DEUTERONOMY

DEUTERONOMY 1

MOSES ADDRESSES THE NEXT GENERATION OF ISRAELITES

Moses speaks to Israel and tells them that they will enter the Promised Land. He points out that the Israelites are as great in number as the stars in heaven, remembering God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 22. Moses instructs the Israelites to choose leaders who are wise, understanding, and experienced. 

Emphasizing the faithfulness of Caleb and Joshua, Moses recounts the previous generation’s fear of going into the Promised Land after sending the spies. Moses honors them as the only two from their generation to enter the Promised Land. 

Symbolic of God restoring Eden, Moses refers to the next generation as having no knowledge of good and evil, showing he has great hope for the nation. 

DEUTERONOMY 2

MOSES TELLS OF WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

Moses reminds the Israelites of the journey they have been on since leaving Egypt, remembering all of the enemies they faced and overcame along the way. 

DEUTERONOMY 3

MOSES PLEADS WITH GOD TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND

Moses continues to recall the journey to the Israelites, many of whom were not alive during these events. God’s faithfulness is the key thread throughout the story. 

Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Promised Land, but God does not allow him. Instead, God tells Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua, the one who will be his successor. 

DEUTERONOMY 4

MOSES COMMANDS OBEDIENCE AMONG THE ISRAELITES 

Moses commands the Israelites to be obedient to God’s laws and encourages them by saying that no other nation has God personally dwelling among them. He encourages them to keep their souls diligently and not let what they have seen from God depart from their heart. 

Although God denied Moses entry into the Promised Land, Moses calls God a merciful God. Moses knows that God’s story has a greater purpose and that God’s kindness is beyond our understanding. 

DEUTERONOMY 5

MOSES READS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 

Moses gathers the Israelites and reads them the Ten Commandments, encouraging them to follow God’s law. Moses was originally given these commandments in Exodus 20.

DEUTERONOMY 6

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, + MIGHT  

Moses shares the greatest commandment with the Israelites—to love God with all their heart, all their soul, and all their might. Moses encourages the Israelites to only worship God and pass down their faith to the next generation. 

When Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, He quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 and 6:16 as a response to the devil’s attack of God’s protection over Jesus (Matthew 4). 

Deuteronomy 6:5 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

DEUTERONOMY 7

THE ISRAELITES ARE GOD’S TREASURED POSSESSION 

Moses encourages the Israelites that they are God’s chosen people. They are given directions to drive out any foreign nation that does not follow God from among their people. 

Even though the Israelites are already out of slavery, Moses tells them they would’ve been born into slavery without God. Moses reminds them of the seven nations they have already defeated and makes sure the Israelites know that they have to keep the covenant to keep the land—God wants their loyalty!   

Deuteronomy 7:6 - The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

DEUTERONOMY 8

MOSES WARNS THE ISRAELITES TO REMEMBER GOD IN THE PROMISED LAND 

Moses recalls how God provided for the Israelites as they were in the wilderness, giving them manna daily. God allowed the Israelites to wander in the wilderness to test their faithfulness and teach them humility. Knowing they will have a better quality of life in the Promised Land, Moses cautions the Israelites against being prideful. 

When Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 as response to the devil’s attack on his hunger and authority (Matthew 4). 

DEUTERONOMY 9

MOSES RECALLS THE GOLDEN CALF 

Moses reminds the Israelites that they once worshiped a golden calf when he was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God, recalling the events of Exodus 32. Moses knows that God’s provision of the Promised Land has nothing to do with the Israelites or their faithfulness, but instead is the fulfillment of a promise made to Abraham. 

DEUTERONOMY 10

MOSES ENCOURAGES THE ISRAELITES TO FEAR THE LORD 

After breaking the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments on them in anger upon the Israelites' disobedience, Moses explains that God gave them new tablets that now reside in the ark of the covenant. In these chapters, Moses is recalling the journey that the Israelites have been on since Egypt. 

Moses tells the Israelites to circumcise their hearts, which might sound odd, but represents a transformation and commitment to God. The Israelites are required to fear the Lord, walk in all His ways, love Him, serve Him with all their hearts and souls, and keep the commandments. 

DEUTERONOMY 11

THE ISRAELITES ARE CALLED TO LOVE + OBEY THE LORD 

Moses reminds the Israelites of all that God has done for them. He continues to remind them to keep the commandments so that they can stay in the Promised Land. He tells them of two mountains, one of blessing and one of cursing. 

DEUTERONOMY 12

THE ISRAELITES ARE CALLED TO WORSHIP GOD ALONE 

Moses instructs the Israelites to destroy the places where the earlier inhabitants of the Promised Land worshiped their false gods and idols. They are to worship God in the way and the place that He desires. 

DEUTERONOMY 13

THE ISRAELITES ARE TO AVOID WORSHIP OF FALSE GODS

Moses instructs the Israelites to put to death anyone who tries to entice them with another god. 

DEUTERONOMY 14

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEAN + UNCLEAN FOOD 

Moses tells the Israelites not to shave their heads. He also tells them which meats are clean for them to eat and which are unclean. Moses also reminds them to tithe.

DEUTERONOMY 15

DEBTS ARE CANCELED + SERVANTS ARE FREED 

Moses tells the Israelites about the sabbatical year when debts are canceled and servants are freed. 

DEUTERONOMY 16

REMEMBER THE PASSOVER + FEASTS 

Moses tells the Israelites to keep Passover and celebrate the feasts. Moses instructs them to appoint judges—more on them later! 

DEUTERONOMY 17

JUDGES, PRIESTS, + KINGS AMONG ISRAEL 

Moses tells the Israelites that if they witness someone worshiping another god, they are to stone them. He instructs them to consult judges and priests on difficult matters and that they will soon appoint a king among them. 

DEUTERONOMY 18

MOSES TELLS OF A COMING PROPHET 

Moses instructs the Israelites to provide for the Levites, who have no inheritance. Moses warns against abominable practices, like divination and sorcery. He also tells them that a new prophet will rise, one similar to Moses, who God will speak through. 

DEUTERONOMY 19

CITIES OF REFUGE 

Moses reminds the Israelites that the cities of refuge are for those who have killed someone by accident. Moses instructs them that any crime committed must have more than one witness; one witness cannot provide enough evidence. 

DEUTERONOMY 20

LAWS CONCERNING WAR 

Moses tells the Israelites that if they have a new house, vineyard, or wife, they don’t have to participate in battle. Or if they are simply afraid, they’re excused. God only wants the willing and able, those who trust in Him and aren’t afraid. He tells them to approach other cities with peace before attacking. 

DEUTERONOMY 21

LAWS ABOUT FEMALE CAPTIVES 

Moses gives various laws about unsolved murders, marrying female captives, inheritance rights, and rebellious sons. God is merciful to the female captives, giving them time to mourn and telling the husbands they must not sell or enslave them. 

Verses 22-23 explain that anyone who is put to death by being hung on a tree is cursed by God. Thousands of years later, the Apostle Paul references this law in Galatians 3:13 by saying “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” Jesus took the curse for humanity to make atonement for the sins of those who love God. 

DEUTERONOMY 22

LAWS TO SET THE ISRAELITES APART 

Moses tells the Israelites various laws, including not mixing certain things like seeds in a field, animals in a yoke, or fabrics on clothing, a reminder that the nation of Israel is set apart. One of the laws specifically notes the tassels on the clothing of the Israelites, given to them as a reminder of God’s commandments. Moses also gives the Israelites laws for sexual morality.  

DEUTERONOMY 23

EXCLUSION FROM THE ASSEMBLY

Moses informs the Israelites of more laws, including who is excluded from the assembly, laws about uncleanness in the camp, and laws about making vows to God. 

DEUTERONOMY 24

LAWS CONCERNING DIVORCE + HARVESTING

Moses informs the Israelites of more laws, including laws around divorce and harvesting, many of which protect the poor. This chapter contains specific laws about harvesting that are later seen in the book of Ruth. 

DEUTERONOMY 25

LAWS CONCERNING MARRIAGE 

Moses continues to give the Israelites various laws. One specific law refers to marriage in a very similar way to the situation in Genesis 38 with Tamar and Judah, “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her” (v 5). 

DEUTERONOMY 26

FIRSTFRUITS + TITHES 

Moses tells the Israelites to offer their firstfruits and tithes for God.  

DEUTERONOMY 27

MOUNT GERIZIM + MOUNT EBAL

Moses splits up the twelve tribes and tells the Israelites about the blessing from Mount Gerizim in the east and the curses from Mount Ebal in the west.  

DEUTERONOMY 28

BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE + CURSING FOR REBELLION 

If you obey God, you will be blessed. If you do not, you will be cursed. 

DEUTERONOMY 29

RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT 

The covenant is renewed, and Moses instructs the Israelites that they must keep the covenant to keep the land. 

DEUTERONOMY 30

FORGIVENESS + PROSPERITY FOUND IN REPENTANCE 

Moses tells the Israelites that they will break the covenant, and that they must repent. Once they repent to God, He will show forgiveness. Moses continues to encourage them to obey God’s voice. 

DEUTERONOMY 31

JOSHUA TO SUCCEED MOSES AS THE ISRAELITE LEADER

Joshua is commissioned to be the one to succeed Moses as leader of Israel. Moses tells Joshua not to fear because God will be with him. The Israelites are to read the law every seven years in remembrance. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

DEUTERONOMY 32

MOSES PRAISES GOD WITH A SONG 

Moses writes a song highlighting God’s great love, mercy, and provision. Moses is also the author of Psalm 90, which contains similar themes praising God’s goodness. 

God tells Moses that he will die soon, and although he will not enter the Promised Land, he will be able to see it from afar. 

DEUTERONOMY 33

MOSES BLESSES THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL 

Moses gives his final blessing to the Israelites, blessing each tribe. 

DEUTERONOMY 34

THE DEATH + BURIAL OF MOSES 

Moses goes up to Mount Nebo, where he is to die. God shows Moses the Promised Land and allows him to see it before he dies. God Himself buries Moses in an unknown location.