29.7–8 Sihon and Og. See 1.4; 2.26–3.22.
29.9 Succeed, or “prosper,” contingent upon obedience; cf. Josh 1.7–8; 1 Kings 2.3.
29.10–29 Emphasized here is individual accountability as well as the social and multigenerational inclusiveness of Israel’s covenant community.
29.10–11 See note on 5.22. Cf. 31.12; Josh 8.33, 35; 9.27; 23.2; 2 Kings 23.2–3.
29.12–15 Covenant…sworn by an oath (or “imprecation”). See Gen 26.28–29; cf. Ezek 17.13–21. Here with us and not here with us mean the current and the future generations of Israel; cf. 5.3.
29.16–17 Detestable things (or “abominations”), filthy idols. See, e.g., Lev 26.30; 1 Kings 11.5–7; 21.26; 2 Kings 23.13, 24; Ezek 6.4–6; 20.7–8.
29.18–21 On the threat of secret apostasy, see 13.6–11; 27.15.
29.18 Poisonous and bitter growth. See, e.g., Jer 9.15; 23.15; Hos 10.4; Am 6.12.
29.19 Our own stubborn ways, individual willfulness (cf. 12.8), lit. “the stubbornness of my own heart” (see Ps 81.11–13; Jer 3.17; 7.24). Obstinate idiosyncrasy may threaten the survival of the whole community. Moist and dry alike, apparently an agricultural metaphor (cf. Ps 107.4–9, 33–37; Isa 58.11).
29.20 Divine anger and passion. See v. 27; 4.24; 32.19–22. Blot out their names. See 9.14; 25.19.
29.22–28 Purview shifts to the aftermath of national disaster (cf. 4.25–28).
29.23 Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, infamous cities of the Jordan plain. See, e.g., Gen 10.19; 19.24–25; Isa 1.9–10; Jer 49.18; Hos 11.8.
29.24–28 See the interrogation schema in 1 Kings 9.8–9; Jer 5.19; 9.12–16; 16.10–13; 22.8–9.
29.26 Other gods…not allotted to them. See 4.19; 32.8–9.
29.27–28 See vv. 20–21; Jer 21.5; 32.37.
29.29 The maxim apparently affirms that faithful observance of the law received through Moses (revealed things) is sufficient to assure Israel’s continuance in covenant relationship with God. See 4.2; cf. 6.25; 30.11–14.
DEUTERONOMY 30
God’s Fidelity Assured
1When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, 2and return to the LORD your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, 3then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the LORD your God has scattered you. 4Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world,a from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. 5The LORD your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
6Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live. 7The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on the adversaries who took advantage of you. 8Then you shall again obey the LORD, observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, 9and the LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, 10when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Exhortation to Choose Life
11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
15See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the LORD your Godb that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
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a Heb of heaven
b Gk: Heb lacks If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God
30.1–10 The witness of 4.29–31 to the future of the covenant beyond the devastation of a curse is now developed as a promise of restoration for those in exile who penitently renew their commitment to the Lord (cf. Lev 26.40–45).
30.1 Call them to mind, lit. “return [them] to your heart.” Continuing reflection on experience yields theological insight; see 4.39 (cf. 1 Kings 8.47; Isa 46.8; Lam 3.21).
30.2 Return…with all your heart and…soul. See v. 10; also 4.29–30; 1 Kings 8.48; 2 Kings 23.25; Jer 3.10; 24.7.
30.3 Restore your fortunes. See, e.g., Jer 29.14; 33.26; Ezek 39.25; Am 9.14; Zeph 3.20.
30.4 Neh 1.8–9 cites this promise of ingathering, together with the threat of 28.64. For the theme in prophetic sources, see, e.g., Isa 43.5–7; Jer 31.10; 32.37; Ezek 36.24; 37.21.
30.5 Repatriation. See 28.62–63; Jer 23.3; 30.3.
30.6 Divine initiative to overcome human recalcitrance and spiritual fatuity (circumcise your heart; cf. 10.16) accords with the “new covenant” emphases of Jer 31.31–34; 32.37–41; Ezek 11.19–20; 36.26–28 (cf. Ps 51.10). Love the LORD. See note on 6.4–5.
30.7 Retribution against arrogant enemies. See 7.15; 32.34–35; Ps 137.7–9; Lam 4.21–22. Cf. also Isa 10.5–19; 33.1; Ezek 35; Ob 8–16.
30.9 Cf. 28.4, 11–12, 18.
30.10 This book of the law, the scroll of Mosaic torah (cf. 29.20–21; 31.9, 24–26). Turn…heart and…soul echoes v. 2.
30.11–14 What the Lord requires of Israel is both perspicuous and practicable (cf. 4.5–8; 10.12–13).
30.11 This commandment, the basic protocol of covenantal fidelity, elaborated by Moses (cf. 5.31–6.2; 11.22; 19.9). Not too hard, neither infeasible nor esoteric (cf. Ps 139.6).
30.12–13 See the quest after cosmic “wisdom” portrayed in Bar 3.29–31 (cf. Job 28.12–28; Prov 30.4).
30.14 Internalization of the word. See 6.6–7; 11.18–19; cf. Jer 1.9.
30.15–20 A climactic appeal for allegiance resounds with familiar expressions.
30.15 The options posed for Israel’s decision are “blessing” (life and prosperity) and “curse” (death and adversity); see 11.26–28 (cf. Jer 21.8; Prov 11.19; 14.27).
30.16 See 4.1; 8.1; 11.22; cf. Lev 18.4–5.
30.17–18 See 4.19, 25–26; 8.19–20.
30.19 Heaven and earth as witnesses. See 4.26; 31.28; cf. 32.1; Ps 50.4; Isa 1.2.
30.20 See 1.8; 4.1, 40; 10.20; 11.22.
DEUTERONOMY 31
Joshua Becomes Moses’ Successor
1When Moses had finished speaking alla these words to all Israel, 2he said to them: “I am now one hundred twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the LORD has told me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ 3The LORD your God him
self will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua also will cross over before you, as the LORD promised. 4The LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. 5The LORD will give them over to you and you shall deal with them in full accord with the command that I have given to you. 6Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”
7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: “Be strong and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their ancestors to give them; and you will put them in possession of it. 8It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
The Law to Be Read Every Seventh Year
9Then Moses wrote down this law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. 10Moses commanded them: “Every seventh year, in the scheduled year of remission, during the festival of booths,b 11when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12Assemble the people—men, women, and children, as well as the aliens residing in your towns—so that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God and to observe diligently all the words of this law, 13and so that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.”
Moses and Joshua Receive God’s Charge
14The LORD said to Moses, “Your time to die is near; call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting, 15and the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud; the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance to the tent.
16The LORD said to Moses, “Soon you will lie down with your ancestors. Then this people will begin to prostitute themselves to the foreign gods in their midst, the gods of the land into which they are going; they will forsake me, breaking my covenant that I have made with them. 17My anger will be kindled against them in that day. I will forsake them and hide my face from them; they will become easy prey, and many terrible troubles will come upon them. In that day they will say, ‘Have not these troubles come upon us because our God is not in our midst?’ 18On that day I will surely hide my face on account of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods. 19Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, in order that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites. 20For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I promised on oath to their ancestors, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant. 21And when many terrible troubles come upon them, this song will confront them as a witness, because it will not be lost from the mouths of their descendants. For I know what they are inclined to do even now, before I have brought them into the land that I promised them on oath.” 22That very day Moses wrote this song and taught it to the Israelites.
23Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and bold, for you shall bring the Israelites into the land that I promised them; I will be with you.”
24When Moses had finished writing down in a book the words of this law to the very end, 25Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, 26“Take this book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God; let it remain there as a witness against you. 27For I know well how rebellious and stubborn you are. If you already have been so rebellious toward the LORD while I am still alive among you, how much more after my death! 28Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officials, so that I may recite these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, turning aside from the way that I have commanded you. In time to come trouble will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
The Song of Moses
30Then Moses recited the words of this song, to the very end, in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
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a Q Ms Gk: MT Moses went and spoke
b Or tabernacles; Heb succoth
31.1–32.52 With Moses’ death again in immediate view (cf. 3.23–28; 4.21–22), the narrative conjoins the provisions for transition in leadership and preservation of the Mosaic legacy of covenantal lore.
31.1–8 Parallel charges reassure the Israelite militia and Joshua of the Lord’s own presence as vanguard in the impending conquest west of the Jordan.
31.1 In context, all these words should mean the several preceding portions of Moses’ valedictory address (see 1.1).
31.2 Moses’ age of one hundred twenty years spans three normal forty-year generations (cf. 34.7; Ex 7.7; Acts 7.23, 30); according to Gen 6.3 this is the maximum lifetime allowed to any human being (cf. Job 42.16). To get about, lit. “to go out and to come in,” refers to active leadership, especially exercise of military command (cf. 28.6, 19; Num 27.17, 21; Josh 14.11; 1 Sam 18.16). You shall not cross. See 3.27; cf. 1.37; 4.21–22.
31.3–5 On the vanguard and conquest themes, see 1.29–33; 3.21–22, 28; 7.1–5; 9.1–3; 20.16–18.
31.6–8 For the formulaic exhortations to steadfastness and valor, see, e.g., 1.21, 29; Josh 1.6–9; 10.25 (cf. Pss 27.14; 31.24; Isa 7.4).
31.8 He will be with you. Reassurance invokes the Lord’s accompanying presence (cf. v. 23; Ex 3.12; Josh 1.5, 17; 3.7; 2 Sam 7.9; cf. Ex 33.12–16).
31.9–13 Disposition and periodic proclamation of the written Mosaic torah; see also vv. 24–27.
31.9 This law, the Deuteronomic polity (see 4.44). Priests, the sons of Levi. See 21.5 (cf. 10.8–9; 17.18). Ark of the covenant. Cf. 10.1–5, 8; Josh 8.33. All the elders of Israel. Cf. note on 27.1.
31.10–11 Year of remission. See 15.1–11. Festival of booths. See 16.13–15. The place that he will choose. See 12.5. On public reading of the polity in the liturgical setting of covenant renewal, see 2 Kings 23.2; Neh 8; cf. Mishnah Sota 7.8.
31.12–13 Inclusive assembly. See 29.10–15; cf. also 4.9–14; 5.29–6.2.
31.14–23 A brief account of Joshua’s installation to succeed Moses as war leader (vv. 14–15, 23) frames a divine charge introducing the Song of Moses as an oracular witness against Israel (vv. 16–22; see also 31.28–32.44).
31.14 Your time to die is near. See Gen 47.29; 1 Kings 2.1. Tent of meeting. See Ex 25.22; 29.42–45; 33.7–11; Num 11.16–25.
31.15 On the pillar of cloud manifesting divine presence at the tent, see Ex 33.9–10; Num 12.5.
31.16 Lie down with your ancestors. See, e.g., Gen 47.30; 2 Sam 7.12; 1 Kings 2.10; 11.43. Prostitution is frequently used as a metaphor for apostasy, e.g., Ex 34.15–16; Judg 8.27, 33; Hos 4.12; 9.1. Though identified here with the gods of the land (Canaan), foreign gods most often refers to cultic imports or innovations that compromise Israel’s allegiance to the Lord alone (cf. 32.12, 16–17; Gen 35.2–4; Josh 24.2, 14, 20–23; Judg 5.8; 10.6–16; 1 Kings 11.1–10; 2 Kings 17.29–41). Breaking my covenant (also v. 20). See Jer 11.9–10.
31.17–18 Anticipation of 32.19–22. God is not in our midst. See 1.42; cf. Ex 17.7; Num 14.14, 42; Jer 14.9.
31.19–22 The written text of the song has a mnemonic function (cf. 6.6–9; Ex 17.14) while also documenting divine prescience of Israel’s dire fate (cf. Jer 36).
31.20 Despising me, neglect or renunciation of the Lord’s sovereignty (see Num 14.11, 23; 2 Sam 12.14; Ps 10.3, 13; Isa 1.4).
31.23 See vv. 7–8; cf. Num 27.15–23 (in the Priestly tra
dition; see Introduction to Genesis).
31.24–29 Preceding themes of the written law (vv. 9–13) and of the Song of Moses as witness (vv. 16–22) are here resumed and conflated; see also 32.44–47.
31.26 The scroll (this book of the law; cf. 29.20–21; 30.10) is to be preserved beside the ark, i.e., as an authoritative and accessible complement to the tablets of the Decalogue deposited within (cf. 4.13–14; 10.1–5; Ex 40.20; 1 Kings 8.9).
31.27 Rebellious and stubborn. See 9.6–7, 23–24; cf. 1.26, 43; Ex 33.3–5; 34.9.
31.28 Tribal elders and officials. Cf. 1.15; 16.18; Num 11.16. Heaven and earth as witnesses. See note on 30.19.
31.29 Future idolatry. See 4.25–28; cf. 11.28; 30.17–18. Work of your hands. See, e.g., 2 Kings 22.17; Ps 115.4; Isa 2.8; Jer 44.8; Hos 14.3.
31.30–32.47 The valedictory song ascribed to Moses is an eloquent poetic homily on the vicissitudes of the filial relationship between the Lord and Jacob (Israel). Although origin and date of composition are disputed, forensic themes and the vivid imagery of divine pathos associate the work closely with traditions of classical Israelite prophecy. See esp. Isa 30.1–18; Jer 2–3; Ezek 20.1–44; Hos 13–14; Mic 6.1–5; cf. also Pss 50; 78.
31.30 On Israel’s plenary assembly, see note on 5.22.
DEUTERONOMY 32
1Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2May my teaching drop like the rain,
my speech condense like the dew;
like gentle rain on grass,
like showers on new growth.
3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
ascribe greatness to our God!
4The Rock, his work is perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God, without deceit,
just and upright is he;
5yet his degenerate children have dealt falsely with him,a
a perverse and crooked generation.
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