were faint hearted stayed home as well. The Canaanites were to be wiped out, but the fruit trees were not to be harmed. Chapter 21-26: Various laws about inheritances, marriage, clothing, lost & found property, business dealings, just weights and measures, and tithing of the first fruits. 26:17-19 17 Thous hast avouched / declared the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken unto His voice: 18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; 19 And to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken. Chapter 27: The blessings and the cursings pronounced from Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerezim as the people affirmed the word of God. V: 5-6 5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the Lord thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of the Lord thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord thy God. 7 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God. The burnt offering symbolizing their consecration & sanctification to the Lord; the peace offering the offering of communion with the Lord, fellowship with God. Chapter 28: The blessings of obedience to the Lord; and the curse of disobedience. V: 1-2 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessing shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Chapter 29-30: The covenant, the final warnings, and the choice. V: 9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. V: 12 That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day.
Deuteronomy - Overview 6 of 6 Then there is the choice that they, and all of us face: Deuteronomy 30:19-20 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: Chapter 31-32: Moses records the Law and presents the Song of Moses. V: 12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. The song of Moses is intended to remind them from whence they came while they are in captivity and to show them the way back to a relationship with the Lord. 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. Chapter 33: Moses recalls the highlights of his ministry and he blesses the children of Israel. Each of his highlights had to do with being in the presence of God. V: 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, destroy them. Chapter 34: Moses, the man of God, goes to the top of Mt. Pisgah and dies. Moses wasn t allowed to enter into the promise land, he got to see it from the top of the mount. Moses did get to go to a much better place, assuredly there was no disappointment on his part. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1. This book is an exhortation to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, and strength. 2. Describing the blessing inherent in obedience, and the curse inherent to disobedience. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Ref.Deuteronomy.overview