Deuteronomy 31 - Introduction

MOSES' FINAL WORDS. Having made his great oration Moses was now aware that his death was rapidly approaching, and he spoke even more earnestly in the light of it. And that approaching death could only increase his pessimism about the people. His first words were to ‘all Israel', encouraging them to... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

CHAPTER 31 MOSES' FINAL WORDS. Having made his great oration Moses was now aware that his death was rapidly approaching, and he spoke even more earnestly in the light of it. And that approaching death could only increase his pessimism about the people. His first words were to ‘all Israel', encourag... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:7,8

MOSES' COMMISSION TO JOSHUA (DEUTERONOMY 31:7). Having encouraged the people Moses then hands over the reins to Joshua ‘in the sight of all the people'. Deuteronomy 31:7 ‘ And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you will go with... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:9-13

THE LAW IS HANDED OVER IN WRITTEN FORM AND IT IS COMMANDED THAT IT BE READ IN ITS TOTALITY TO ALL ISRAEL EVERY SEVEN YEARS (DEUTERONOMY 31:9). Moses' attention now turned to the priests. They primarily had the responsibility for the maintenance of the whole covenant, especially the ritual element.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:14-23

MOSES' FINAL CHARGE FROM YAHWEH (DEUTERONOMY 31:14). God now called Moses and Joshua into the Tent of Meeting, and when they had entered, the cloud stood over the door of the Tent of Meeting in order to demonstrate that they were in conference, and to prevent interruption by the priests. Both Moses... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:23

THE CHARGE TO JOSHUA (DEUTERONOMY 31:23). Having communicated with Moses Yahweh now spoke to Joshua, who may not have been aware of what God had said to Moses. For what God said to Joshua was no different from what Moses had said to him previously (Deuteronomy 31:7). He gave him the ‘charge' which... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:24-29

MOSES CHARGE TO THE LEVITES (DEUTERONOMY 31:24). Here we have repeated that Moses wrote all the words of the covenant down in a book. Twofold repetition in Scripture is always for emphasis. But he then censured them harshly. It may well be that we are to see Deuteronomy 31:9 as referring to the writ... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 31:30

CHAPTER 32 THE SONG OF MOSES. Having written the Complaint Document as a song to be sung by the children of Israel until its words were fulfilled and it could be called on as a witness against them, and also be seen as a promise of hope, Moses read out the song to the people. Analysis. a And Mose... [ Continue Reading ]

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