TODAY’S READINGS IN CONTEXT
OCTOBER 29, 2017
During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Deuteronomy is the fifth (and last) book of the Torah and (except for today’s reading) is presented as Moses’ final speech to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land. “Deuteronomy” comes from Greek words that mean “Second Law” and is structured as a “restatement’ of the laws in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Parts of it were revised in the 5th Century BCE, but the bulk of the book is generally dated to the reign of Josiah (640-609 BCE).
It is the first book of the “Deuteronomic History” – a didactic history of Ancient Israel from the Wilderness to the Babylonian Exile (587 BCE), including Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings.
Today’s reading is the last chapter of the Torah and a segue to the Book of Joshua. It recounted Moses’ death and the passing of authority to Joshua. Moses’ burial site is unknown (v. 6) lest it become a place of veneration. Mount Nebo and Pisgah are different places, but the author treats them as the same in order to respect different traditions about the place of Moses’ death.
The statement that Moses knew YHWH “face to face” (v.10) became part of Israel’s Messianic expectation when combined with Deut. 18:18 (“I [YHWH] will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their own people.”) The Gospel According to Matthew especially emphasized Jesus of Nazareth as the New Moses.
Ironically (and reflecting different religious and theological traditions within the Torah), last week’s reading specifically said Moses could not see YHWH’s face and live (Ex. 33:20-23).
Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18
Leviticus is the third book of the Torah and is mostly concerned with a variety of laws and the worship of YHWH. The book gets its name from the priests who were of the Tribe of Levi. It is part of the Priestly writings and dated to the time of the Exile (587-539 BCE) and after the Exile.
Today’s reading is part of the “Holiness Code” written after the Exile that comprises Chapters 17 to 26. The opening verses call the people of Israel (and us) to be “holy” – which is understood as being “separate” (that is, not OF this world and its values, even though we are IN this world). The last verse (“love your neighbor as yourself”) became the Second Great Commandment in the Gospels, when combined with Deut. 6:5 (“love the LORD [YHWH] your God”).
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians was Paul’s first letter and was written around 50 CE. Thessaloniki is a seaport and was the capital of Macedonia. The letter encouraged the community to be steadfast in the face of persecution. In today’s reading, Paul emphasized the sincerity of his preaching to them, and that he considered himself entrusted with the gospel by God (v.4).