DEPARTMENT OF PASTORAL STUDIES
BACHELOR OF PASTORAL THEOLOGY
BL 611: EXEGESIS OF DEUTERONOMY
EXEGETICAL TERM PAPER:
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20.
THE CHOICE OF LIFE AND DEATH.
MOSES KAJO-KOLE BENET MONO.
2024-2026
INTRODUCTION.
It is time for a new beginning. This current generation of Israel had been wandering in the wilderness for the last forty years as the punishment of their parents’ sin of unbelief and disobedience towards God and his commandments. Though they still eat manna as God’s judgment to them, God’s providence has not left them. Till this time when the past generation has passed on and now it is the time for the new generation to enter the promised land. But before they start the journey into the promised land, God wants to set some of the things right through Moses. So Moses gathers all the elders and the people together and recounts for them the events of the forty years and reminds them of all the laws and statutes of the LORD that must be observed. So the passage before us comes near the end of Mosses’ address to the people of Israel, by reminding them that the commandments of the LORD are within them and he calls them to make a choice which will determine their future in the land that was promised to their forefathers.
- CONTEXT.
The historical–Cultural context.
The title “Deuteronomy” in the Hebrews canon derives from the first two words in ʾēlleh haddĕbārîm, translated as “these are the words” (Deu 1:1). The word Deuteronomy base on the Latin vulgate Deuteronomium, which reflects to the Septugaint (LXX) Deuteronomion,
Which means “second law.” Eugene Merrill said, “Deuteronomy, as will be demonstrated hereafter, as not a second law but an amplification and advancement of the covenant text first articulated to Moses and Israel at Sinai nearly forty years earlier.” The Book contains the speeches that Moses gave to the Israelites from the beginning of the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year.
So Moses committed himself to write all these speeches and gave them to the priest and to the elders of the people of Israel in order for them to be read to the new generation ( Deut 31:9, 24-26). Though there are many disagreements about the Mosaic authorship, there are many supporting passages both in the Old Testament and the New Testament proving the claim for the Mosaic authorship, (Deu 1:1,31:9, 22,24, Acts 3:22-23, Romans 10:19, Mtt 19:7-8, Mk 10:3-5,12:19, Acts 3:22-23). John. F Walvoord said that, “The Mosaic authorship has been opposed by some literal scholars due to the following reasons. 1. They argued that the Book was written in the seventh century during the time when the book of the law was found in the temple in Joisah’s reign ( 2 King 22). 2. They also gave the reason for the late date of Deuteronomy as God’s commands to have a central sanctuary. (Deut 12:1-14) arguing that neither Jerusalem nor high places were prominent during the Mosaic period. 3. They also argue of the Post-Mosaic writing (ch 34). 4. They concluded by the saying ‘predictions of the dispersion and the subsequent regathering of Israel in (Deu 4:25-31,28:20-68,29:22-28,30:1-10,32:23-43.)’ it can not be attested to the Mosaic authorship.” Concerning the Post-Mosaic editions, it is clear that certain editorial comments were added after his death (ch 2:10-12,20-23, 3:13b-14, 34), however the presence of these addition doesn’t prove that Moses didn’t wrote the Bulk of Deuteronomy, neither they violet the inspiration of the Bible. However taking into close consideration and study of the four arguments, it all rejects the supernatural predictive prophecy and the power of God in using Moses. Conclusively, there is no reason for denying the claim that the book of Deuteronomy is written by Moses and to the people of Israel as they were about to enter the promised land. And the book was probably written in 1405 B.C before Moses’ death.
The Historical setting of the book of Deuteronomy can clearly be pictured by observing the surrounding context. The people of Israel were gathered together in the plains of Moab probably near sh*ttim which is Northeast of the Sea of Arabah which is the Dead Sea and East of the Jordan River. This happened on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year since their journey from Egypt (Deuter 1:3). In a series of instructions and speeches that Moses spoke to the Israelites, and also nearing the last breath that he was about to drew. Moses reminded them of various aspects of the law which were originally given to their father’s at Mountain Sinai and now he re-establish them to the new generation. This is done in preparation for entering into the promised land and taking possession of land which was promised to their forefathers to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob long ago.
John S, Deere said “The structuring of the book of Deuteronomy follows the pattern of the Vassal Treaties typical of the second Millennium B.C. Which contain six elements; 1 Preamble, 2 A historic prologue, 3 A general stipulation, 4. A specific stipulation, 5. A divine witnesses, 6. The blessings and curses. The Mosaic covenant is compared to these Suzerainty treaties.” The book of Deuteronomy presents speeches that Moses spoke to the Israelites and within the book in six similar elements which include, 1. the Introductory statement (1:1-4), 2. The historic setting (1:5-4:43), 3. The general setting of conditions (4:44-11:32), 4. The call to specific conditioning (12-26), 5. The blessings and curses (27-28), and 6. The witnessing (29-34). John H. Walton added “ in chapter 30 of Deuteronomy, Moses added a striking element not found to date in these treaties Unlike the treaties of the ancient Near East, the covenant as represented in Deuteronomy has a forgiveness clause that offers second chances when the covenant has been violated. Repentance and recommitment to the terms of the covenant would result in restoration. Such mercy was not possible with the ancient treaties, but there is no example of such a possibility being explicitly included in the written document.”
THE LITERARY CONTEXT.
In the English Bible, the arrangement of the Books of the Bible, the book of Deuteronomy is categorized under the pentateuch or the Mosaic laws or the Torah, more so, the Hebrew Bible also categorizes the book of Deuteronomy as the last book in the Torah, which includes; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. I will also treat the book as it had been arranged in order to avoid interpretive challenges. Throughout this paper I will be using the English Standard Version (ESV) translation for the Exegetical paper. This passage can be broken down into two main sections of a well structured argument. The first main section starts from (vv 30:11-14). In this verse Moses declares the accessibility of the Law in three parts; (I). what it is not ( too hard or far), (II). where it is not (heaven or beyond the sea), (III) where is it ( it’s within the people themselves).
After making the clarification of the accessibility of the Law, Moses also called the people to make a choice (vv 16-20). Moses commanded them to choose from the two options by detailing its conditions and their consequences for each option that they will make. They can either choose to obey God’s commands and experience life and blessings or choose to turn away from God’s commands and experience death and adversity. Below is the outlined as passage:
THE OUTLINE.
- The accessibility of the commandments. Vv 11-14
- It is not too hard……………………………………………………….11a
- It is not too far away……………………………………………….11b-14
- It is not in heaven………………………………..……………….12
- It is not beyond the sea………………………………………..…13
- It is very near you, in your heart and in your mouth………………14
- Moses presents the Israelites with a choice………………………………15-20
- I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.…….15
- Obedience and blessing………………………………………………….16
a). If you obey the commandment…………………………………..16a
a).By loving the Lord..……………………………………..16b
b). By walking in his ways…………………………………16c
c). By observing his commandments………………………16d
b). Blessing
a).Then you shall live………………………………………16e
b). And the Lord will bless you…………………………….16f
- Disobedience and consequences……….……………………………..17-18
A. Disobedience……………………………………………………..17
- If your heart turns away and you do not hear……….…..17a
- But are led away to bow down to other gods……………17b
B. Consequences……………………………………………………..18
- You shall perish…………………………………………18a
- You shall not live long in the land.
D. The choice of life and death.……………………………..….19-20
- The choice is life or death, blessing or cursing………………..19a
- Choose life ……………………………………………………..19b
- By loving the Lord……………………………………..20a
- Obeying him……………………………………………20b
- Holding fast to him……………………………………..20
- Section by section Commentary.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14. The accessibility of the commandments
Verse 11.
“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
Moses is nearing the end of his final instructions to the Israelites. And he begins this section by assuring the Israelites that the commandments that he has given them is not too hard for them to follow neither too far off from them. The word “Hard” in this sense doesn’t mean it’s beyond one’s power, difficult to do. Peter. C . Craigie said, “ the commandment did not impress on the people conditions that were totally impossible to fulfill.” Moses’ command to the Israelites was not something that they can’t do and beyond their ability to understand and accomplish. He is not asking them to do what is impossible for them but the possible one which is near them. Cairns Ian said, “the covenant people have the capacity to achieve what is required of them, for they possess a completely sufficient map for the way, namely, the God-given torah.”
Verses 12
“12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?.
In addition to not being impossible, Moses also tells the Israelites that the commandment is not in heaven that requires someone to ascend and retrieve it. The phrase “not in heaven” is a reference to the time when Moses ascended into the Mountain Sinai and received the commandments. This same word “ascend” here is also used in Exodus 24:15 when Moses “went up” on the mountain to receive the ten commandments from God. That is why no one else is needed to go up into heaven and receive more commandments. The commandment had already been delivered and now it simply needed them to be obeyed. Peter C. Craigie says “The implication of this law was given to man or revealed to man; it was particularly designed for the man’s living and not a part of the mystery of God that man could not approach and that it was retained ‘in the heaven.’” There is therefore no ground for excuses in relation to the law.
In verse 13.
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?
Moses states that the commandment is not beyond the sea so that someone would have to cross to the other side and bring to them so that they could hear it and observe it. Peter C. Craigie said “the immediacy and practical nature of the commandment is in striking contrast to the North Eastern literature and religion at this point. The Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh, following the death of his intimate friend Enkidu, set out on a quest for life, he had to cross the sea, searching for Utnapishtim, the survivor of the flood, whom Gilgamesh hoped might provide him with an answer to his quest.” In contrast to this passionate and stressful inquiry and quest, life was only found in total obedience to the laws that Moses set before the Israelites. Another interpretation could be the geographical location. If they were gathered in the Beth-Peor, Heshbon, sh*ttim area, which is likely (Deu. 4:46-49, Jos. 2:3), then they are quite close to the Sea of Arabah. Maybe this is the Sea which Moses was referring to when he tells them that they did not forget the commandment on the other side.
Verse. 14
But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
In the previous verse of 11-12, Moses explains to the Israelites about where the law was not; in verse fourteen, he also expound to them where it is. It is not too far away, but it is very near, it is in your mouth, and in your hearts so that you can do it. Perhaps the mouth is a reference to the oral tradition. Dr Tremper Longman said, “the people can speak it (it is in their mouth) and they know it.” Since this is the second generation, many of them were likely born in the wilderness. Many of them would have heard of the commandments as their parents and grandparents recounted how YHWH had delivered them from Egypt. Even in the unlikely event that there was someone who had never heard the commandment prior, they were hearing it today as Moses delivered it once again. August H.Konkel said, “Moses declares that God’s teachings are not too wonderful or hard for them, it is not far off. The Knowledge of God’s will is “in your mouth”, an idiom that means it can be recited by memory (cf. Deut.31:19).” The word heart here means the inner person. Moses explains to these people that there is no excuse for you in observing these commandments. It is not beyond your ability to accomplish. It is not so far off to be accessed. On the contrary, it is within your mouth and heart. Moses establishes a full accountability of the Israelites towards the obedience to the law which is within them.
Vv. 12-14 are referenced in Rom. 10:6-8 at which point Paul is referring to a righteousness that is based on faith. In a very similar fashion Paul admonishes his readers not to ask who will ascend to heaven or descend into the abyss (a change from crossing the sea). In this case a person would not be retrieving the commandment as in Deuteronomy, but Christ himself. In Rom. 10:8 Paul quotes Deut. 30:14 almost verbatim, “The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” He goes on to explain that “the word” is the word of faith that he proclaims. He then takes the idea of the mouth and heart and ties it to Christian salvation in verse nine: “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 the choice of life and death.
Verse 15.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
Moses presents before the Israelites with two choices to make. The choice of life and good and then the choice of death and evil. August H.Konkel it, “To set life and death before Israel is more than an invitation to accept the covenant. It is a reminder that rejection of the covenant has certain consequences.” Making of a decision involved more than simple affirmation, but involved a whole way of life based upon the decision made.
Verse 16
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Loving God and obeying his commandments is the condition for life and good. Edward J. Woods said, “if Israel obeys (present tense) the threefold command to love God, walk in his ways and keep his commands, decrees and laws, then (future tense) they will live, increase and be blessed by YAHWEH within the land.” In this particular covenant, Love is manifested by walking in God’s ways and by keeping his commandments , statutes and rules. Walking in God’s ways donotes the lifestyle of staying in line with God’s directives and also keeping and observing his statutes and rules. He who does these things will experience life and experience a good and prosperous life and blessings from the LORD. This promise is the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham in Gen 17:1-14.
Verse 17-18
But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.
Obedience to the LORD and loving, walking in his ways, keeping his statutes and rule leads to life and blessings, however in verse 17-18, the opposite of total obedience to the LORD is turning away from God and the also instead of serving God, then it turns to idols (gods). The only option for Israel was to either choose to serve YHWH or other gods. Jack S. Deere said,“ But if a believer began to embark on a pattern of disregarding the Law he could easily be drawn away to bow down to other gods (cf. 29:18) which would bring catastrophic judgment into his life. He would be destroyed (killed) and/or taken from the land by death or captivity.” Here in verse 18, Moses seriously warned the Israelites about the consequences of disobedience and turning to Idolatry, they will perish and will lose the land that they have been promised. J. A. Thompson said, “The man whose heart turns away, who will not obey, but who worships and serves other gods, will perish and will be denied long life in the land of promise.”
Verse 19-20.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Now, in these remaining verses, Moses has built a case and he is prepared to bring the people to a point of making decisions as they know that there are only two options to make. The terms and conditions have been thoroughly explained. They have the choice to choose either life and good or death and evil. Merrill puts it, “this time…the offer was couched in the formal terms of a legal setting in which witnesses were invoked to bear testimony in the future to the response of Israel to the Lord’s gracious overtures. The language here is similar to that of other suzerain-vassal treaties in the Ancient Near East. Merrill goes on to explain that in similar ancient Near Eastern legal transactions the witnesses were usually the gods of the respective litigants, but the monotheism of Israel’s faith dictated that such appeal be to creation, to heaven and earth, for only it would endure into future ages.” The fact that God via his mediator Moses, presents to his people with a choice. It is very significant to know that God is telling the Israelites that they are responsible for their future in the promised land either to choose life and good in the land or to death and evil. After the restating, Moses went on to tell the people what to choose. “Choose life, so that you and your offspring may live”. The decision that they will make shall not only affect you but your children as your fathers in the wilderness when they choose to disobey God and wander in the wilderness for forty years which also affected you. Choosing the LORD means to enter into a covenant with God and to remain truthful and committed to his commandments. And the outcome of choosing life and blessings is the enjoyment of the land which was promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However to choice death and evil
Conclusion:
After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the time has come for the Israelites to enter into the promised land. Moses gathered all the congregation of Israel in the plan of Moab and preached a series of instructions reminding them of what they had experienced as well as the things God expected of them as a people chosen by God. Keeping his commandments results in blessings in the land that they were about to enter and take possession. Moses assures them of the commandments which is within them, it is not too hard for them to understand and do it. The commandment is not in heaven or beyond the sea, but it is however in your hearts and mouth. They grew up hearing these laws and commands from their fathers, so at this time Moses also re-establish to them in preparation of entering the land.
Having the full understanding of the accessibility of the commandment, the Israelites have a choice to make. Would they choose life and blessings or death and curses? Choosing life meant choosing YHWH in obedience and totally turning away from Idols and choosing death and curses meant to do the opposite thing.
After the renewal of the covenant with the new generation, as in the same manner consistent with the treaties from the Ancient North East, Moses called on God to bear witness to the responsibility that has been set before the Israelites in determining their and their offspring’s future in the promised land. God’s preference is clear, he wants people to choose life and blessings by choosing God, however also God allowed them to make a choice.
After his final presentation to the Israelites, Moses signifies the beginning of a new era by appointing Joshua as the new leader of this new generation.
Application:
This historic account of the words that Moses spoke to the new generation of Israel in preparation to enter into the promised land, presents the truths about what will happen to them in the land if they choose either obedience or disobedience. They would need to heed and observe the commandments that had been delivered to them if they want to experience the life and blessings that God has promised them.
In order for this generation of Israel to have peace with God and in the land that they are entering to take possession, they were charged to choose life and blessings in the land.
God has clearly revealed his ways to Israel in order for them to have life and joy through obedience which was accessible to them and near them, only it requires total dedication and meditation on his word.
Believers.
Today Moses re-emphasised to the Israelites and to you as the followers of Jesus Christ to continue walking in his ways and to love him by not turning your hearts to other gods. God has brought his word near you so that you can read it and meditate on it and teach your childrens. God wants you to live an exemplary lifestyle and hold fast to his word and to him alone. In times of trials and temptations, God wants you to trust in him and place your faith and confidence in Him alone.
Unbelievers.
Moses placed before the Israelites two things to choose whether life of death, even though the Israelites were rebellious to God, He has been gracious and merciful to them and fathoned them back to be his own. Today friends, this passage places two things before you, the road to safety and the road that leads to destruction. God wants you to return back from your rebellion and repent of your sins before Him, he is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all your sins. The word is near you and it is in your mouth. God is merciful to welcome you back home with open hands. Choose life today and you will live and be save from eternal destruction, remember there is no sin that goes unpunished. God punishes sin. Where do you turn your heart to, loving God and walking in his ways or serving the flesh? Today I charge you to come with a heart of obedience towards the LORD’s commands and choose life for eternity everlasting in the presence of YHWH.
Thomas W. Mann ended by singing an old hymn that says. “That hope can become real because God is merciful, welcoming sinners home, but only if those sinners are willing to come home. The Father waits with open arms, but the prodigal must return to be saved.”
Bibliography.
Merrill, Eugene H. The new American commentary on Deuteronomy. USA: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.
Walvoord John. F and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. USA: Sp Publications Inc. 1985.
Walton John H. and Victor Matthews. The IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Gen. – Deut., vol.1 Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Craigie Peter C. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The book of Deuteronomy, USA:Wm. B. Eebdmans Pub.com, 1976.
Cairns Ian. A commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy USA:Wm. B. Eebdmans Pub.com, 1992.
Dr Longman Tremper. Deuteronomy through Ruth, the importance of obedience USA: Barbour publishing, Inc, 2009.
Konkel August H. Expository commentary Volume 2 Deuteronomy-Ruth, 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, Illinois:Copyright@Crossway pub com, 2021.
Woods Edward J. Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Deuteronomy, USA: InterVarsity Press, 2011.
Thompson J. A. Tyndale Old Testament Commentary, Introduction and commentary on Deuteronomy, London: Inter-Varsity Press, 1974.
Mann Thomas W. Deuteronomy, Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995.
