Survey of the Old Testament Chapter 8 Deuteronomy
The Writing of the Book The Background Documentary hypothesis Deuteronomistic history The Background Treaty between suzerain and vassal Photo: Hammurabi's Stele contains the most famous collection of Mesopotamian laws. The top of the stele depicts Hammurabi reporting to the sun god Shamash, who was responsible for justice. Many of the "laws" are case-laws, similar to those found in Deuteronomy 21; they were likely intended as illustrations of judicial wisdom.
Purpose and Message Formalization of the covenant between Israel and Yahweh Renewal of the covenant with the second Exodus generation Photo: From Mount Nebo on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, Moses would have been able to see much of the land of Israel before his death.
Structure and Organization Commandment 1: Divine Authority (Deut. 6-11) Commandment 2: Divine Dignity (Deut. 12) Commandment 3: Commitment to Deity (Deut. 13:1-14:21) Commandment 4: Rights and Privileges of Deity (Deut. 14:22- 16:17) Photo: Phylacteries of one of the modern Jewish sects.
Structure and Organization (continued) Commandment 5: Human Authority (Deut. 16:18-18:22) Commandments 6-8: Human Dignity (Deut. 19-21; 22:1-23:14; 23:15-24:7) Commandment 9: Commitment of Humankind (Deut. 24:8-16 Commandment 10: Human Rights and Privileges (Deut. 24:17-26:15) Photo: "Do not take a pair of millstones––not even the upper one––as a security for a debt, because that would be taking a man's livelihood as security" (Deut. 24: 6). The daily grinding of grain to make bread was done with millstones, with the upper one being used to crush the grain against the lower one.
Major Themes The Law The Central Sanctuary History as Theology The Retribution Principle Photo: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain" (Deut. 25: 4). To separate the grain from the head, an ox would pull a heavy sledge over the grain on the threshing floor. This instruction forbids the owner to muzzle the animal in order to keep it from eating the grain as it works.