Deuteronomy 31 – The next four chapters bring the Torah to a close.  The Schocken version points out that they end not with achievement of the goal—entry into the Promised Land but with a people filled with hope and commitment and readiness; and he says, furthermore that the very end of the Hebrew Bible—II Chronicles 36 parallels this with Cyrus vowing to build a house for YHWH in Jerusalem and inviting the people to “go up.”

Moses is 120; he will not cross over the…

Deuteronomy 30 - Even if you fall into error and endure the curses, there is always restoration: “[I]f you return to Yahweh. . .if you obey his voice with all your heart and soul in everything I enjoin on you. . .then Yahweh will bring back your captives, he will have pity on you and gather you once again. . .” (JB 30:2-3)  Every translation of these words is good, but I particularly like the Schocken version here: “Yahweh your God will “circumcise your heart [not…

Deuteronomy 29 – In this chapter, Moses emphasizes the great importance of the narrative the people take from all that has happened to them. They may not “get it” always, but they must tell and retell the story so those who can hear will never forget all that God did to bring them out of the slavery they were in. And he also seems to look forward in time to a time when the Jews too will be sent into exile – that the reason for that exile will be discernible in the narrative of their…

Deuteronomy 28 – If you obey the voice of God by observing the law, you will prosper.  Disobedience will bring destruction (28:45). The big word in this chapter, as in others, is if or “provided” or “so long as.”  This is the great condition that hangs over the redemption people.  The word does not disappear under the new covenant either as we sometimes like to think.  “You are my friends if you do as I command you.” (John 15:14).  The…

Deuteronomy 27 – They are instructed inscribe all these laws on tall (or large) stones, coated with lime (or plaster in another translation). These stones then are to be placed on Mount Ebal and there too they should build an altar “made of stones that have had no iron tools used on them, because any altar you build for the Lord your God must be made of uncut stones” (27:5-6). At this altar, they are to offer a peace offering.  Moses proclaims to the people, “Today you…

Deuteronomy 25 – Flogging may be imposed on a person found guilty of an infraction, but not more than 40 strokes – “more than that would humiliate him publicly” (25:3). Do not muzzle ox treading out grain—even animals have a right to a reward for their labor. If brothers live on the same property, and one of them dies with no son, the surviving should take a deceased brother’s wife as his own so that children may be brought forth for that brother’s line. Now…

Deuteronomy 23 – Rules on who can and cannot be considered “among the Lord’s people”: not a man whose private parts have been removed, or born out of wedlock. The latter would have to wait 10 generations to have descendants considered “in.” Ammonite and Moabites who failed to permit the Jews to eat or drink while traveling from Egypt through their lands are “out” but the Edomites are “in” (after the 3^rd generation). Other rules involve keeping military camps clean…

Deuteronomy 21 – The laws we are reading about in this section of Deuteronomy are among the 613 that make up the full “Law of Moses” – the “mitzvoth.” Some very odd laws are put into place in this code, none stranger than the few here described: the concerns are understandable but the methods of dealing with them are hard to understand. If a dead body is found – a murdered person – you need to go to the leaders of the town nearest to where it’s found, get a young cow (under a year)…

I had a lot of trouble getting the font even through these postings. Sorry!

Deuteronomy 19 - The land is to be divided into three regions and each region is to have a city of refuge so “that every [non-malicious or accidental] homicide will be able to find a refuge” (19:4). In the event the territory given is expanded, three…

Deuteronomy 17 – Sacrificial animals must be without “serious defect.” Death is to be the penalty for idolatry, but only on the testimony of more than one witness.  The witnesses must be among those who stone the perpetrator—the first to cast the stone (17: 7) [Here is where Jesus gets his saying when he saves the woman accused of adultery—perhaps they had gotten away from this rule] Complicated cases should go to the assigned judge or levitical priests in office. This is a…

Deuteronomy 15 – Every seven years the people shall have a “relaxation of debts” for kinsmen.” The NAB notes that we are not sure if this meant a suspension of interest or of payments on debt, or release from the full amount of any debt.  There should be no one of you in need.”  Kinsmen who sell themselves for debt shall be freed every 7^th year.  They are also to watch that they do not get resentful when the year of “release” approaches (15:9). You…

Deuteronomy 13 – Moses warns the people not to add to or take from the command he gives them. If “a prophet or dreamer” performs signs, don’t let that lead you to worship strange gods.  Yahweh tests us to see if we love him. “. . .his voice you shall obey, him shall you serve, to him shall you cling. . .”  (13:5). And if someone tries to turn you to away from the Lord, that person should be “put to death” (13:5). We tend to forget that God’s chosen in our long tradition once held to…

Deuteronomy 12 – The editor of the Schocken Bible  (1997) notes that Deuteronomy as a whole is similar to other Near Eastern “covenant” or “treaty” models, Assyrian and earlier Hittite texts. It presents an historical overview and exhortation (chapters 1 through 11) followed by the “terms of the covenant” (chapters 12 through 28) and a concluding exhortation (chapters 29 through 34).

Chapters 12 to 28 is the heart of Deuteronomy – it represents the terms of the covenant…

Deuteronomy 11 – The people must remember that these memories are theirs - the knowledge of the Lord’s “discipline” (Schocken 11:2 – what he did to the sons of Reuben during the rebellion of Korah) is theirs, not their children’s). I will add more about this rebellion, which for early Quakers, especially George Fox, had an importance that many do not understand.  So this is the challenge to the Jewish people is how to pass down the memory of what happened in the exodus and the…

Deuteronomy 10 –Moses recounts how God told him to bring two new stone tablets and an ark of wood to place them in.  Aaron dies in Moserah and his son Eleazar succeeds him.  The tribe of Levi is set aside to carry the ark, to stand in God’s presence and serve him.  They give up their share of the inheritance of land (10:12-13). Moses passed forty days on the mountain doing all this, convincing the Lord not to destroy them.

So now, what does the Lord ask of His people…

Deuteronomy 8 – The people are told that they must remember – always remember – all that the Lord has done for them. God led you in the wilderness to humble you, to test you, to know your inmost heart. “He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says (8:3).  These words are very…

Deuteronomy 7 - Seven nations will fall before Israel.  They must all be placed “under the ban” – for they will turn your sons away from God.  Their altars must be torn down, the sacred pillars smashed, their idols destroyed. They are to be a people set apart.  “If Yahweh set his heart on you and chose you, it was not because you outnumber other peoples: you were the least of all peoples.  It was for love of you and to keep the oath he swore to your…

Deuteronomy 6 – Moses delivers to them the Great Commandment: “Israel, remember this! The Lord – and the Lord along – is our God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (6:4). As He promised your ancestors, the Lord will give you a land with great cities that you did not build, houses full of things you did not put in them and wells you did not dig (6:10-13). I]m not sure this sounds as cool today as it may have once sounded…

Deuteronomy 5 – The Ten Commandments:  [Schocken version points out that the commandments were “for a time. . .part of Jewish liturgy, but were ultimately removed from the Prayer Book out of fear that it would be thought that ten rules were the limit of one’s obligations to God (874]. 

Moses was the mediator between God and his people, mostly because they wanted it that way. They feared encountering God directly.

It is interesting that Jews, Catholics and Protestants all…

Deuteronomy. 4 – Moses reminds the people of the commands he was given by God.”. . .that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land.”  They are told not to add anything to these laws, interestingly—especially in light of the fact that Deuteronomy does add onto and change things given earlier in the Torah, but Schocken editors think these things are worked in here under a bringing together of the tradition, just at the…