making the transition deuteronomy from moses to national identity

Making the TransitionMaking the Transition

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy

From Moses to National From Moses to National IdentityIdentity

ReviewReview

Genesis – Why?Genesis – Why?Why God needed to make a Covenant Why God needed to make a Covenant

with Israelwith IsraelStructure:Structure:

Cosmological Origins Stories (1-11) + Cosmological Origins Stories (1-11) + Ancestor Hero Stories (12-50)Ancestor Hero Stories (12-50)

Four Story Cycles:Four Story Cycles:Origins of All Kinds (1-11): What is the nature of Origins of All Kinds (1-11): What is the nature of

reality?reality?Abraham (12-25): Who are we as a people?Abraham (12-25): Who are we as a people? Jacob (26-36): What is our character?Jacob (26-36): What is our character? Joseph (37-50): How did we get to Egypt?Joseph (37-50): How did we get to Egypt?

Review: Genesis diagrammedReview: Genesis diagrammedCreation norm plus 10 moral genealogiesCreation norm plus 10 moral genealogies

Creation

Individ

ual S

in Indiv

idual

Sal

vation

Com

munal

SinCom

mun

al

Salv

atio

nGenesis 1-11 Genesis 12-50

(Ishmael)

(Esau)

ReviewReview

Exodus – What?Exodus – What?What is the Covenant between God and What is the Covenant between God and

Israel all about?Israel all about?Structure:Structure:

Struggles (1-19)Struggles (1-19)Stipulations (20-24)Stipulations (20-24)Symbols (25-40)Symbols (25-40)

ReviewReview

Leviticus – How?Leviticus – How?How does it feel to live in this Covenant How does it feel to live in this Covenant

relationship with God?relationship with God?Theme Verses (19:1-2): Theme Verses (19:1-2): The LORD said The LORD said

to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’”holy.’”

Leviticus:Leviticus:How Does the Covenant Feel and Function?How Does the Covenant Feel and Function?

1-7 Personal Inward Cleansing (offerings)1-7 Personal Inward Cleansing (offerings) 8-10 Symbolic National Cleansing (priests) 8-10 Symbolic National Cleansing (priests) 11-15 Personal Outward Cleansing11-15 Personal Outward Cleansing 16 Symbolic National Cleansing (“Day of 16 Symbolic National Cleansing (“Day of

Atonement”)Atonement”) 17-25 General Instructions Concerning 17-25 General Instructions Concerning

Clean and Unclean LivingClean and Unclean Living 26 Curses & Blessings (Covenant tie-in)26 Curses & Blessings (Covenant tie-in) 27 Appendix: Instructions Concerning 27 Appendix: Instructions Concerning

DedicationsDedications

Numbers:Numbers:Who Is in the Covenant?Who Is in the Covenant?

1-10 – Signing on the Dotted Line1-10 – Signing on the Dotted Line11-25 – Covenant Breaking & 11-25 – Covenant Breaking &

RenewalRenewal26-36 – Covenant Reaffirmation 26-36 – Covenant Reaffirmation

(including a summary of the (including a summary of the Covenant Calendar) and a final push Covenant Calendar) and a final push toward Canaantoward Canaan

Review & AnticipationReview & Anticipation

Genesis – Why?Genesis – Why?Exodus – What?Exodus – What?Leviticus – How?Leviticus – How?Numbers – Who?Numbers – Who?Deuteronomy – How Long?Deuteronomy – How Long?

How long will the Covenant remain in effect?How long will the Covenant remain in effect?For only the generation that stood at Sinai?For only the generation that stood at Sinai?For all generations to come?For all generations to come?


Literary “Feel”Literary “Feel”Personal—Last Will & Testament of Personal—Last Will & Testament of

MosesMosesPassionate—Given on the eve of Passionate—Given on the eve of

crossing into the promised land from the crossing into the promised land from the one who had traveled long with both one who had traveled long with both God and IsraelGod and Israel

Poignant—A dying man’s testimony Poignant—A dying man’s testimony delivered with deep meaning to the delivered with deep meaning to the people he lovedpeople he loved


Literary Character:Literary Character:““Farewell Testament”Farewell Testament”

Cf. Jacob (Genesis 48-50), Joshua (Joshua 23-24)Cf. Jacob (Genesis 48-50), Joshua (Joshua 23-24)Shaped in Covenant Structure:Shaped in Covenant Structure:

““Book of the Law” found during Josiah’s reform? Book of the Law” found during Josiah’s reform? (2 Kings 22-23)(2 Kings 22-23)

““Deuteronomist” document of Wellhausen’s Deuteronomist” document of Wellhausen’s source theory?source theory?

J – “Yahwist” (Exodus & Covenant stories)J – “Yahwist” (Exodus & Covenant stories) E – “Elohist” (Creation and older stories woven into E – “Elohist” (Creation and older stories woven into

“J”)“J”) P – “Priestly” (Leviticus & other Priestly Codes)P – “Priestly” (Leviticus & other Priestly Codes) D – “Deuteronomist” (Deuteronomy and later editing D – “Deuteronomist” (Deuteronomy and later editing

of Pentateuch)of Pentateuch)


Literary Development:Literary Development: Textual Units (each begins “these are/this is”)Textual Units (each begins “these are/this is”)

1:1-4:431:1-4:434:44-11:324:44-11:3212:1-26:1912:1-26:1927:1-28:6827:1-28:6829:1-32:5229:1-32:5233:1-34:1233:1-34:12

Three Addresses (by Moses) + Concluding Three Addresses (by Moses) + Concluding EventsEvents

First Speech (1:1-4:43)First Speech (1:1-4:43)Second Speech (4:44-28:68; except for chapter 27)Second Speech (4:44-28:68; except for chapter 27)Third Speech (29-30)Third Speech (29-30)Concluding Events (31-34)Concluding Events (31-34)


Literary Structure (as Covenant Document)Literary Structure (as Covenant Document) Prologue (1-4) – Preamble + Historical ProloguePrologue (1-4) – Preamble + Historical Prologue Covenant in Summary (5-11) – StipulationsCovenant in Summary (5-11) – Stipulations Core Covenant Stipulations (12-26) – StipulationsCore Covenant Stipulations (12-26) – Stipulations Curses & Blessings (27-28) – Curses & BlessingsCurses & Blessings (27-28) – Curses & Blessings Covenant Renewal (29-32) – Document ClauseCovenant Renewal (29-32) – Document Clause Epilogue (33-34)Epilogue (33-34)


Note these things:Note these things: Name “Deuteronomy” from 17:18 (Septuagint)Name “Deuteronomy” from 17:18 (Septuagint) Slight difference in “Decalogue” (compare Exodus 20 Slight difference in “Decalogue” (compare Exodus 20

with Deuteronomy 5)with Deuteronomy 5) The “Shema” (6:4-5) becomes the fundamental The “Shema” (6:4-5) becomes the fundamental

Israelite/Jewish/Christian testimony (see Matthew 22:37)Israelite/Jewish/Christian testimony (see Matthew 22:37) Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more than any other Hebrew Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more than any other Hebrew

Bible book except the Psalms, including his defense Bible book except the Psalms, including his defense against Satan in the Wilderness Temptationsagainst Satan in the Wilderness Temptations

““Hear” (50x); “Keep/Observe/Obey” (177x); out of a Hear” (50x); “Keep/Observe/Obey” (177x); out of a heart of “love” (21x)heart of “love” (21x)

Promise of prophets and the great Prophet (18:15-22)Promise of prophets and the great Prophet (18:15-22) Mandate for covenant renewal at Shechem (27:11-26)Mandate for covenant renewal at Shechem (27:11-26) Moses’ last days (31), song (32), blessing (33), death Moses’ last days (31), song (32), blessing (33), death

(34)(34)

Bible “Big Picture”Bible “Big Picture”

Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive actof a redemptive act Genesis – Why?Genesis – Why? Exodus – What?Exodus – What? Leviticus – How?Leviticus – How? Numbers – Who?Numbers – Who? Deuteronomy – How Long?Deuteronomy – How Long?

Covenant Living – God guides the covenant Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way relationship with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersonsof authorized spokespersons

Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insightof spiritual wisdom and insight

making the transition deuteronomy from moses to national identity

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