Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1
Moses reminded the Israelites about their journey from Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments. They traveled to Kadesh-barnea on the edge of Canaan. Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan, but most of them brought back a bad report saying the people were too strong to conquer. The Israelites were afraid and complained against God. As punishment, God made the Israelites wander in the desert wilderness for 40 years until that whole generation died, except for Caleb and Joshua who trusted God. Only their children would enter the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 2
Moses described how the Israelites avoided going through the lands of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, who were descendants of Lot. God did not allow Israel to take any of their lands. Instead, they traveled all the way around those areas. When the Amorite kings Sihon and Og attacked them, God gave Israel victory, and they captured the lands east of the Jordan River. Moses gave that area to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh as their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 3
This chapter continues the account of defeating Og king of the Amorites who ruled in Bashan. His forces were very powerful with huge iron beds, but God helped Israel conquer all 60 of Og’s cities. The lands that Israel’s army captured east of the Jordan River were given to the 2½ tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh as Moses had promised. But Moses himself pleaded with God to let him go into Canaan too. However, God was still angry at Moses for his mistake at Meribah and denied his request, though he did allow Moses to view the Promised Land from a distance. So Moses charged Joshua to lead the Israelites in conquering the land after Moses’ death.

Deuteronomy 4
Moses warned the Israelites not to make any idols or images to worship like the pagan nations they were about to conquer in Canaan. He reminded them of the terrifying experience at Mount Sinai/Horeb where God spoke to them directly with a loud voice from the fire, giving them the Ten Commandments. The people were so afraid of God’s thundering voice and the blazing fire that they asked Moses to be their representative to receive God’s laws from then on. Moses urged complete obedience to all God’s laws for their blessing and prosperity after settling in the fertile Promised Land of Canaan that God will give them. To make it easier to avoid accidental killing, Moses designated three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.

Deuteronomy 5
In this chapter, Moses repeated word-for-word the Ten Commandments that God spoke audibly to all the Israelites from the fire on Mount Sinai/Horeb. The first four commandments were about loving God alone: 1) Have no other gods, 2) Make no idols, 3) Don’t misuse God’s name, and 4) Observe the Sabbath day of rest. The last six were about loving others: 5) Honor parents, 6) Do not murder, 7) Do not commit adultery, 8) Do not steal, 9) Do not lie, and 10) Do not covet. When the Israelites heard God’s terrifying voice from the fire, they were so afraid they asked Moses to be the mediator to receive the laws from God instead of them.

Deuteronomy 6
Moses commanded the Israelites to love God with all their heart, soul and strength. To help them and their descendants never forget God’s laws, he said they must diligently teach the laws to their children – talking about them at all times whether at home, traveling, morning and night. They were to wear reminders of the laws and even write them on their doorposts. Moses warned them not to turn to idolatry after settling in the bountiful land of Canaan that God promised to give them. Worshipping other gods would bring God’s anger and cause them to be destroyed from the land.

Deuteronomy 7
When they conquer the nations living in Canaan, God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy them and smash their idols and pagan religious sites. This would prevent the Israelites from being led into idolatry and corruption. God chose Israel as his treasured, holy people out of all nations, not because they were great in number, but because of his faithful love for them and his covenants with their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If they obeyed God, he would bless them above all nations, protecting them and giving them numerous children, livestock, crops and property. But if they disobeyed, they would face God’s judgment.

Deuteronomy 8
Moses reminded the Israelites how God humbled them and tested their faithfulness by letting them go hungry and thirsty in the wilderness for 40 years. Their clothing miraculously never wore out during that time. By letting them experience need, God taught them that human beings need more than just food – they need to obey everything God says. When they enter the Promised Land flowing with abundance, they must be careful never to become arrogant and think they obtained the good land by their own might. They must always remember it is God who gave them the power to gain wealth and possessions. If they forget God and turn to worship idols like the pagans do, they will certainly be destroyed from the land.

Deuteronomy 9
Moses reminded the Israelites how their ancestors repeatedly rebelled against God, even worshiping an idol in the form of a gold calf at Mount Sinai/Horeb just a short time after God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Because of their idolatry, God wanted to destroy the Israelites but Moses interceded for them. Moses made clear that the Israelites did not deserve God’s favor or the Promised Land because of any righteousness of their own. Rather, it was only because of God’s faithfulness to his covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and his judgment against the wickedness of the pagan nations living in Canaan – that he was giving that land to the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 10
This chapter mentions how Moses had to make new stone tablets to replace the ones he broke when he saw the Israelites worshiping the golden calf idol. It affirms God’s permanent choice of the tribe of Levi to serve as priests. It gives a concise summary of what God demands of his people: to revere him, to walk in obedience to his commands, to love him wholeheartedly, to serve him with your whole being, and to keep all his laws and statutes. Circumcision of the heart is also mentioned as needed to enable such love and obedience to God.

Deuteronomy 11
If the Israelites fully obey God’s commands, he will cause them to prosper with plenty of rain for crops after they take possession of the fertile Promised Land. But if they disobey and turn to worship other gods, God will hold back the rain, causing drought, famine and invasion by enemies who will conquer them. So Moses urged the people to take God’s words to heart, teaching them diligently to their children. If they love God and remain faithful to the covenant, he will give them victory over even greater nations and expand their boundaries from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Deuteronomy 12
Once the Israelites are settled in Canaan, God will designate one central place for them to make their sacrifices and worship offerings. They must not burn sacrifices anywhere else as they had done in the wilderness. Instead, celebrations, tithes and offerings must all happen at this chosen place of worship. The Israelites are commanded to utterly destroy all pagan religious sites, idols, and practices of the current inhabitants when they conquer the land. No mixing of pagan rituals with proper worship of God would be permitted.

Deuteronomy 13
This chapter reiterates strong warnings against following anyone who promotes worship of other gods, even if that person seems to perform miraculous signs. Any close relative, friend or even an entire Israelite town that turns to idolatry must be put to death by stoning without pity. Every person, building and animal must be completely destroyed by burning as a way to remove all evil taint of idolatry from among God’s people.

Deuteronomy 14
Guidelines are given for distinguishing between clean and unclean animals that are permitted or forbidden to eat. Rules are also provided for giving tithes of produce to support the Levites, who received no permanent inheritance of land. Additional offerings and festivals are mentioned where the offerings must be eaten in the designated place of worship.

Deuteronomy 15
The law of the year of release from paying debts is commanded – every seventh year, all debts owed by fellow Israelites must be canceled. God’s people must be openhanded and generous in giving to the poor and needy among them. Guidelines are given about Hebrew servants/slaves, requiring them to be released after six years and sent away with generous provisions from the master’s herds and crops. Firstborn male livestock must be set apart as holy to God.

Deuteronomy 16
Detailed instructions are given for celebrating three of the annual appointed festivals: Passover/Unleavened Bread, Festival of Weeks/Harvest, and Festival of Shelters/Ingathering. All males must travel to the central place of worship to observe these festivals with sacrifices and celebrations. The people are also commanded to appoint judges who will render righteous verdicts in each town without showing partiality, taking bribes, or other injustice.

Deuteronomy 17
The Israelites must not practice any form of pagan idolatry or witchcraft. Particularly difficult cases of judging are to be brought to the Levitical priests and judges for a final ruling. Guidelines are given if Israel decides to have a human king: he must be an Israelite, not a foreigner; he must avoid excessive accumulation of horses, wives or wealth which can lead to pride and self-reliance. The king should personally copy and regularly study God’s laws to learn to revere God and obey the covenant.

Deuteronomy 18
The Levitical priests are affirmed as not receiving a permanent land inheritance because God himself is their inheritance for doing temple service. While the other tribes provide tithes and food for the Levites’ support, all pagan occult practices including child sacrifice, fortune telling, witchcraft, mediums, and necromancy are strictly banned for God’s people. The Lord will raise up a line of prophets like Moses to communicate his words, and any false prophet promoting idolatry must be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19
Provisions for establishing cities of refuge to shelter those who unintentionally killed someone are reiterated. Ancient laws are repeated like not moving boundary markers, requiring multiple witnesses before condemning someone accused of a crime, and the principle of equal retribution/restitution for injury done. Those purposely giving false testimony were to receive the punishment intended for the accused.

Deuteronomy 20
God gives guidelines for warfare, such as granting military exemptions for newsly married men, farmers with perishable harvests, the faint-hearted, and those building a new house. When sieging a town, the Israelites must first make an offer of peaceful subjugation. But in conquering the pagan nations already in Canaan, no survivors were to be left – men, women and children must all be killed to prevent later spiritual corruption. An exception was made to spare fruit trees not used for construction during a siege.

Deuteronomy 21
Procedures are given for removing blood-guilt from a community by an atonement ritual if a slain person is found in a field and the killer is unknown. Other regulations involve the rights of female captives of war, property inheritance laws, dealing with a rebellious son, and decent burial for executed criminals. Just treatment for all was important.

Deuteronomy 22
Various laws are given: returning a neighbor’s lost items, not crossdressing or causing indecency, caring for little birds in a nest, making parapets on roofs to prevent falls, avoiding mixed seeds/fibers in fields/clothes, defaming a newlywed bride falsely, death for adultery, provisions allowing divorce, prohibitions against incest and other sexual sins.

Deuteronomy 23
Those excluded from full participation in Israel’s religious community are listed. Sanitation and other rules for camp purity are mandated. Procedures for sheltering runaway slaves from neighboring nations are outlined. Consecrated persons must avoid indecency. Taking interest/usury from fellow Israelites is banned, though permitted when lending to foreigners. All vows to God must be fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 24
Proper divorce procedures are outlined, including prohibiting a man from remarrying his ex-wife after she married someone else in the interim. Men were exempted from military service in the first year of marriage. Taking a handmill as loan collateral was forbidden since it could deny someone their livelihood. Kidnapping fellow Israelites was a capital crime. Domestic protections included payment assurances, debt seizure limitations, paternal guilt non-transference, and justice for underprivileged like the poor, orphans and widows.

Deuteronomy 25
Court procedures and punishments are outlined: death for false testimonies causing injustice; limits on lashes for corporal punishment; allowing a widow to perform a public shaming ritual if her brother-in-law refuses a levirate marriage obligation; feminine protections for inappropriate touch in scuffles; honesty in using standardized weights and measures is mandated.

Deuteronomy 26
Instructions are given for the offering of firstfruits when entering Canaan, as well as procedures for properly giving the triennial third-year tithes to the Levites and underprivileged annually. A historical prologue recounts God’s faithfulness in delivering the patriarchs from Egyptian oppression to possess Canaan as an inheritance. The people renew their commitment to the covenant.

Deuteronomy 27
God commands the Israelites to inscribe the law on plastered stones, build an altar, and conduct a solemn ceremony to renew the covenant after crossing the Jordan River into Canaan. From two adjacent mountains, the tribes will call out blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to reinforce the solemnity of the covenant obligations.

Deuteronomy 28
The amazing blessings of obedience and horrific curses for disobedience to God’s covenant are spelled out in vivid detail. Sustained obedience would bring national prosperity, agricultural bounty, military success, and renown. But disobedience and idolatry would bring devastation through drought, famine, plagues, defeat, oppression, and eventual exile from the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 29
Moses secured a binding renewal of the covenant from every Israelite, including men, women, children, and resident foreigners. He warned of the consequences of future generations turning to idolatry, saying they would be utterly destroyed from the land in horrific ways as a lesson to surrounding nations.

Deuteronomy 30
Even when the Israelites have been disciplined by scattering and exile to the most far-flung nations on earth for disobedience, God promises to restore them if they finally repent wholeheartedly and return to obeying the covenant. Moses urged them to choose life and obedience over death and curses.

Deuteronomy 31
As Moses prepared Israel’s new generation to enter Canaan under Joshua’s leadership after his death, he reinforced the necessity of constant obedience to the covenant. He warned that future disobedience would result in distress, and commanded the Levites to read the entire law publicly every 7 years. God also instructed Moses to write down a prophetic song about Israel’s pattern of faithlessness.

Deuteronomy 32
“The Song of Moses” is a profound poetic masterpiece. It reviews God’s faithfulness and benefits to Israel contrasted against their repeated rebellions and idolatry through history. The song foresees future generations forsaking God, leading to severe judgment and worldwide scattering. However, it also prophesies that God will ultimately vindicate his people and punish their enemies.

Deuteronomy 33
Before his death, the aging Moses pronounced Aaron’s priestly blessing on the whole nation. He then gave individual blessings tailored for each tribe, picturing God’s protection, provision, character strengths, land inheritances, political/military roles, and other glimpses of their future lives in Canaan.

Deuteronomy 34
God allowed the 120-year-old Moses to view the Promised Land of Canaan from a distance atop Mount Nebo, though he could not enter it himself because of his past disobedience. After seeing it with his own eyes, Moses passed leadership to Joshua and then died there in Moab as the greatest prophet up to that time. His incredible life, miracles and unparalleled intimate relationship with God are reiterated and praised.