Discuss Deuteronomy and Deuteronomistic Literature

Discuss Deuteronomy and Deuteronomistic literature

The word Deuteronomy means " Second Law" alluding to the discovery of the Book in the Temple, it is the Crown of the Pantateuch the final preparation for Israel about to enter Promised Land. It pulls together the terms of the Pantateuch, insisting on the enduring love of God for Israel in guiding his people through the desert despite their constant infidelity and rebellion and on the precious Law which he gave them to keep them faithful to his covenant. The basic idea which hovers in the background of the whole book is a treaty of alliance. Such ancient Near Eastern treaties between an overlord and a vassal began with a historical introduction, outlining how the situation arose, continued with the stipulated conditions of the alliance and finished with promises of protection for fidelity and threats of punishment for infidelity. This is exactly the atmosphere of the book, prosperity in the Promised Land will depend on Israel loving the Lord their God with all their heart and mind and strength and so responding in love to his commands. (CTS Bible)

Origins of Deuteronomy

In 662B.C. king Josiah initiated a great programme of reform abolishing the local shrines, tainted as they were by superstition and Idolatry and focusing all religious activity on the temple of Jerusalem. In the course of the renovation of the Temple, purporting to contain a second and more explicit law promulgated by Moses. This Deutronomic code constitutes the core of the book, it contains much ancient material overlapping considerably with previous law codes of Israel, but modified and legislating for a more advanced and later situation than its predecessors. Modern scholar can only speculate when the document was composed perhaps in connection with Josiah's reform itself perhaps in connection with the previous short lived reform under king Hezekia (716-687 BC). By literary device Moses sets out "to expound this law" that is, to put it into its Historical context and to enjoin its full acceptance and observance. This exposition is so permeated with the message of the prophets, particularly Hosea's presentation of God as loving father, that some scholars have thought that it is a product of the prophetic movement. The framework, however, betrays clear awareness of the ending of the monarchy and the conditions of exile in Babylon Israel has failed to remain faithful and must be purged and renewed in order to regain the Promise Land.

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