With the Israelites at the frontier of The Promised Land, Israel, Moses takes the final book of the Torah as an opportunity to make sure that everyone’s on the same page. They may have had forty years together, wandering about in the desert, but they’ve had their rebellions and conflicts, they’ve had their missteps, and he’s also addressing two generations of Jews who weren’t even born when the exodus started. Deuteronomy is divided into three parts, three sermons. The first recounts the story of how they all got to where they are. The second to remind them that it was with God’s guidance, both positive and negative, that they have arrived, and that he has certain expectations of their future behavior. And the third, to let them know that if they stray, there is a path back, that mistakes, unintentional or intentional, can be forgiven.
- Moses addresses the Israelites. He talks about how the exodus started, how they set out planning to march straight for Canaan. But many of their number complained, sulked, and/or rebelled. They weren’t happy leaving their lives behind, nor worshipping a new god. God not only punished the complainers but sentenced the community to forty years of wandering the desert. This didn’t endear him to the Israelites, and as generations passed, there were ups and downs. Non-believers were punished. They finally arrived. Still not convinced of their loyalty and faith, God had them lose their first few battles to enter Israel, and only when he finally had them all convinced of his power, did he lead them in conquering the local population.
- We continue the reprise of the march across the desert, with a recounting of the times they passed through friendly territories and were admonished not to provoke their allies, nor take their lands, and to pay for anything they consumed.
- Moses continues the litany on God’s behalf. As mentioned, the first section of this book is a reprise of the exodus. This chapter details the lands under King Og of Bashan that were not just conquered, but exterminated by the Israelites while on the road to Canaan.
- The litany appears to be winding up, as Moses enjoins the Israelites to, “keep the faith”, because, as he reminds them several times, God is displeased and vexed when we don’t, and will respond by, well, wiping us out, like he did earlier unbelievers. Moses can’t resist pointing out that the last time they strayed, not only did those who strayed get punished by death, but he, himself, has been denied entry to the Promised Land, and it’s all their fault. But, you know, go out there and be faithful, fruitful, and multiply.
- This being Moses’ last big address to the entire Jewish people (one presumes, since they’re going on and he’s not), he’s milking it. He reminds them that God appeared to them on Mt. Sinai and actually spoke to them, giving them the rules to live by. And just in case they’ve forgotten those rules, you know, the ones carved into the tablets they’ve been lugging about for forty years in the desert, he recites and explains each of the ten commandments again. And again reminds everyone what the penalty is for not keeping them. An interesting side note, in Exodus the reason given for the every seventh day Sabbath is the whole “on the seventh day God rested” story. Here, it’s posited as a once a week reminder of both escaping from slavery and the abolishment of slavery within their own community.
- Moses exhorts the Jewish community to not just keep the faith, but to do so demonstratively. The daily putting on of tefillin, a mezuzah at the entrance to their homes, and teaching their children not just the rules, but the reasons for the rules. Then he continues on with a ban on interfaith marriage, as that might lead to their children turning away from the faith, and further, a command to destroy the idols, altars, and places of worship of anyone who tries to turn your children away from the faith. Now that’s an interesting tangent, as the general approach of Judaism is to accept all faiths. But God puts limits on that. It’s live and let live as long as the other folk do the same, and don’t try to impose their faith and values on us. Then, it’s seek and destroy.
- I actually went past the end of chapter 6 without realizing it yesterday – the whole thing about destroying the idols, altars and places of worship is actually the beginning of this chapter. There’s a natural break with a new title, and this tangent goes further. I guess that makes it more of the new direction, which is, per God via Moses, that in time God will deliver one after another the other peoples of the earth, who worship other gods, and they are to be destroyed, the same as the Pharaoh and Egyptians were. Now that’s new(s) to me. It’s interesting, because this section, within Reform Judaism, which I was raised in, is usually talked about as God saying, “if you keep my commandments, you will not come to harm from other nations”. That stops way short of what the chapter actually says.
- Moses continues, reminding the Jews that they were tested over forty years in the desert, increasing their resilience, and molding them into the people they are now. God made sure they were fed, healthy, and, hey, their feet didn’t swell up. He also enjoins them to never forget that their wealth and position came from God’s guidance – no one earns it themselves, it’s all due to following his path. Ooh, the origins of prosperity gospel?
- Further, God is going to lead y’all into the Promised Land, smiting the inhabitants to clear the way for you. But I want you to be clear he’s not doing it because you’re good people, but because they’re bad people. After all, for forty years, you’ve resisted him. Time and again, I, Moses, have sacrificed my time, my health, my sanity, fasting for weeks on end, in order to bring you the laws of God, and time and again, you’ve stubbornly reverted to the worship of other deities. You’re only here and alive because of my intercession!
- Moses is still laying on the guilt trip. After all, not only did he endure 40 days and nights without food or water in order to get the 10 commandments, he did it twice! And his brother Aaron died! And still all y’all were stubborn and resistant to change! I mean, 70 Jews went to Egypt and now, look, with God’s guidance and Moses’ sacrifices, you’re as numerous as the stars! Sure, it was 470 years that there were just 70 of you, but that’s all God and Moses! Me! Moses!
- It is getting a bit repetitive. Moses reminds everyone, apparently addressing the older generations, that they lived through slavery in Egypt, saw the miracles that God performed to get them out, trekked across the desert, and heard direct from God at Mt. Sinai. And once again, keep the faith, don’t be tempted by other gods, teach your children the same. And why? Interestingly along this whole litany, not because it’s the right thing to do, or will lift your spirit or soul, but because if you don’t, God will be angry and smite you.
- Reiterating, once again, Moses reminds the Israelites that they are commanded to sweep into the Promised Land and destroy all the places of worship of other gods. And to setup their altars in designated spots (by God) from which to offer him sacrifices. And, another reminder, that in eating meat, it is to be first drained of blood, and that the Israelites themselves are never to eat or drink blood, in any circumstances, but it is to be poured on and around the altar as a sacrificial offering. This is particularly interesting at it’s the antithesis of the blood libel claims that have arisen over the last couple of millennia in regard to Jews drinking blood. It’s actually a practice specifically prohibited in our religion.
- If a prophet appears and exhorts you to follow another god, kill him. If your wife, sibling, child, or close friend tries to get you to follow another god, kill them with your own hands. “I’m trying to find the right path for me” will not fly with Moses and God.
- Moses reiterates the key points of kosher dietary laws and reminds the people of their tithing responsibilities. I really hope he’s going to wind up this speech soon. I thought it would be like the Cliff Notes version of the previous books, but it’s a full review!
- A reminder of the shmita, the sabbatical year. Once every seven years all debts owed to you from fellow Jews are forgiven. And in the same sabbatical year, all Jewish slaves or indentured servants are freed. A reminder of being freed from slavery in Egypt. Unless they choose not to be freed, at which point, they become yours for life, with no further opportunity to opt out. Note, both of these only apply to fellow Jews, not to debts, slaves, or servants who are not Jewish.
- Moses reminds the Jews that there are three key festivals they must observe each year – Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkoth. And that the first born male of each family must make the pilgrimage to the Temple and also not show up empty handed. Sacrifices are obligatory! Mid-page starts a new section, discussing the appointing of judges and officials for each tribe. They must be impartial. Oh, and also, not placing sacred pillars or posts near to your altar. Remember, God isn’t keen on other gods.
- Obligatory sacrifices! Again. But make sure they’re pretty. Wouldn’t want to send God a crispy animal that wasn’t pretty. If a Jew leaves the faith and starts to worship another god, and there are two witnesses, stone them to death, publicly. If you’re not sure, let a magistrate or priest decide. If you establish a ruler over your region they must be Jewish, faithful, and not polygamous.
- The Levites, the priestly class, are not to be given their own lands, but instead are free to wander the lands and be welcomed and supported by the other tribes. Jews are not allowed to be oracles, diviners, sorcerers, mediums, witches, etc. Prophets are designated by God. The way to know if a prophet is really one of God’s is whether or not their prophecies come true. That seems like the answer might come a bit late.
- Once the lands are divided up, God commands that they create three sanctuary cities. These are cities where someone suspected or accused of a capital crime can go and be safe until their case is heard. No one can take retribution against them while they are there.
- It’s time to take over the Promised Land. Gather the troops. Have the priests give inspiring speeches. Have the officers make sure none of their men have unfinished business at home that must be done before they might die. If so, have them get it done first! If approaching a town, offer them the option to surrender. If they don’t, lay siege to the town, kill all the men, take all the women, children, livestock, and property as spoils of war. If, however, the town is under the control of certain religious sects that God finds abhorrent, just kill everybody, and keep the loot. Oh. Don’t kill the trees.
- Disconnected notes…. If a murdered person is found, without evidence of who committed the crime, the closest community sacrifices a cow and absolves the community in total of responsibility. If you take a woman captive, let her mourn her family for a month. Then, if you still desire her, make her your wife. If you don’t, toss her out. If your son is a drunkard, a glutton, and/or disloyal to you, bring him to the elders. If they agree, they are to stone him to death. If you execute someone, display their body in public for the day, impaled on a spike, then bury him. God doesn’t want to see impaled bodies.
- It’s all about not mixing things, if you think about it. If you find a fellow Jew’s property, you must return it to him, or hold it for him until he comes to find it. This doesn’t hold for the property of non-Jews. No “finders keepers” for a fellow Jew’s property. No wearing of the clothing of the other gender. I’m guessing questions of non-binary or trans status didn’t come up much, at least not publicly. No mixing of crops, nor mixing of plow animals in planting them. No mixing of plant and animal fabrics in clothing. False claims by a husband that his bride was not a virgin (if that was promised) result in him being flogged. False claims of virginity on the part of the woman result in her being stoned to death. Adultery requires the death penalty for both parties, unless the man raped the woman, then just for him. If a man rapes an engaged woman, he is put to death. If a man rapes an unengaged woman, he must marry her, and only she can refuse or later initiate divorce.
- We’re in the sexual realm today. Don’t marry your father’s ex-wife. If a man’s testicles are crushed or his penis removed, he can’t be Jewish anymore. Nothing is said about a woman who has a penis added on. I imagine trans-rights were not a big thing back then. Jewish men and women are not allowed to be prostitutes. It’s just a flat-out statement, no consequences are mentioned for violating this. A man who wakes up having had a wet dream has to leave the camp/town and spend the day alone and then ritually bathe at the end of the day. While not clear, there’s some intimation that the wet dream is a result of needing to, well, handle things and get it out of your system.
- Today’s chapter runs through scenarios in various arenas – collecting on loans or pledges, on the treatment of a divorced woman, on the responsibilities of parents for their children’s crimes and vice versa, on the payment of wages. Though there are details of how each situation is to be handled, they all come down to… Don’t be a dick about it.
- If the court is going to flog a guilty person, it should be no more than 40 lashes, because more than that would be degrading. I’m not sure there’s either medical or psychological evidence for that. Don’t cheat people. Period. We then rehash the whole levirate marriage obligation and process. Added in, that if the surviving brother refuses to marry his brother’s widow, his family becomes known as “the family of the unsandaled one”. Recall that removing his sandal is part of the refusal process.
- God gets the first fruits from your newly planted fields in the Promised Land. Tithing, ten percent of what remains, goes to the priests, the poor, the orphans, and the widows. That is all.
- We seem to be winding things up here. God declares that once the people enter the Promised Land (remember, we’re still outside, with Moses speechifying), they should set up huge stones, coat them with plaster, and inscribe all of the rules recited in this speech. Then, they setup an altar for sacrifices to God. And then, the priests announce to all the assembled people the things for which they’ll be cursed. These include: making idols, insulting parents, adultery, incest, bestiality, assassination of a fellow Jew, cheating a fellow Jew. Interestingly, from a personal perspective, this is the first time this litany of behaviors that are considered abominable, worthy of being cursed, doesn’t include homosexuality along with adultery, incest, and bestiality in its sexual prohibitions.
- Wow. Talk about graphic. God says, if you follow all the rules, you’ll be blessed, both individually and communally. And he details some lovely things about crops and livestock and financial wealth and health and happiness. And all with God’s delight! But when it comes to not keeping his rules, he goes for the jugular. Barren soil. Men stealing and raping your wife. Madness. Blindness. Coppery roiling skies. Inflammation. Boils. Insect infestations. Hunger. Thirst. Cannibalism. All, again, visited upon you with God’s delight!
- Moses calls the people together, in groups led by their tribal elders. He reminds them of all the past travails, and shares with them the pluses and minuses of following God’s rules as detailed on the previous page. He tells them it’s time to make a choice. But he adds that if they choose to not follow God’s path and rules, not only will God visit ruin on them, but also on their family and their tribe. Everything negative that happens to that tribe in the future will be laid at the feet of that individual. Talk about peer pressure!
- Repentance is allowed. If you’ve strayed from all the rules, and particularly if you’ve worshiped other gods, you can return to the fold, repent, be forgiven, and have all your health and wealth restored to you. “Easy peasy”, says Moses, “follow the rules good, don’t follow the rules bad. Is there some part of this principle you’re too stupid to understand?”
- Moses reminds everyone that he’s 120 years old, that he’s spent the last third of his life marching around the desert with a bunch of stubborn, ungrateful people, and that he’s not going to lead them into the Promised Land. He’s turning the reins over to Joshua.
- Moses proceeds to recite the entire Ha’Azinu, a poem that summarizes, in verse, the previous 31 chapters, with admonitions, praise, dos and donts, punishments and rewards. After all the lists and repetition, you might think, great, a summary! But, he already did a summary. And this poem is so fancifully worded that while it’s clear it’s both and invitation and warning, it’s not so clear what it’s inviting and/or warning people about.
- Moses blesses the various tribal leaders and their tribes, one by one. That is all. Well, it’s not all, because I don’t think he’s done talking yet. Someone get the hook already.
- Okay, we got the hook. Moses, 120 years old, ascends a mountain with God, who shows him the vista of the Promised Land, reminds him that it is promised to all the Jews, but that he, Moses, cannot enter (punishment for way back when and all that). Then, apparently, he commands Moses to die. Moses dies. God buries him in a hidden location, never to be found. End scene. End book.