Section Two (Deuteronomy 1:9-4:43) is the historical prologue. Section One (Deuteronomy 1:1-8) is the preamble establishing the overall treaty document, identifying both parties and indicating Moses as the covenant mediator. Each section ends with an application segment. He defends the view that Deuteronomy follows the arrangement of the Decalogue as portrayed in Deuteronomy 5, with the arrangement serving both a literary device providing structure and and a nuanced, spiritual view of the Ten Commandments. He then provides an introduction defending the view that Deuteronomy serves as an Ancient Near Eastern vassal treaty, provides a contemporary Hittite treaty of this type that parallels the layout of Deuteronomy, provides an overview of the structure of the Deuteronomic law (a layout he follows in the text) and a general overview of Ancient Near Eastern concepts of law. A summary, critique, and conclusion follow.Ĭurrid begins his book with a glossary of petinent linguistic terms. His audience is academics and scholars as well as laity. His books include Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament in 1997, Strong and Courageous: Joshua in 2011, From Bitter to Sweet: Ruth in 2012, Against the Gods in 2013, and the ESV Archaeology Study Bible (as Senior Editor) in 2017. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he is a respected preacher and lecturer. He is a trained archaeologist and has worked on a number of Ancient Near Eastern evacuations. Currid, Chancellor’s Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, is qualified to write about the subject. Currid argues against the traditional source criticism that views the book as a compilation of many different sources collected over centuries. Its completeness and homogeneity reflect this quality. As an officially-styled document between God as sovereign Lord demonstrating His unique covenant relationship with the Israelites, Deuteronomy exists as a single document. He recognizes the text as such an agreement between God, the suzerain, and Israel as the vassal state. This involves a treaty and/or covenant between an overlord usually known as a “suzerain” and and vassal or inferior party. Using archaeological evidence and historico-traditional exegetics, Currid argues that the book of Deuteronomy serves as an example of an Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaty of the second millennium B. Currid is a commentary in the traditional sense about this biblical book and also includes an application section. And, like Israel of old, if we live in obedience to the Word of God then we shall be wise and understanding and, indeed, God will greatly bless his people if they obey his Word.Ī Study Commentary on Deuteronomy by John D. And, therefore, we need to ask the question: 'What does Yahweh your God ask from you?' The answer is found in Deuteronomy: we need to fear God we need to walk in his way we need to love him we need to serve him and we need to keep his command-ments. Christians too need to remember that God has made a covenant with the church. At the close of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and on the eve of the entry into the promised land, Moses summons the Israelites to a solemn reaffirmation and ratification of the covenant first made at Sinai and promises great blessings to the people if only they will remain faithful to the covenant and obey God's Word. Using his own translation from the original Hebrew, Dr John Currid ably demonstrates that the book of Deuteronomy is an official document ratifying the formal covenant relationship between God as the sovereign King and his covenant people, Israel. And the two main principles of that teaching are to fear God and to obey his commandments. In this Study Commentary, John Currid shows that the purpose of Deuteronomy is to teach the people of God how to behave in every area of life. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment, he cited a passage from Deuteronomy 6 as the fundamental and first tenet of Scripture.
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