Week 43: Deuteronomy Part 6

Third Discourse (27:1–34:12) Future The third and last discourse given by Moses is in two parts. 1. Covenant affirmed (27:1–30:20) In the first part he tells the Israelites that they are to ratify the law for themselves. After crossing the Jordan they are to stand...

Week 42: Deuteronomy Part 5

2. Government KING There are laws here for a king, even though they were not to have a king for centuries. God is their king – kingship is a concession, not part of his plan. When a king comes to the throne he has to write out the laws of Moses in his own handwriting...

Week 41: Deuteronomy Part 4

Contrasting standards We can best observe these laws against a background of contrasts. What was so different, so special, about the law of Moses compared to other societies in the region? 1. STANDARDS IN THE PROMISED LAND We have already seen how the laws in...

Week 40: Deuteronomy Part 3

The last work of Moses Deuteronomy is the last of the five books of Moses, the Pentateuch. We have seen that it was written at a critical moment for the people of Israel. They were about to enter the Promised Land, but Moses was not going to lead them. He was by then...

Week 39: Deuteronomy Part 2

Covenant framework The framework of covenant described in Deuteronomy was used throughout the ancient Near East. Whenever a king expanded his empire and conquered other countries he would make what was known as a ‘suzerain treaty’. This was an agreement which in basic...