Deuteronomy 6-8, 15, 18, 29-30, 34
“Beware Lest Thou Forget the Lord”
May 11 - May 17
scripture
commentaries
Deuteronomy 29:1. Words of the Covenant
<p>Deuteronomy chapters 29–30 represent the covenant ratification portion of Deuteronomy. It is here, after Moses laid out all the details of the covenant obligations, that “the present generation of Israelites bound themselves to the covenant and . . . emphasize the permanence of the agreement, both in the validity of its blessings and curses and in the ultimate triumph of YHWH’s [Yahweh’s] grace in reinstating Israel as his covenant people.”<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a></p> <p>A covenant pattern similar to that of the entire book is manifest on a smaller scale in these two chapters:</p> <table class="table table-striped"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="234"> <p>Historical introduction</p> </td> <td width="390"> <p>29:2–9</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="234"> <p>The covenant bond</p> </td> <td width="390"> <p>29:10–15</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="234"> <p>Warnings/curses for disobedience</p> </td> <td width="390"> <p>29:16–29</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="234"> <p>Promised blessings for obedience</p> </td> <td width="390"> <p>30:1–10</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="234"> <p>Final call to obey</p> </td> <td width="390"> <p>30:11–20<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p>Mark Biddle argued that the “structure points to its homiletical nature: It discusses the covenant <em>past</em> (29:2–8), <em>present</em> (29:9–15), and <em>future</em> (29:16–29; 30:1–10) as the motivations for a <em>call to decision</em> (30:11–20).”<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Daniel I. Block, <em>Covenant: The Framework of God’s Grand Plan of Redemption</em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021), 234.</p> <p><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> This is adapted from John W. Rogerson, “Deuteronomy,” in <em>Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible</em>, ed. James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2003), 170.</p> <p><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> Mark Biddle, “Deuteronomy,” in <em>The New Interpreter’s Bible: One Volume Commentary</em>, ed. Beverly Roberts Gaventa and David Peterson (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010), 137.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Neal Rappleye<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>
Old Testament Minute: Deuteronomy by BMC
Deuteronomy 29:2–9. Historical Introduction
<p>Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses was constantly reviewing the events of the past forty years, reminding the people of the miracles performed in Egypt and the things the Lord did for them in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 29:2–8). These events provide the historical “basis for Israel’s confidence in Yahweh’s gracious favor”<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> and thus the reason for trusting that if they keep their covenant with Him, they will prosper (see verse 9).</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Mark Biddle, “Deuteronomy,” in <em>The New Interpreter’s Bible: One Volume Commentary</em>, ed. Beverly Roberts Gaventa and David Peterson (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010), 137.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Neal Rappleye<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>
Old Testament Minute: Deuteronomy by BMC
Deuteronomy 29:10–15. The Covenant Bond
<p>The covenant forged a bond between Israel and the Lord, and Moses emphasized the comprehensive nature of the covenant bond here. It includes all the men, women, and children (verses 10–11); it includes their ancestors, who previously entered into a covenant with the Lord (verse 13); and it goes beyond all those who were present at the covenant ceremony to include those that were “not here with us this day” (verses 14–15), which implies that <em>future</em> Israelites were also bonded to the Lord through this covenant. Thus, this covenant bond conveys a transcendent timelessness.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Neal Rappleye<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>
Old Testament Minute: Deuteronomy by BMC
Deuteronomy 29:16–29. Warnings and Curses
<p>Rather than reiterate all the curses mentioned throughout the book of Deuteronomy (most extensively in Deuteronomy 28:15–68), Moses warned that “all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon” anyone that turns their heart away from the Lord and imagines that they shall be an exception to this covenant. He continued, “And the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven. And the Lord shall separate him from all the tribes of Israel” (verses 20–21). The Lord further warned of utter destruction akin to that of Sodom and Gomorrah should the entire nation forsake the covenant (verses 22–29). The implication of mentioning both private and national apostasy together is that “private apostasy cannot be hidden from Yahweh; it will eventually have public ramifications.”<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Mark Biddle, “Deuteronomy,” in <em>The New Interpreter’s Bible: One Volume Commentary</em>, ed. Beverly Roberts Gaventa and David Peterson (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010), 137.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Neal Rappleye<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>
Old Testament Minute: Deuteronomy by BMC
video
The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy
<p>Jasmin Gimenez Rappleye, “The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy (Week 21, Part 2/7) Deuteronomy | May 16-22,” Book of Mormon Central Video, 2022.</p>
Jasmin Gimenez Rappleye
