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).
This passage includes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), a key statement of God’s unique oneness that remains central to Jewish prayer to this day.
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.
God instructs the Israelites to keep His commandments close, binding them on their hands and between their eyes. This practice points to the later tradition of wearing phylacteries (small boxes with Scripture) during prayer as a physical reminder to love and obey God.
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.
The chapter ends with a warning not to add to or subtract from God’s commands, emphasizing the importance of faithfully following His instructions.
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 gives the Israelites detailed instructions on which animals are clean and unclean for them to eat, emphasizing their call to live holy and distinct from other nations. He also reminds them to tithe regularly to support the Levites and the work of the temple.
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 other gods and leading others astray, they are to stone that person. 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.