Why study Deuteronomy? Studying Deuteronomy will reveal God’s continuing faithfulness to His people and to His covenants with them. Deuteronomy contains vital lessons for the believer to remain wholeheartedly faithful to God in worship and being completely faithful to God in their daily walk with Him. There are also many “hard” lessons to be learned and many wonderful rewards to be gained for all who desire to please God and bring Him glory.
The book of Deuteronomy completes the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses. The name Deuteronomy is not in the Hebrew text but comes from the Old Greek version, the Septuagint. This name is a mistranslation in the Septuagint of Deuteronomy 17:18 stated as a “second law.” The book of Deuteronomy is not a “second law” but rather a reaffirmation of the law given at Sinai to the second generation which would enter into the promised land. The Hebrew name for the book comes from its first two words translated into English as “These are the words.” The author of Deuteronomy is certainly Moses as attested by the book itself, 1:1, 5, 31:9, 22, 24. Other books in the OT also stated that Moses was its author along with the other books of the “law” (the Pentateuch). See Joshua 1:7-8; Judges 1:20; 3:4; 1 Kings 2:3; 8:53; 14:6; 2 Kings 14:6; 18:12; 2 Chronicles 25:4; Ezra 3:2 and in the NT in Mathew 19:7; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28; Acts 3:22; Romans 10:19 and 1 Corinthians 9:9. The last chapter of the book, giving details of the death of Moses was likely written by Joshua, although some suggest that Joshua may have written the section 32:48 to 34:12.
Deuteronomy contains three major addresses or messages to the second generation of Israelites, those descended directly form the generation that the LORD had rescued from bondage in Egypt. The reason this first generation did not live to enter the promised land was because of their continual wickedness and rebellion against God, particularly at Sinai, Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11 and at Kadesh Barnea, Deuteronomy 1:26-46. Moses also was prevented from entering Canaan because of his sin, Deuteronomy 32:48-51; 34:5. The main message of the book of Deuteronomy is that Israel was to obey God’s covenant and to love, revere and serve Him with holiness and wholeheartedness.
The three major messages from Moses to the second generation, are (1) Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43 is a review of God’s dealing with Israel from Sinai (called Horeb in Deuteronomy) to Beth-peor; (2) Deuteronomy 4:44-28:68; covers the requirements of the covenant God gave to His people at Mount Sinai (often called the Sinaitic Covenant). This second address to the people by Moses included the stipulation of the “ten commandments,” the great “Shema, the Hebrews’ confession of faith, 6:4-9; a reminder that the LORD is the only God and in Him alone the Hebrews were to worship; a reminder that the Hebrews were God’s chosen people, His treasured possession and God’s purpose for His covenant people; a reminder that the Hebrews were to love and fear God, to walk in His ways and to serve God and to obey His commands and all that God had told Moses about the relationship between God and His people. Also Moses told this generation of specific requirements that God had given regarding worship, holy living and blessings for obedience to God and curses for disobedience to Him. (3) The final major message from Moses to this generation, including the great Song of Moses, 29:1-33:29, dealt with covenant renewal, so they would obey all the words of the law; things that would happen for obedience to God and for disobedience to Him; details about Joshua succeeding Moses as the leader of Israel; and in the song of Moses, a reminder of the faithfulness of God; that He alone is God, that God would punish the Israelites for their present and future sins but would avenge Israel’s and God’s enemies and ultimately God would cleanse the land that He promised to His covenant people. This final message also included the blessings on the individual tribes of Israel, 33:1-29.
Simple Outline of Deuteronomy
The First Message of Moses 1-4:43
The Second Message of Moses 4:44-28:68
The Third Message of Moses: 29:1-33:29
(record of the death of Moses – Chapter 34)
Verses to Memorize from Deuteronomy
4:29-31 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
8:6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.
13:4 t is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
18:15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
28:2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.
28:6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
33:27a The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Resources for studying Deuteronomy:
See the article on how to study the Bible for suggestions on the method of Bible study and recommended resources to obtain. Suggested commentaries and studies are listed below for a more extensive study. Some are available on-line in a pdf format.
One Hour – One Book Youtube Channel. Scroll to the video on Deuteronomy.
One Hour – One Book: Deuteronomy
Commentaries
Coakley, James. Deuteronomy, in The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, 2014.
Constable, Thomas. Notes on Deuteronomy, latest edition. Online at Plano Bible Chapel.
Grisanti, Michael Alan. Deuteronomy, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Zondervan Academic, 2017.
Kline, Meredith G. Deuteronomy, in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Press, 1962. Pages 155-204.
Merrill, Eugene H. Deuteronomy. The New American Commentary, Broadman & Holman, 1994.
Schultz, Samuel J. Deuteronomy. Everyman’s Bible Commentary series, Moody Press, 1971.
Thompson, J. A. Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary. The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, InterVarsity, 1974.
Towns, Elmer L. Deuteronomy, in the King James Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Inc. 1999.
Studies
Note: many of the articles from the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society are available online in a pdf format.
Block, Daniel I. How Many Is God? An Investigation into the Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47:2 (June 2004):193-212.
Block, Daniel I. Recovering the Voice of Moses: The Genesis of Deuteronomy. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 44:3 (September 2001):385-408.
Day, Adam Warner. Eating before the Lord: A Theology of Food According to Deuteronomy. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57:1 (2014):85-97.
Merrill, Eugene, H. A Theology of the Pentateuch, in A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, Moody Publishers, 1991, Pages 7-87.
Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests. Baker Book House, 1987.
Rydelnik, Michael, Edwin Blum, General Editors, The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy: Studies and Expositions of the Messiah in the Old Testament, Moody Publishers, 2019. Chapters: – Deuteronomy 17:14-20: The Foundation of Messianic Kingship, Pages 309-323, by Daniel I. Block – Deuteronomy 18:15-19: The Prophet Like Moses, Pages 325-341, by Jim R. Sibley.
Swindoll, Charles R. Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication. Nashville: Word Publishing,1999.
Vogt, Peter T. Social Justice and the Vision of Deuteronomy. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51:1 (March 2008):35-44.
Pdf file of this article for downloading to your computer.