Deuteronomy Bible Study Resources — Wednesday in the Word

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

The Hebrew name of the book is ‘elleh haddebarim (“These are the words”) or, more simply debarim (“words”; see 1.1). The word “Deuteronomy” refers to a “second law.”

Jump to: Treaty; Background; Maps; Encyclopedias; Key Words; Commentaries; Articles; GotQuestions Next

Basics

Setting: The plains of Moab, as the people are poised to enter the land. Thus, the chief concerns are what is required in taking the land and living in it.
Themes: Covenant; obedience and disobedience; blessings and curses; “diligently” observing the Lord’s commandments and statues; the character of the promised land; love for God.
Structure: Three major speeches given by Moses
1:1-4:43 – “What God has done for Israel”; recounts Israel’s history to this point
4:44-26:19 – “What God expects from Israel” when the nation enters and lives in the promised land; Legal and narrative material
27:1-34:12 – “What God will do” for Israel; contains more prophetical material looking forward.

Main Themes

Dt 4:5-8 – Israel’s witness to the nations
Dt 5:1-4 – The new generation as covenant partners
Dt 6:1-9 – The Great commandment
Dt 8:7-10 and Dt 11:8-12 – The character of the promised land
Dt 10:12-22 – The essence of the law
Dt 18:15-22 – A prophet like moses
Dt 28:45-68 – Scattering and exile predicted
Dt 31:23 – The promise to Joshua

Principles for interpreting OT Law: See How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Fee & Stuart, page 147.

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Treaty

Deuteronomy as a Treaty

Deuteronomy is written in the same literary style as many ancient near east treaties between powerful kings and inferior, conquered peoples.

Preamble – identifies the parties.
Historical prologue – provides the motives to fulfill the stipulations of the treaty. Generally based upon gratitude.
Basic Stipulations – The basic stipulation is to love the conquering king. If the king is loved, the remaining stipulations would be followed.
Ancillary Stipulations – these stipulations were designed to protect the kingdom (e.g. armies, taxes, etc).
Blessings and Curses – what happens if you follow or break the treaty.
Provision for Dynastic Continuity

Deuteronomy Treaty Outline

Preamble – Deuteronomy 1:1-5
Historical Prologue – Deuteronomy 1:6-449
- History from Horeb to conquest of transjordan 1:6-3:29
- Encouragment to enter covenant with YHWH 4:1-29
General Stipulations – Deuteronomy 5:1-11:32
- Restatement of original covenant – 5:1-33
- Basic Stipulations: Love God – 6:1-25
- Three Dangers in the land (and their curses) – 7:1-11:32
  - Foreign gods will ensare you
  - Pride
  - Failure to disciple future generations
Specific Stipulations – Deuteronomy 12:1-26:19
- Pertaining to Loyalty to God (12:1-16:17)
  - Allegiance to YHWH’s sanctuary (12:1-32)
  - Elimination of Apostates (13:1-18)
  - Pure foods (14:1-210
  - Tithes (14:22-29)
  - Year of Release (15:1-18)
  - Law of First Born (15:19-23)
  - Pilgrimages (16:1-17)
- Judicial-governmental righteousness (16:18-21:23)
  - Judges and God’s altar (16:18-17:13)
  - Kings and God’s covenant (17:14-20)
  - Priests (18:1-13)
  - Prophets (18:14-22)
  - Holy War (20:1-20)
  - Atonement for unsolved murder (21:1-9)
  - Law pertaining to the home (21:10-21)
- Sanctity of the divine order (21:22-25:19)
- Confession of God as redeemer-king (26:1-19)
Blessings and Curses – Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68
Provision for Dynastic Continutity – Deuteronomy 29:1-34:12
- Summons to Commitment (29:1-20:20)
- Dynastic Disposition (31:1-34:12)

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Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

Chart: Bible History at a glance

Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline

Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament

What was the Canaanite religion?

Bible Atlas: Egypt

Bible Atlas: Sinai

Bible Atlas: Mount Horeb/Sinai

Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book

John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background

Ligonier: Introduction to Deuteronomy

Ligonier: Introduction to the Pentateuch

ESV Introduction to Deuteronomy

ESV The Global Message of Deuteronomy

NIV: Introduction to Deuteronomy

Biblehub: Timeline of Deuteronomy

Hebrew Calendar

Deuteronomy Quotes in the New Testament

Pentateuch at a glance

James van Dine: Analysis of Deuteronomy

David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction to Deuteronomy

David Malick: Argument of the Book of Deuteronomy

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Section 2: Maps

Maps – Route of the Exodus

Route of the Exodus – Studylight.org

Route of Exodus from Egypt – Insight for Living

Route of Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas

Route of the Exodus – Bible-History online

Tabernacle Diagram – source unknown

Expulsion of the Hyksos – Holman Bible Atlas

Egypt and Palestine in the Late Bronze Age – Holman Bible Atlas

Sites in the Amarna Archive (Akhetaton; Tell el-Amarna) – Holman Bible Atlas

Campaigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II – Holman Bible Atlas

Canaan in the 14th Century: The Tell el-Amarna Tablets – Holman Bible Atlas

The Egyptian Empire and the Hittites – Holman Bible Atlas

Egyptian Empire and Balance of Power, ca. 1400 BCE – Holman Bible Atlas

The Route of the Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas

Events during the Sojourn at Kadesh-Barnea – Holman Bible Atlas

Journey of the Spies – Holman Bible Atlas

The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab – Holman Bible Atlas

Exodus from Egypt (Map 3) – English Standard Version Bible

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Section 4: Key Words

Key Words

LORD your God (279x/239v); Lord our God (22x/21v); LORD spoke (9x); LORD will (34x/34v).

shall not (128x/116v).

heart (43v) – Strong’s H3824 in Dt 2:30; Dt 4:9; Dt 4:29; Dt 4:39; Dt 5:29; Dt 6:5; Dt 6:6; Dt 7:17; Dt 8:2; Dt 8:5; Dt 8:14; Dt 8:17; Dt 9:4; Dt 9:5; Dt 10:12; Dt 10:16; Dt 11:13; Dt 11:18; Dt 13:3; Dt 15:7; Dt 15:9; Dt 15:10; Dt 17:17; Dt 17:20; Dt 18:21; Dt 20:8; Dt 24:15; Dt 26:16; Dt 28:28; Dt 28:47; Dt 28:67; Dt 29:18; Dt 30:2; Dt 30:6; Dt 30:10; Dt 30:14; Dt 30:17; Dt 32:46; also Strong H3820 in Dt 4:11; Dt 28:65; Dt 29:4; Dt 29:19; Strongs H5315 in Dt 14:26.

command (25v) – Strong’s H6680 in Dt 2:4; Dt 4:2; Dt 6:2; Dt 12:11; Dt 12:14; Dt 12:28; Dt 12:32; Dt 15:11; Dt 18:18; Dt 19:7; Dt 19:9; Dt 27:1; Dt 27:10; Dt 28:1; Dt 28:8; Dt 28:14; Dt 30:2; Dt 30:8; Dt 30:11; Dt 30:16; Dt 32:46; also Strong’s H6310 in Dt 1:26; Dt 1:43; Dt 9:23;

commanded (39v) – Strong’s H6680 in Dt 1:3; Dt 1:18; Dt 1:19; Dt 1:41; Dt 2:37; Dt 3:18; Dt 3:21; Dt 4:5; Dt 4:13; Dt 4:14; Dt 4:23; Dt 5:12; Dt 5:15; Dt 5:16; Dt 5:32; Dt 5:33; Dt 6:1; Dt 6:17; Dt 6:20; Dt 6:24; Dt 6:25; Dt 9:12; Dt 9:16; Dt 10:5; Dt 12:21; Dt 13:5; Dt 17:3; Dt 18:20; Dt 20:17; Dt 24:8; Dt 26:13; Dt 26:14; Dt 28:45; Dt 29:1; Dt 31:5; Dt 31:10; Dt 31:25; Dt 31:29; Dt 34:9.

covenant (26v) – Strong’s H1285 in Dt 4:13; Dt 4:23; Dt 4:31; Dt 5:2; Dt 5:3; Dt 7:2; Dt 7:9; Dt 7:12; Dt 8:18; Dt 9:9; Dt 9:11; Dt 9:15; Dt 10:8; Dt 17:2; Dt 29:1; Dt 29:9; Dt 29:12; Dt 29:14; Dt 29:21; Dt 29:25; Dt 31:9; Dt 31:16; Dt 31:20; Dt 31:25; Dt 31:26; Dt 33:9.

fear (24x) – usually Strong’s H3372a in Dt 1:21; Dt 1:29; Dt 3:2; Dt 3:22; Dt 4:10; Dt 5:29; Dt 6:2; Dt 6:13; Dt 6:24; Dt 8:6; Dt 10:12; Dt 10:20; Dt 13:4; Dt 14:23; Dt 17:19; Dt 21:21; Dt 25:18; Dt 28:58; Dt 31:8; Dt 31:12; Dt 31:13; also Strong’s H1481c in Dt 1:17; Strong’s H3372 in Dt 2:25; Strong’s H4172 in Dt 11:25;

keep (33v) Strong’s H8104 in Dt 4:2; Dt 4:6; Dt 4:9; Dt 4:40; Dt 5:10; Dt 5:12; Dt 5:29; Dt 6:2; Dt 6:17; Dt 7:9; Dt 7:11; Dt 7:12; Dt 8:2; Dt 8:6; Dt 10:13; Dt 11:1; Dt 11:8; Dt 11:22; Dt 13:4; Dt 23:9; Dt 26:17; Dt 26:18; Dt 27:1; Dt 28:9; Dt 29:9; Dt 30:10; Dt 30:16. also as ‘observe’ in Dt 5:1; Dt 5:12; Dt 12:1; Dt 16:1; Dt 19:9; Dt 24:8.

observe (18v) – Strong’s H6213a in Dt 5:15; Dt 5:31; Dt 5:32; Dt 6:24; Dt 6:25; Dt 15:5; Dt 16:1; Dt 16:12; Dt 17:10; Dt 28:13; Dt 28:15; Dt 28:58; Dt 29:29; Dt 30:8; Dt 30:12; Dt 30:13; Dt 30:14; Dt 31:12; Dt 32:46 (also translated ‘do’ in other verses).

nations (30v) – Strong’s H1471 in Dt 4:27; Dt 4:38; Dt 7:1; Dt 7:17; Dt 7:22; Dt 8:20; Dt 9:1; Dt 9:4; Dt 9:5; Dt 11:23; Dt 12:2; Dt 12:29; Dt 12:30; Dt 15:6; Dt 17:14; Dt 18:9; Dt 18:14; Dt 19:1; Dt 20:15; Dt 26:19; Dt 28:1; Dt 28:12; Dt 28:65; Dt 29:16; Dt 29:18; Dt 29:24; Dt 30:1; Dt 31:3; Dt 32:8; Dt 32:43.

love (24x/23v) – Strong’s H157 in Dt 5:10; Dt 6:5; Dt 7:9; Dt 7:13; Dt 10:12; Dt 10:15; Dt 10:18; Dt 10:19; Dt 11:1; Dt 11:13; Dt 11:22; Dt 13:3; Dt 19:9; Dt 30:6; Dt 30:16; Strong’s H2836a in Dt 7:7;

listen (31x/31v) – Strong’s H8085 in Dt 1:43; Dt 1:45; Dt 3:26; Dt 4:1; Dt 4:30; Dt 6:3; Dt 7:12; Dt 8:20; Dt 11:13; Dt 11:27; Dt 11:28; Dt 12:28; Dt 13:3; Dt 13:4; Dt 13:8; Dt 13:18; Dt 15:5; Dt 18:14; Dt 18:15; Dt 18:19; Dt 21:18; Dt 23:5; Dt 26:17; Dt 27:9; Dt 28:13; obey (12x; same word) – Strong’s H8085 in Dt 21:18; Dt 21:20; Dt 27:10; Dt 28:1; Dt 28:2; Dt 28:15; Dt 28:45; Dt 28:62; Dt 30:2; Dt 30:8; Dt 30:10; Dt 30:17.

remember (15x) – Strong’s H3117 in Dt 4:10 (implied); Dt 5:15; Dt 7:18; Dt 8:2; Dt 8:18; Dt 9:7; Dt 9:27; Dt 15:15; Dt 16:3; Dt 16:12; Dt 24:9; Dt 24:18; Dt 24:22; Dt 25:17; Dt 32:7.

forget (9x) – Strong’s H7911 in Dt 4:9; Dt 4:23; Dt 4:31; Dt 6:12; Dt 8:11; Dt 8:14; Dt 8:19; Dt 9:7; Dt 25:19; forgotten (3x; same word) in Dt 24:19; Dt 26:13; Dt 31:21.

bless (20x) – Strong’s H1288 in Dt 1:11; Dt 7:13; Dt 8:10; Dt 10:8; Dt 14:29; Dt 15:4; Dt 15:6; Dt 15:10; Dt 15:18; Dt 16:15; Dt 21:5; Dt 23:20; Dt 24:13; Dt 24:19; Dt 26:15; Dt 27:12; Dt 28:8; Dt 28:12; Dt 30:16; Dt 33:11; blessed (13x; same word) in Dt 2:7; Dt 7:14; Dt 12:7; Dt 15:14; Dt 28:3; Dt 28:4; Dt 28:5; Dt 28:6; Dt 33:1; Dt 33:13; Dt 33:20; Dt 33:24; Dt 33:29.

blessing (11x) – Strong’s H1293 in Dt 11:26; Dt 11:27; Dt 11:29; Dt 12:15; Dt 16:17; Dt 23:5; Dt 28:8; Dt 30:1; Dt 30:19; Dt 33:1; Dt 33:23.

life (19x/15v) – Strong’s H2425b in Dt 4:9; Dt 6:2; Dt 16:3; Dt 17:19; Dt 28:66; Dt 30:15; Dt 30:19; Dt 30:20; Strong’s H5315 in Dt 12:23; Dt 19:6; Dt 19:21; Dt 24:6; Strong’s H8318 in Dt 14:19; Strong’s H2421a in Dt 32:39; Strong’s H2425b in Dt 32:47.

curse(s) (16x) – Strong’s H7045 in Dt 11:26; Dt 11:28; Dt 11:29; Dt 23:4; Dt 23:5; Dt 27:13; Dt 28:15; Dt 28:45; Dt 29:27; Dt 30:1; Dt 30:19; Strong’s H423 in Dt 29:19; Dt 29:20; Dt 29:21; Dt 30:7; Strong’s H3994 in Dt 28:20.

cursed (16x) – Strong’s H779 in Dt 27:15; Dt 27:16; Dt 27:17; Dt 27:18; Dt 27:19; Dt 27:20; Dt 27:21; Dt 27:22; Dt 27:23; Dt 27:24; Dt 27:25; Dt 27:26; Dt 28:16; Dt 28:17; Dt 28:18; Dt 28:19.

death (23x/19v) – Strong’s H4191 in Dt 13:5; Dt 13:9; Dt 13:10; Dt 17:5; Dt 17:6; Dt 17:7; Dt 19:6; Dt 21:21; Dt 21:22; Dt 22:21; Dt 22:24; Dt 22:26; Dt 24:16; Dt 30:15; Dt 30:19; Dt 31:27; Dt 31:29; Dt 32:39; Dt 33:1.

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Section 3: Encyclopedias