Moses, God’s leader of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan, is the author of this fifth book in a compilation known as the Pentateuch or the books of the Law. Deuteronomy was probably written by Moses right before his death, which would have been in 1405 BC. Many have questioned how Moses could have written the book which recorded his death (Deuteronomy 32:48-34:12); however, most scholars believe that this information was added by Joshua following Moses’ death. Forty years prior to Moses’ death, God had called Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3) and guide them into the land which He had promised to give Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). Moses eventually led nearly two million Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 12:29-51) and began the trek to the land of Canaan. While traveling to this land, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21), civil/religious ordinances (Exodus 20:22-24:11), and ceremonial regulations for the tabernacle (Exodus 24:12-31:18). Establishing these laws and regulations would help the people maintain a right relationship with God and each other.
Although God repeatedly provided for the people on their journey to Canaan, they often disobeyed and complained against God’s appointed leader, Moses. Their complaints often aroused God’s anger and caused His judgment to fall upon them. Israel’s greatest act of disobedience happened in the second year of their wandering in the wilderness when they refused to enter Canaan because they feared the inhabitants (Numbers 14). Israel’s failure to believe in God’s ability to defeat their enemies resulted in the older generation eventually dying off in the wilderness without ever having the opportunity to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:26-38). This meant that Israel’s journey would be stretched 38 more years until every person from the current generation had died. Moses was also denied entrance into Canaan when he disobeyed God in the incident at Kadesh where he struck the rock instead of simply speaking to it (Numbers 20). Even though Moses continued to lead the people, he would never experience the joys of inhabiting the land God had promised to Israel. At the conclusion of the book of Numbers, Israel was in their fortieth year of making their journey to Canaan and they were currently encamped just east of the Jordan River in the plains of Moab (Numbers 32). Before they entered Canaan, God gave some final instructions: drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan (Numbers 33:51-52a, 53), remove any objects or places used for the worship of false gods (Numbers 33:52b), and divide the land evenly among the tribes (Numbers 33:54). Failure to obey any of God’s commands would result in His judgment on Israel (Numbers 33:55-56).
The book of Deuteronomy only advances the historical timeline of Israel’s journey into Canaan about thirty days; in fact, the only major historical events recorded in this book are the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-13), Moses’ glimpse of Canaan from Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48-52; 34:1-4), and the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5-8). The majority of Deuteronomy is a compilation of Moses’ speeches to Israel in the last few weeks of his life. Specifically, there are three speeches given by Moses before his death and prior to their entering Canaan to receive the land God promised to give them. The first speech of Moses (Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43) was a historical review of all the miraculous acts of God on their journey to Canaan and a call for their obedience to God’s commands. The second speech of Moses (Deuteronomy 4:44-28:68) was a review of God’s commandments and laws as well as a challenge to maintain a proper relationship with God and others. Moses also reminds Israel regarding the blessings and cursings of obeying or disobeying God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 27-28). The third speech of Moses (Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20) was simply a call for Israel to commit themselves to God so that they could experience the rich blessings of God in the land of Canaan. The second generation of Israel was very close to entering the land so these addresses by Moses would challenge them to remain faithful to God who had been faithful to them in the past and would be faithful to them in the future.
Dear God, through the reading of Deuteronomy, give me a greater understanding of what it means to obey You and experience Your blessings.
