The biblical books of Deuteronomy through Second Kings tell
a version of Israel’s history starting from the plains of Moab on the desert fringe just
across the Jordan to the exile in Babylon on the far side of the same great
desert. The Deuteronomistic History (DtH), the story told within these books,
is one of the three major narrative texts of Israel’s past, along with the
Pentateuch and the historical work of the Chronicler.
"You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul..." (Deut 11:18) |
In the next couple of weeks I would like to present some comments on each one of the books that compose the DtH as a brief introduction to the
reading of these books. Let's begin reflecting on the Book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy provides the hermeneutical key to the DtH: keeping the commandments, precepts and statutes of the covenant will bring the promises made to Abraham to fulfillment (Gen 12:1-3; 15: 7-21; 17:1-14). On the other hand, being unfaithful to the covenant will bring judgment and misery to Israel. I would say that this idea is not based in legal formalities, but rather in
expressing religiously and culturally YHWH’s relationship with his people. God does not impose
himself as he reveals his presence. On the contrary, he calls on his people to choose
him as his ruler (11: 26-28; 30:15-20).
Deuteronomy is also regarded by many as a long speech from Moses,
a sort of testament (Deut 1-30), followed by his last actions and the report of
his death (Deut. 31-34). The core of the speech is found in chapters
12-26, containing a collection of diverse laws. The first part of this
collection (Deut 12-18) includes regulations which are mostly concerned with
the 'ideology of centralization.' According to this perspective, there is only
one legitimate sanctuary in Israel which corresponds to the Jerusalem Temple (although
the city is never mentioned either in Deuteronomy or in the whole Pentateuch).
Cultic centralization also implies a systematization of economics and politics,
as shown by the laws collected in Deut 13-18. Chapters 19-25 contain a mixture
of private and public rules and do not have, at first glance a clear structure.
It also seems to many that Deut 12-26 is preceded by two
introductions (Deut 1-4 and 5-11). The first introductions contain a recapitulation
of events from the period of the wanderings of the people in the wilderness,
including the refusal of the exodus generation to conquer the land as ordered by YHWH,
and the report of the occupation of the Transjordanian territories. These
events are also related, often in a more explicit way, in the Book of
Numbers. Deut 4 insists on the invisibility of Yahweh as he revealed himself
to Israel and praises his gift of the law to Israel after he took his people
out of Egypt (4:33-34).
Moses leads the Israelites |
The second introduction is more directly related to the
subsequent legal collection, since it encloses numerous motivations to respect
the divine law transmitted by Moses. Deut 5 opens this section with the
Deuteronomistic version of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, which may have
been conceived as a kind of summary of the entire legal corpus. This second
introduction also includes a story recalling how Israel broke the covenant that
YHWH concluded with them on the mountain of Horeb (9:7-10:11; the account of
the golden calf, which has a parallel in Exodus 32). This introduction ends
with a statement proposing people blessings or curses depending on the choice
of observance or non-observance of YHWH’s laws (Deut 11, esp. 11:26-32).
Blessings and curses are also presented at the conclusion of
the law collection in Deut 27-28. Chapters 29-30 conclude with Moses’
testament; here he confronts his audience with an alternative: life or death.
The audience is of course invited to choose life, that means to keep the LORD's covenant and to respect his mandates.
Deut 31-34 comprises the installation of Joshua as Moses’
successor, a song that predicts Israel’s rejection of the LORD after entering the land, Moses’
blessing of the twelve tribes and finally in ch. 34, his death and his burial
by YHWH himself.
It is evident then to conclude that the Book of Deuteronomy is a
composite in which a rather large legal corpus is highlighted. Nonetheless, Deuteronomy can
easily be understood as “instruction” on how to live as God’s people
corresponding to his love and faithfulness (4:29; 6:4.32-30; 11:1). This correspondence
to God’s love is exercised through a willing and joyful obedience (30:11-14),
embracing the LORD as the only God (6:13-15; 8:9; 9:7-12; 30:15-20) and taking
care of those who are disadvantaged in the community (10:12-15. 18-19; 14:28-29;
15:1-18; 24:14-15; cf. Mic 6:8).
The joyful obedience that brings blessings and prosperity is
a positive way of portraying life under God’s care and directives, even though
the book also announces Israel’s unfaithfulness. However, even if YHWH’s people
fall short in keeping the covenant, they will find God’s mercy as he brings
them again into the land (30:1-10).
Juan Miguel Betancourt
0 comments:
Post a Comment