Reading: Deuteronomy | biblical literature
Although Deuteronomy is presented as an address by Moses, scholars generally agree that it dates from a a lot later time period of Israelite history. An early edition of Deuteronomy as it exists today has been identified with the script of the Law discovered in the Temple of Jerusalem about 622 bc ( 2 Kings 22:8 ; 2 Chronicles 34:15 ). This early edition, corresponding roughly to chapters 5–26 and 28 of Deuteronomy as it now stands, expresses a cultic holy eucharist. Chapters 5–11 contain an introductory speech by Moses, largely exhortative. In chapters 12–26 laws are reiterated that the people are exhorted to obey. The section closes with a reputation of the formulation of a Covenant between God and his choose people. chapter 28 recounts in elaborate detail the blessings or curses that will come upon the people, depending on their response to laws that explicate their covenantal obligations. This arrangement of materials corresponds to the holy eucharist of Covenant renewal festivals that were celebrated in Israel ’ second premonarchic period. Within this cultic context very ancient laws were preserved and transmitted .
Read More on This subject
biblical literature : deuteronomy : introductory hold forth
The English title of this work, meaning “ second law, ” is derived from a defective greek translation of chapter 17, verse 18, referring to “ a …
To this original core of materials other materials were added by interest parties in the years following the reforms instituted by King Josiah ( reigned c. 640–609 bc ). The final shape is due to the work of a historian who added, among other things, a second base insertion ( chapters 1–4 ) and made Deuteronomy the book of first principles for his history of the Israelite people in the bring of Canaan. Deuteronomy might therefore be viewed as the first separate of the history that follows, preferably than as the last record of the Pentateuch, the by and large accepted regulate most scholars prefer. The principles governing the Deuteronomic historian ’ south presentation of Israel ’ s history are set forth in the book of Deuteronomy : fidelity to Yahweh and obedience to his commands bring blessings ; the worship of extraneous gods and negligence of Yahweh ’ s statutes bring a execration ; Yahweh can be worshiped in only one sacred put ( Jerusalem ) by all Israel ; priests, prophets, and kings are subject to Yahweh ’ randomness jurisprudence granted through Moses. Thus, the attribution of Deuteronomy to Moses tends to place Israel in an promote phase of its history—when kings and a centralized fad were contemporary concerns—under the requirements of renewed ancient traditions.
