Deuteronomy

🏛️ Historical context

Its core is linked to the "book of the Law" found in the temple under King Josiah (622 BC, 2 Kgs 22), which sparked a great religious reform in Judah.

🔙 Background

Israel is on the plains of Moab, at the end of the forty years. Moses will not enter the land and leaves the people his spiritual testament.

🧭 Structure of the book

⭐ Key events and teachings

1. 1The Ten Commandments repeated (ch. 5)
2. 2The Shema: "Hear, O Israel... you shall love the Lord your God" (6:4-5)
3. 3"Man does not live by bread alone" (8:3)
4. 4"I set before you life and death: choose life" (30:19)
5. 5Joshua takes command (ch. 31)
6. 6Moses sees the land and dies on Mount Nebo (ch. 34)

🏷️ Main themes

📖 Verses to memorize

• Deuteronomy 6:4-5Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength.
• Deuteronomy 7:9And thou shalt know that the Lord thy God, he is a strong and faithful God, keeping his covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments, unto a thousand generations:
• Deuteronomy 8:3He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for thy food, which neither thou nor thy fathers knew: to shew that not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.
• Deuteronomy 30:19I call heaven and earth to witness this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therefore life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
• Deuteronomy 31:6Do manfully and be of good heart: fear not, nor be ye dismayed at their sight: for the Lord thy God he himself is thy leader, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee.

💭 For reflection

• Why does Jesus quote the Shema as the first commandment (Mk 12:29-30)?
• What does "choose life" mean in my decisions?

It gathers Moses' great farewell speeches before the people enter the promised land. It repeats the law, calls Israel to love God with all their heart and to choose life by being faithful to the covenant. It ends with the death of Moses.