Deuteronomy (Catholic Encyclopedia)

From BibleWiki

This term occurs in Deut., xvii, 18 and Jos., viii, 32, and is the title of one of the five books of the Pentateuch. In both passages it renders the Latin Deuteronomium, the Greek to deuteronomion, the Hebrew mshnh, and signifies "copy" or "duplicate" rather than "repetition". The texts themselves appear to demand this meaning; for Deut., xvii, 18 reads: "But after he is raised to the throne of his kingdom, he shall copy out to himself the Deuteronomy of this law in a volume, taking the copy of the priests of the Levitical tribe"; and Jos., viii, 32 relates: "And he wrote upon stones the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses, which he had ordered before the children of Israel." The Targum of the latter passage favours the same meaning. As title of the fifth book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy corresponds to the Hebrew alh hrvrys. Pseudo-Athanasius maintains that the title signifies "the second law" promulgated by Moses in accordance with the Divine precept. But it is more commonly understood as meaning "explanation" of the law, or "exhortation" inducing to the observance of the law.

Introduction

Deuteronomy is a partial repetition and explanation of the foregoing legislation together with an urgent exhortation to be faithful to it. The main body of the book consists of three discourses delivered by Moses to the people in the eleventh month of the fortieth year; but the discourses are precede by a short introduction, and they are followed by several appendices.

• Introduction, i, 1-5.-Brief indication of the subject matter, the time, and the place of the following discourses.
• (1) First Discourse, i, 6-iv, 40.-God's benefits are enumerated, and the people are exhorted to keep the law.
• (a) i, 6-iii, 29.-The main occurrences during the time of the wandering in the desert are recalled as showing the goodness and justice of God.
• (b) iv, 1-40.-Hence the covenant with God must be kept. By way of parenthesis, the sacred writer adds here (i) the appointment of three cities of refuge across the Jordan, iv, 41-43; (ii) an historical preamble, preparing us for the second discourse, iv, 44-49.
• (2) Second Discourse, v, 1-xxvi, 19.-This forms almost the bulk of Deuteronomy. It rehearses the whole economy of the covenant in two sections, the one general, the other particular.
• (a) The General Repetition, v, 1-xi, 32.-Repetition of the decalogue, and reasons for the promulgation of the law through Moses; explanation of the first commandment, and prohibitions of all intercourse with the gentiles; reminder of the Divine favours and punishments; promise of victory over the Chanaanites; God's blessing on the observance of the Law, His curse on the transgressors.
• (b) Special Laws, xii, 1-xxvi, 19.-(i) Duties towards God: He is to be duly worshiped, never to be abandoned; distinction of clean and unclean meats; tithes and first-fruits; the three principal solemnities of the year. (ii) Duties towards God's representatives: toward the judges, the future kings, the priests, and Prophets. (iii) Duties towards the neighbour: as to life, external possessions, marriage, and various other particulars.
• (3) Third Discourse, xxvii, 1-xxx, 20.-A renewed exhortation to keep the law, based on diverse reasons.
• (a) xxvii, 1-26.-Command to inscribe the law on stones after crossing the Jordan, and to promulgate the blessings and curses connected with the observance or non-observance of the law.
• (b) xxviii, 1-68.-A more minute statement of the good or evil depending on the observance or violation of the law.
• (c) xxix, 1-xxx, 20.-The goodness of God is extolled; all are urged to be faithful to God.
• (4) Historical Appendix, xxxi, 1-xxxiv, 12.
• (a) xxxi, 1-27.-Moses appoints Josue as his successor, orders him to read the law to the people every seven years, and to place a copy of the same in the ark.
• (b) xxxi, 28-xxxii, 47.-Moses calls an assembly of the Ancients and recites his canticle.
• (c) xxxii, 48-52.-Moses views the Promised Land from a distance.
• (d) xxxiii, 1-29.-He blesses the tribes of Israel.
• (e) xxxiv, 1-12.-His death, burial, and special eulogium.