Asbury Theological Seminary

COVENANT PEOPLE:

A BOOK SURVEY OF DEUTERONOMY

Submitted to Dr. Sandra Richter

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

OT710 Exegesis in the Pentateuch

By:

Benjamin D. Kickert

September 16, 2008


Materials

The book of Deuteronomy is set in the Late Bronze Age of pre-monarchial Israel. Canonically and chronologically, it follows the accounts of the Tetrateuch which detail the formation of God's chosen people, their slavery in Egypt and their subsequent exodus and wonderings in the wilderness. According to the book itself, Deuteronomy gives an account of the period immediately prior to Israel's crossing over into the Promised Land as the nation stands anxiously in the land of Moab. Nearly all of the text is placed on the lips of Moses, one of the greatest leaders in Israel's history, who is clearly the primary figure of the book. In fact, the purpose of the book is unmistakably to relay the words of Moses concerning the law and covenant.

The form and genre of Deuteronomy is varied and difficult to pin down. Perhaps the best way to describe it is as "nested." The book itself is framed as a narrative describing the speeches of Moses. Within these speeches, reader will find additional narrative as well as poetry. That being said, a vast majority of the words of Moses take the form of law code. If one were to take into account the explanations and implications of said law code, this stylistic form would comprise a vast majority of the text. It must be noted that the structure of the law code present strongly resembles a second millennium BCE suzerain-vassal treaty. While this is a significant issue, it cannot be fully explored in the scope of this paper. Put simply, Deuteronomy is a narrative about the final speeches of Moses that recall the history of the covenant and serve to expound on its implications and elements.

Deuteronomy can be broken down into four major sections with an introduction and an epilogue. The first section (1:6-4:43) stands apart as a historical overview wherein Moses recounts to the people of Israel where they have come from and the significance of their current position. It should be noted that 4:41-43, which details the Cities of Refuge, has been included in this section although stylistically and practically it is out of place. The second section represents a summarization of the law and its implications and runs from 4:44 through the end of chapter 11. This section includes the Decalogue and the Shema and in many ways unpacks the essence of the covenant: obedience leads to prosperity, disobedience leads to destruction. The largest section of Deuteronomy is found in 12:1-27:10. This section focuses on expounding upon the Law and covers the detailed stipulations of the covenant. It is set off from the preceding section by shifting to a focus on ordinances and the opening notation: "These are the statutes and ordinances that you must diligently observe in the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you to occupy all the days that you live on the earth" (12:1). This section transitions into the consequences of the covenant with a detailed description of the blessings and curses found in 27:11-30:20. Once again, the shift in sections is marked by a shift of focus and an introductory comment from Moses (27:11). The final section of Deuteronomy comprises chapters 31-34 and serves as the Epilogue. This section is marked by a narrative of Moses' final transition and includes two extended poetic discourses. The book ends with the death of Moses.

Deuteronomy's structure can be outlined as follows; for a more detailed outline see Appendix A.

Deuteronomy

  1. Introduction (1:1-5)
  2. Recalling the Story (1:6-4:40)
  3. Going to the Land (1:6-2:15)
  4. Possession Up to the Land (2:16-3:29)
  5. Reasons to Obey (4:1-4:40)

Cities of Refuge (4:41-43)

  1. Moses Summarizes the Law and Its Implications (4:44-11:32)
  2. Elements of the Law (4:44-8:20)
  3. Moses Delivers the Law (4:44-49)
  4. Moses Delivers the Decalogue (5:1-33
  5. Do Right So Things Go Well (6:1-8:20)
  6. Understanding the Law (9:1-11:32)
  7. Israel Out of Egypt (9:1-10:11)
  8. Understanding the Law (10:12-11:32)
  9. Content of the Law (12:1-27:10)
  10. Introduction to the Law (12:1)
  11. Worship and Sacrifice (12:2-15:23)
  12. Dealing with Neighbors (12:2-12)
  13. Burnt Offerings (12:13-28)
  14. Idolatrous Practices (12:29-14:2)
  15. Food Laws (14:3-21)
  16. Tithing (14:22-29)
  17. Sabbatical Release (15:1-18)
  18. Firstborns (15:19-23)
  19. Leadership and Practices (16:1-18:22)
  20. Festivals (16:1-17)
  21. Judges and Officials (16:18-20)
  22. Unacceptable Worship (16:21-17:7)
  23. Leadership Rules (17:8-18:8)
  24. Do Not Be Like Neighbors (18:9-14)
  25. Prophets (18:15-22)
  26. Life and Death (19:1-20:23)
  27. Refuge Cities (19:1-13)
  28. Property (19:14)
  29. Witnesses (19:15-20)
  30. Dealing with Violence and War (20:1-23)
  31. Practical Laws (22:1-25:19)
  32. Day to Day Laws (22:1-12)
  33. Sexual Sins (22:13-30)
  34. Admission to the assembly (23:1-8)
  35. Camp Rules (23:9-14)
  36. Various Laws for Neighbors (23:15-25:19)
  37. Giving (26:1-15)
  38. Concluding Call to Action (26:16-27:10)
  39. Consequences: Blessings and Curses (27:11-30:20)
  40. Cursed Behavior (27:11-26)
  41. Blessings (28:1-14)
  42. Curses (28:15-68)
  43. Reflecting on the Covenant (29:1-30:20)
  44. Epilogue (31:1-34:12)
  45. Preparing to Transition (31:1-18)
  46. Final instruction and Blessing (31:19-33:29)
  47. Song of Moses (31:19-32:47)
  48. Moses Blesses Israel (32:48-33:29)
  49. Final Transition (34:1-12)

Major Structural Relationships

A survey of the materials found in Deuteronomy has shown that the speeches of Moses and the concept of covenant are largely responsible for holding the book together and giving it its structure. However, there are a significant number of other structural relationships that are essential for understanding the flow of Deuteronomy.

Recurrence

A reader of Deuteronomy will quickly note the prominent role repetition plays in the book. Everything from phrases to concepts to events are repeated throughout the 34 chapter. In consideration of scope, only one such example will be explored in depth and two others briefly.

Consequences

The focus of the book lies in an understanding of the covenant. The author of Deuteronomy uses repetition to drive home not only the covenant itself, but the implications and consequences of the covenant. Sometimes this takes the form of extended pericopes such as the Blessings and Curses found in chapter 28. At other times it simply connects obedience with blessing as is the case with 4:1 which reads “give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land.” Such phrases which emphasize obedience based on consequence occur frequently (see 4:1; 6:1, 25; 8:1; 11:22-32; 12:28; 13:18; 15:5; 19:9; 28:1-2, 58; 29:9).

The repetition offers a clear emphasis for the author: obedience to the laws included will result in blessings; however, disobedience and rebellion will result in destruction. This dichotomy cannot be downplayed and should be constantly at the forefront of the reader’s mind. This use of reoccurrence also leaves us with questions: How do the variations in the consequence phrases affect the meaning? Is this parallelism or simply multiple aspects of the same point being highlighted? Whom does the author have in mind when issuing these statements? Are the blessings and curses only for Israel or do they apply to everyone?

Historic Reminders

The content of this book is rooted in history. As such, it should come as no surprise that the history of Israel is repeatedly called up to explain a concept or to drive home a point. Throughout the book, we find a reoccurrence of this history – especially the history from Egypt to Horeb to their current location. This can be observed in the following verses:1:19-3:29; 5:7; 9:1-10:11. Beyond simply recalling a story or serving as a pedagogical technique, this history provides the basis for the covenant. The following questions arise from this structural element: How does the history of Israel fit into the covenant? Is it YHWH that emphasizes the history or Israel and what is the significance of that?

Identity of Characters

In the book of Deuteronomy, there are three identities that reoccur: YHWH, Moses and the people of Israel. Undoubtedly, these three are linked in a web of interdependence. Each identity is repeatedly linked with a particular role. YHWH is the covenant maker and the one who acts on behalf or against Israel. Moses is the mediator of the covenant – a fact that is continually implied through his speeches. Israel is the partner in the covenant who is called to obedience. These questions are important to these reoccurring identities: How do each of these identities interconnect? What are the more specific roles/responsibilities of each?

Contrast

It has already been mentioned that the covenant takes center stage in this text. It has also been noted that one of the major reoccurring themes of Deuteronomy is the consequences that accompany the covenant. Within this theme, the author has set up the starkest of contrasts: to obey is to be blessed; to disobey is to be cursed. While the contrast between blessing and curse is found briefly in the section running from 4:44-11:32, it is much more prominent in the longer exposition of the law (12:1-30:20).

In 28:1-14 we find a list of blessings that accompany obedience to the covenant. This includes blessings of city and field, fruit, basket, comings and goings, victory over enemies, prosperous barns, general prosperity and favor. Then in 28:15-68 we find a much longer list that details the curses that accompany disobedience. The contrast here is stark. In the opening lines we find what was promised for obedience is denied with disobedience. In one way or another, every blessing is revoked and a wide range of additional curses are threatened. In terms of scope, this contrast covers only one chapter of a thirty-four chapter book; however, in light of the content of those chapters, it is obvious this structural device is significant. In many ways this contrast represents the culmination and tangible outcomes anticipated throughout the text. This significant segment brings with it several questions: Why are the curses so much longer than the blessings? How does the book as a whole prepare the reader for this contrast? Why are these differences stressed? What is significant about the specific aspects of the blessings and curses that are reversed respectively? Is it possible to receive a fate that lies between the blessings and the curses?

Causation

In the previous structural analysis we explored the contrasting role the blessings and curses play in understanding the covenant. This passage serves as an example of a further structural element: causation. Put simply, the actions of Israel bring about a response from YHWH. Depending on the nature of the actions, that response can be either positive or negative. In some ways this example of causation is a bit odd because it is set up prior to the actual event. That is to say Israel’s actions will cause YHWH’s response rather than being explanatory and detailing an event that has already occurred. Looking at these passages with an eye for causation brings new questions: Is YHWH the agent of causation or is Israel the agent? Would this causation occur without the covenant in place?

Substantiation

The opening chapters of this text introduce the covenant – why it was formed and what brought it about. In this case history substantiates the covenant. Two elements are at play in understanding this literary device. First, as we see in 1:19-4:43 that the history of Israel and their relationship with YHWH sets up the formation of the covenant. At the same time, the author is clear to point out in 5:6 that actions of YHWH introduce the covenant. In this regard, we find the covenant was established because of who God is and because of God’s history with his people. In many ways this literary device brings together some of the other elements already covered. It ties together the character and history of YHWH and Israel and connects that explicitly with the creation of the covenant – a focus that we have already established to be central to Deuteronomy. A major question arising from these observations is “What role does YHWH play in initiating the covenant?”

Introduction

This book opens with a clear introduction found in 1:1-5. It does everything a good introduction should do. First, it sets up the book as being the words of Moses. Second, it states these words were given in the Wilderness beyond the Jordan. It identifies the audience as all of Israel. It reveals the timeframe by stating this occurs in the 40th year. For many books, this would simply be basic information about the setting, but in this case it carries much more significance. With Moses serving as the mediator of the covenant his words carry more importance. The time and the place could not be more pregnant with meaning. If this book is read in its larger canonical context, or if a reader is even slightly familiar with the history of Israel, it is clear that the author has placed the setting at the cusp of one of the most important events in this nation’s history: crossing over into the Promised Land. Set in a time and place of the utmost significant and delivered by one of the greatest figures in Israel’s history, Deuteronomy is introduced with a bang. With this in mind, we can ask: How are the elements of this introduction played out later? Why does the author use historical setting to introduce the book rather than using a purpose statement or discussion of the plot? What imagery or knowledge of Israel's history is the author calling up with this introduction?