Deuteronomy - Law - Bible Summary

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 East of the river Jordan Moses recounts the disobedience, fears and history of the previous generation as this generation prepares to enter the land God promised.

 The history of the people's wanderings is continued with emphasis on encounters with different nation groups, most were passed through without incident.

Other kings and peoples were to be utterly destroyed  based on God's word, Moses is forbidden to enter the land, Joshua is appointed as the next leader.

 Israel is commanded to carefully, completely, and utterly observe all God's law now revealed with many miracles seen and to be seen, idolatry is forbidden.

 Hear, Israel, and obey the ten commandments which are recounted as given from the mountain of fire, the fearful people request Moses to intercede for them.

 The love of God is to be the heart of the people, they are to live every aspect of life out of love for God, they are to fear God and remember all He has done for them.

 The Lord will deliver the nations in the land to Israel,  never think it is because we are better only because of God's faithfulness to His promise, fear God not the nations. 

 Observe all the commands of God,  never be proud of your future prosperity and forget God provides, if you follow other gods,  God will destroy you.

 Israel is warned to never equate success with their own righteousness,  disobedience at Kedesh Barnea and the golden calf are recalled and Moses' many intercessions to save the people.

 Moses recalls the history of the tablets, the heavens and all of the earth are God's,  therefore fear God and obey him.

 Moses reminds them of the many miracles they saw, therefore carefully observe all these commandments for blessings or neglect  them for curses.

 God is only to be worshiped where and how He says never haphazardly, God will choose a place in the land once you cross Jordan, God will deliver enemy inhabitants

Inciting others to worship other gods is a grave offense and requires death even within one's own family, God's people must worship God only in His prescribed manner.

 You are a holy set apart people, clean and unclean animals are recounted, yearly tithes are to be set aside and these help aliens, orphans, and widows.

 God will bless you so be generous loaning to poor, every 70 years debts are to be cancelled and servants freed, unblemished firstborn males are to be set aside for God.

 Passover, the festivals of weeks, and tabernacles are to be observed annually, appointed judges are to judge the people fairly

 Two or three witnesses are required for capital offenses,  the Levitical priests are to judge difficult cases, allow God's choice of humble kings who observe the law.

 Levitical priests are to receive inheritance of food and first fruits, any occult act is forbidden, a prophet will arise who must be followed, all inaccurate (therefore false) prophets are to be killed.

There are to be three cities of refuge where manslayers without malice can flee, two or more witnesses are required and they must be without malicious intent.

 Fear God in battle not the enemies,  engaged men and new home or vineyard owners are exempt from battle,  peace agreements can be made with some enemies in a specific manner.

 Unknown dead bodies require animal sacrifices, the lawful way to handle captured women and inheritance rules if you have multiple wives, no body is to hang overnight on tree.

 You can't neglect your neighbors property, no cross-dressing, morality laws relating to virginity, engagement, marriage and adultery. 

 Certain people are excluded from entering the assembly of the Lord, laws regarding holiness in war time, camp, collecting interest, neighbors and food.

 A divorced woman who remarries another cannot return to first man,  laws are to be just without bribes or prejudice protecting orphans, widows and aliens.

Details of justice are disclosed to judge fairly and honestly, the kinsmen redeemer law is detailed to respect potential for seed in families.

 Firstfruits and tithes are to be given to the Levites (God), always remembering how God delivered, obey God's commands and Israel will be honored over other nations.

 Moses commands that an altar of uncut stones be built at mount Ebal  to remember God, several sins are prohibited with a curse.

 Blessings for obeidience include wealth food and  conquest over enemies; cursings for disobedience include famine distress and defeat.

 Moses reminds all the people of God's past interventions and looking forward to always connect prosperity and calamity to God's covenant.

 Moses appoints Joshua to succeed him, he commands perpetual reading of the law,  he foresees that Israel will fail and rebel.

 This is Moses' song which summarizes in poetic verse God's dealings with Israel past and present, including future reconciliation. 

 Moses (the man of God) goes through all twelve tribes and pronounces different blessings on each of them.

 God takes Moses the prophet who knew God face to face to the top of Mount Nebo before his death to show him the land.

 This generation of Israel (except for a few) fear the enemies of the land more than God who gave them the land , so God punishes them in love by numbering their days in the wilderness,  he will bring their children into the land. 

  Joshua is God's representative to rule the land by conquering,  they are to  follow God's unique guidance, not  common military tactics so the people  know to fear God over their enemies. 

  Matthew 4:4  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth"