Survey of CommentariesVon Rad, Gerhard. Old Testament LibraryMayes, A. D. H. New Century BibleWeinfeld, Moshe. Anchor Bible. Through chapter 11Miller, Patrick. InterpretationFrymer-Kensky, Tikva. Womens Bible CommentaryClements, Ronald E. New Interpreters Bible

Historical Setting I640 Josiah becomes king632 and 628 Early reform efforts according to 2 Chronicles627 Declining power of Assyria; death of Asshurbanapal625 Nabopolassar became king of Neo- Babylonian empire

Historical Setting II 621 Book of Law (=Deuteronomy) found while temple repairs going on609 Josiah died; Jeremiahs temple sermon605 Nebuchadnezzar comes to power605 Egypt defeated at Carchemish601 Jehoiakim revolts598 Jehoiakim dies. Jehoiachin king

Historical Setting III597 First Deportation of Jerusalem593-572 Ezekiels ministry587/6 Jerusalem falls to Babylonians561 Release of Jehoiachin from prison550 Deuteronomistic History: Deut 1-4; Joshua; Judges; Samuel; Kings547 Second Isaiah539 Babylon falls to Persia

Outline of Deuteronomy1:1-4:43 First sermon5:1-28:68 Second sermon12-26 Law Code27 Ceremony at Shechem28 Blessings and curses29:1-30:20 Third sermon31-34 appendices

Book of the Law--DeWetteIt could not have been lost since it was so importantMany parallels between the reform of Josiah and the Book of DeuteronomyDate of Deuteronomy = Hinge for documentary hypothesisTerminus ad quem: 621B.C.E.Northern authorship? role of Levites, elders, and prophets

Parallels Between Deuteronomy and Josiahs Reform in 2 KingsCult centralization 12:13ff; 2 Kgs 23:8-9, 19star worship 17:3; 2 Kgs 23:11-12male and female cult prostitutes 23:17; 2 Kgs 23:7child sacrifice and Molech cult 18:10; 2 Kgs 23:10

Necromancy 18:11; 2 Kgs 23:4Asherim 7:5; 12:3; 2 Kgs 23:4, 6, 7, 14 Pillars 7:5; 12:3; 2 Kgs 23:14high places 7:5; 12:2, 3; 2 Kgs 23:13centralized passover 16:1-8; 2 Kgs 23:21-23

Terminology used in scholarly discussionsWords = Name of Deuteronomy in TNKDeuteronomium: Deut 17:18: a copy of this lawUr DeuteronomiumDeuteronomic (D; Deut)Deuteronomistic History (Dtr); redaction of Jeremiah and other books

LoveAmarna: The vassal must love Pharaoh1 Kgs 5:1 Hiram had always loved DavidHosea--first reference to Gods love for IsraelDeuteronomy--first to speak also of Israels love for God Jesus: If you love me, keep my commandments

Deut 4:29-31 Hope in ExileFrom there [exile] you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart .When all these things have happened to you in time to come, you will return to the Lord your God and heed him. The Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them.

ElectionTerms: bachar; prized possessionDeut 4:37-39; 7:6-11; 10:14-15 Reasons for Gods choice:God loved youGod kept promises to the ancestors (Abraham? or Exodus generation?)not because of your righteousness, but because of wickedness of the nations

The Shema--Deut 6:4NRSV, NLT: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord aloneRSV: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one LordNIV: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

The Benefits of ObedienceHe will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.The Lord will turn away from you every illness.You shall devour all the peoples that the Lord your God is giving over to you. Deut 7:14-16