Moses' farewell address to Israel — covenant renewed and the great commandment.
Key themes: covenant, obedience, the great commandment, blessing, cursing.
| Author | Moses |
|---|---|
| Date Written | c. 1406 BC |
| Original Audience | The new generation of Israel about to enter Canaan |
Deuteronomy — meaning 'second law' — is Moses' farewell address to Israel, delivered in the plains of Moab just before they cross the Jordan into Canaan. Moses knows he will not enter the land, so he spends these final chapters reminding the new generation of everything God has done, re-teaching the covenant law, and calling Israel to wholehearted devotion. The theological heart of the book — and arguably of the entire Old Testament — is the Shema: 'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength' (6:4-5). When Jesus was asked for the greatest commandment, he quoted this verse. Deuteronomy ends with Moses blessing the twelve tribes, climbing Mount Nebo to see the Promised Land from a distance, and dying at 120 years of age. The book is deeply personal — the voice of an old man pouring out his heart to a people he has led and loved. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy three times when resisting Satan's temptations in the wilderness.
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