Once more, with feeling

Due to the sins and transgressions of the Chosen People, Moses is punished vicariously and cannot join them across the Jordan.

And just when you thought everyone else would be crossing over into the Promised Land, Moses makes some time to give a pep talk to the Israelites and to take a final shot at getting the tribes to accept and follow the rules.

God's rules.

Moses Sees the Promised Land from Afar.

And that is what the Book of Deuteronomy is all about.

The Second Law.

Which is pretty much the same as the first law.

The Ten Words and accompanying ordinances that the Israelites have been presented several times in a variety of different forms throughout Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. 

But Moses wants his people to understand that they won’t get too far without it.

And uses his last chance to embellish the point.

Much of Deuteronomy is reported in the first person.

And provides what one in the future will contend is the first of the two absolute rules upon which all the rest of the law of the prophets is based:

Love the LORD your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your might.

If you’ve been following along, you already know what the second absolute rule will be.

It’s in Leviticus.

And it isn’t any of the rules about ritual animal sacrifice.

It’s the one which requires the faithful to love their neighbor as themselves.

Moses also provides several pithy observations:

One does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

and

Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you,

“Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

There are also several rules which might at first glance be somewhat obscure.

Rules, for example, regarding execution by hanging, property transfers through intestacy, and fair fighting.

Anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse, and is to be buried the same day.

This might be something useful to remember for further understanding of things that happen later in the Bible.

Inter-spousal marital property transfers are followed by a ritual known as “passing the sandal,” where the succeeding owner takes off their shoes and waves them in the predecessor’s face.

Passing the Sandal

And, for the surviving wife of a marriage without male heirs, if her brother-in-law will not “perform the duty of a husband’s brother,” then she also gets to spit in his face.

Whose name will thereafter be “He who has his shoe untied”.

This might also (believe it or not) be something useful to remember for understanding of things that happen later in the Bible.

As to rules of fair fighting, amputation of the hand is required punishment for any woman who tries to break up a fight between her husband and another man using the technique known in modern times as “the iron claw” (i.e., grabbing the crotch).

Kind of like the Marquis of Queensbury rules.

To the extreme.

Scratching out eyes might be a kosher move, but ladies shouldn’t try anything below the belt.

Because you will be shown no pity if you do.

Not sure if this will be all that useful for further understanding of anything that happens in this Bible.

I can’t see how it will ever come up again.

But one never knows.

As to important things to remember, Deuteronomy, the Second Law, and with it the Pentateuch, the Five Books, concludes with Moses leaving the Chosen People with both blessings and curses.

Their pick.

The blessings of following the rules and obedience to God’s word are peace and prosperity in the Promised Land.

The curses for disobedience and rebellion, are, well, not so good:

The LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a languishing spirit.

Your life shall hang in doubt before you;
Night and day you shall be in dread, with no assurance of your life.
In the morning you shall say, “If only it were evening!”
and at evening you shall say, “If only it were morning!”----
because of the dread that your heart shall feel and the sights that your eyes shall see.

You shall become an object of horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD will lead you.

The choice, according to Moses whom the LORD knew face to face, is simple:

I have set before you today

Life and prosperity
Death and adversity.

Choose life so that you may live.

At the time Deuteronomy was written, there had never arisen a prophet like Moses.

The Death of Moses

Nevertheless, it promises that God will raise up another like him.

We'll see who that might be.