Survey of Commentaries

Von Rad, Gerhard. Old Testament Library

Mayes, A. D. H. New Century Bible
Weinfeld, Moshe. Anchor Bible. Through chapter
11
Miller, Patrick. Interpretation
Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Womens Bible
Commentary
Clements, Ronald E. New Interpreters Bible

Historical Setting I
640 Josiah becomes king
632 and 628 Early reform efforts according
to 2 Chronicles
627 Declining power of Assyria; death of
Asshurbanapal
625 Nabopolassar became king of NeoBabylonian empire

Historical Setting II
621 Book of Law (=Deuteronomy) found
while temple repairs going on
609 Josiah died; Jeremiahs temple sermon
605 Nebuchadnezzar comes to power
605 Egypt defeated at Carchemish
601 Jehoiakim revolts
598 Jehoiakim dies. Jehoiachin king

Historical Setting III

597 First Deportation of Jerusalem
593-572 Ezekiels ministry
587/6 Jerusalem falls to Babylonians
561 Release of Jehoiachin from prison
550 Deuteronomistic History: Deut 1-4; Joshua;
Judges; Samuel; Kings
547 Second Isaiah
539 Babylon falls to Persia

Outline of Deuteronomy
1:1-4:43 First sermon
5:1-28:68 Second sermon
12-26 Law Code
27 Ceremony at Shechem
28 Blessings and curses

29:1-30:20 Third sermon

31-34 appendices

Book of the Law--DeWette

It could not have been lost since it was so important
Many parallels between the reform of Josiah and the
Book of Deuteronomy
Date of Deuteronomy = Hinge for documentary
hypothesis
Terminus ad quem: 621B.C.E.
Northern authorship? role of Levites, elders, and
prophets

Parallels Between Deuteronomy

and Josiahs Reform in 2 Kings
Cult centralization 12:13ff;
2 Kgs 23:8-9, 19
star worship 17:3; 2 Kgs
23:11-12
male and female cult
prostitutes 23:17; 2 Kgs
23:7
child sacrifice and
Molech cult 18:10; 2 Kgs
23:10

Necromancy 18:11; 2 Kgs

23:4
Asherim 7:5; 12:3; 2 Kgs
23:4, 6, 7, 14
Pillars 7:5; 12:3; 2 Kgs
23:14
high places 7:5; 12:2, 3; 2
Kgs 23:13
centralized passover 16:18; 2 Kgs 23:21-23

Terminology used in scholarly

discussions
Words = Name of Deuteronomy in TNK
Deuteronomium: Deut 17:18: a copy of this
law
Ur Deuteronomium
Deuteronomic (D; Deut)
Deuteronomistic History (Dtr); redaction of
Jeremiah and other books

Love

Amarna: The vassal must love Pharaoh

1 Kgs 5:1 Hiram had always loved David
Hosea--first reference to Gods love for Israel
Deuteronomy--first to speak also of Israels
love for God
Jesus: If you love me, keep my
commandments

Deut 4:29-31 Hope in Exile

From there [exile] you will seek the Lord your God,
and you will find him if you search after him with
all your heart .When all these things have
happened to you in time to come, you will return
to the Lord your God and heed him. The Lord your
God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you
nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant
with your ancestors that he swore to them.

Election
Terms: bachar; prized possession
Deut 4:37-39; 7:6-11; 10:14-15
Reasons for Gods choice:
God loved you
God kept promises to the ancestors (Abraham?
or Exodus generation?)
not because of your righteousness, but
because of wickedness of the nations

The Shema--Deut 6:4

NRSV, NLT: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our
God, the Lord alone
RSV: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one
Lord
NIV: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Lord is one.

The Benefits of Obedience

He will bless the fruit of your womb and the
fruit of your ground, your grain and your
wine and your oil, the increase of your
cattle and the issue of your flock.The Lord
will turn away from you every illness.You
shall devour all the peoples that the Lord
your God is giving over to you. Deut 7:14-16