The book of Deuteronomy was given to remind them of God's law and God's power. A new generation of Israelites was about to enter the Promised Land. This multitude had not experienced the miracle at the Red Sea or heard the law given at Sinai, and they were about to enter a new land with many dangers and temptations.
#1 - Title
The name Deuteronomy comes from the Septuagint, “deutro +nomos” which means “second law.”
The Hebrew title of this book is called as “and these are the words,” which compose the first two words in the original manuscripts.
However, Septuagint mistranslated the Hebrew phrase “a copy of this law” in Deut. 17: 18 by rendering it as second law.
The title Deuteronomy is misleading as it implies as second law giving, in fact it is only a restatement of the Sinai covenant.
Deuteronomy is one of the four OT books most quoted in the NT (the others are Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah).
#2 - AUTHORSHIP
Traditions ascribe it to Moses, the book itself does not claim to have been written by Moses, but only that it contains his addresses (31: 9; 31: 24ff; 1:1)."Include quotes by experts in your post to add credibility." – SEO specialist
#3 - CONTENTS
Deuteronomy is not a book of law in a narrow sense.
It is the book of sermons about the gracious deeds of God in Israel’s behalf and how Israel should respond to these deeds and why.
The central notes of Deuteronomy are “remember,” “obey,” and “behold”: remember God’s gracious attitudes and deeds; obey his words in unswerving loyalty and fidelity and behold what he has in store for his people.
#4 - LITERARY FORM
Deuteronomy is primarily a book of oratory. It contains a series of discourses delivered by Moses to the Israelites in the plain of Moab.
There are three main discourses, with three short appendices:
The first discourse is mainly historical and hortatory (1:1-4:43).
The second discourse is mainly hortatory and legislative. This is the longest discourse and constitutes the nucleus of the book. It gives a summary of the civil, moral and religious laws and statutes of Israel (4:44-26:19).
The third discourse is predictive and threatening. It deals primarily with the blessings of obedience and curses of disobedience (27:1-31:30).
Following these three discourses are three appendices: Moses’ song (chap. 32), Moses’ blessing (chap 33) and the account of Moses’ death and burial (chap 34).
#5 - MAJOR THEME
The Law
Giving of the law to the people of God has demonstrated the greater display of God’s grace.
The law changed all that for the Israelites. Their God had chosen to reveal himself and to tell them plainly what he expected of them.
Though many of the laws have some similarity to laws in the ANE, there are striking contrast between them.
For the ANE the law was the tool of society to govern itself, in Israel it was God’s revelation.
In the ANE, a violation of law was an offence against the society, whereas in Israel it was an offence against God.
The Law in ANE emphasized order in society, the law in Israel emphasized right behaviour with God.
The Retribution Principle
Conforming to God’s expectation is rewarded and violating God’s commands brings punishment.
God’s expectations of Israel were delineated in the law and recorded as stipulations of the covenant.
OUTLINE
Deut. 1:1-5 – Preamble
Deut. 1:6-3:29 – Historical prologue
Deut. 4:1-26:19 – Covenant stipulations
Deut. 27:1-30:20 – Blessings and Curses
Deut. 31:1-32:52 – Witnesses and reading of the text
Deut.33:1-34:12 – Final blessings of Moses
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