Pathways through the Bible: Classic Selections from the Tanakh (Third Edition)

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy Cc The new Israel has been born and has grown up in the wilderness. They have not been eyewitnesses to the stirring events of the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Covenant at Mount Sinai. Indeed, they have not actually accepted the Covenant of Mount Sinai, nor have they yet sworn allegiance to it. Moses, aware that the end of his life is close at hand, now appeals to this new Israel to accept the Covenant between their forebears and God, and to be ever loyal and faithful to it. The Book of Deuteronomy reviews the history and the laws contained in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Unlike the other books of the Torah, Deuteronomy is cast in the form of speeches, which retell the events that took place during the journey from Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land. They give utterance to the spirit of Judaism in its sublime declaration of faith in One God: “Hear, O Israel! Adonai is our God, Adonai alone.” And they appeal to Israel’s devotion and loyalty to the Covenant of God. The book closes with the magnificent song and blessing of Moses, just before the great Liberator, Teacher, Lawgiver, and Leader dies. These noble orations have rightly been called the “farewell addresses” of Moses, the servant of God. But our sages tell us that the last few verses, which describe the death of Moses—simple, solemn, and touching—were not written by Moses, but by Joshua, his lieutenant . The Book of Deuteronomy, fifth and last of the Books of Moses, was originally called Mishneh Torah (“The Repeated Instruction”). Its present Hebrew name, Devarim, or “Words,” comes from its first verse, “These are the words that Moses addressed . . .” ■ 137 ■ 1. FIRST ORATION: OBEDIENCE TO THE COVENANT In the first half of this oration, Moses reviews the events that have taken place from the time the Israelites left Egypt to the moment they now stand on the frontiers of Canaan. Throughout it, Moses emphasizes God’s care of Israel in all their difficulties, and then he urges the people to obey and carry out the Covenant between them and God. These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan River. The Source of Wisdom Now, O Israel, give heed to the laws and rules that I am instructing you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that Adonai, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Observe them faithfully, for that will be proof of your wisdom and insight to other peoples, who on hearing of all these laws will say, “Surely, that great nation is a wise and insightful people.” Sinai Never to Be Forgotten For what great nation is there that has a god so close at hand as is Adonai our God whenever we call? Or what great nation has laws and rules as perfect as all this Teaching that I set before you this day? But take utmost care and watch yourselves carefully, so that you do not forget the things that you saw with your own eyes, and so that they do not fade from your mind as long as you live. And make them known to your children and to your children’s children: The day you stood before Adonai your God at Horeb (Sinai), when God said to Me, “Gather the people to Me that I may let them hear My words, in order that they may learn to revere Me as long as they live on earth, and may so teach their children.” You came forward and stood at the foot of the mountain . The mountain was ablaze with flames to the very skies, dark with densest clouds. God spoke to you out of the fire; you heard the sound of words but perceived no shape—nothing but a voice. God declared to you the covenant you are commanded to observe, the Decalogue; God inscribed them on two tablets of stone. At the same 138 ■ Pathways Through the Bible time God commanded me to impart to you laws and rules for you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy. Eventually you will have children and children’s children and be long established in the land. If you should then act wickedly and make for yourselves a...