Day 70 – Deuteronomy 1-2

Deuteronomy means “repeating the law”, coming from 17:18 and the overall purpose of the writing which is to remind Israel of the covenant made with Yahweh (defined by and resting in the “law”) and to lead them in a covenant renewal. In the Hebrew Torah this book (like many others in our Bible) is known by a different name – ‘elleh haddebarim, “these are the words”. The names of the books in the Torah are usually taken from the first words in the writing. From the very beginning we see that Deuteronomy is the words of Moses to Israel at the end of his life and just before they prepare to cross the Jordan into the promised land. Most of his address is a review and reminder of their last 40 years, how they got where they are now, and what they are meant to be as the people of God chosen and bound in covenant with the one who revealed himself to Moses as Yahweh. This review must remind Israel of God’s faithfulness throughout these last 40 years, as well as their sin and rebellion against him.