Deuteronomy Introduction

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com

Deuteronomy Introduction

Deuteronomy

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Book Introduction - Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy consists of the parting counsels of Moses delivered to Israel in view of the impending entrance upon their covenanted possession. It contains a summary of the wilderness wanderings of Israel, which is important as unfolding the moral judgement of God upon those events; repeats the Decalogue to a generation which had grown up in the wilderness; gives needed instruction as the conduct of Israel in the land, and contains the Palestinian Covenant (Deu 30:1-9). The book breathes the sternness of the Law. Key- words, "Thou shalt"; key-verses; Deu 11:26-28.

It is important to note that, while the land of promise was unconditionally given Abraham and to his seed in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 13:15; Gen 15:7), it was under the conditional Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:1 - 30:9) that Israel entered the land under Joshua. Utterly violating the conditions of that covenant, the nation was first disrupted (1 Kings 12) and then cast out of the land (2 Kings 17:1-18; 2 Kings 24:1 - 25:11). But the same covenant unconditionally promises a national restoration of Israel which is yet to be fulfilled

See Scofield - Deu 15:18.

Deuteronomy is in seven divisions:

1. Summary of the history of Israel in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:29).

2. A restatement of the Law, with warnings and exhortations (Deuteronomy 4:1 - 11:32).

3. Instructions, Warnings, and Predictions (Deuteronomy 12:1 - 27:26).

4. The great closing prophecies summarizing the history of Israel to the second coming of Christ, and containing the Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:1 - 30:20).

5. Last counsels to Priests, Levites, and to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31).

6. The Song of Moses and his parting blessings (Deuteronomy 32 - 33).

7. The Death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34).

The time covered by this retrospect is approximately forty years.