[Finally we reach the last book of the TORAH.
Like Israel, we gentile readers/students of the “T” in the TNK have made our own pilgrimage from the account of Bereshiyth— the beginning of the created world, through the formation of the nation of Israel and its pre-Land history in Shemoth/Wai-qrah/Bemidbar. Hopefully in paying attention to details along the way, we’ve learned and continue to learn from the ups and downs in the life of the protagonists we meet in each book, individual Israelites as well as Israel as a whole, and the non-Israelites we meet along the way.
Most of all, if not best of all, we have met the God of the Hebrew Scriptures and have gained knowledge of Him through His dealings with mankind and specifically His acts in the history of Israel. “The most important knowledge is knowledge of YHWH” and “the beginning of wisdom is reverence for Him” as we state in our UPDATED SITE CONTENTS. We have stopped requesting in our prayers “give us wisdom”, for truly the God of the Hebrew Scriptures has already given that in His Torah. All we have to do is indulge nonstop in that nourishment, partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil — the Torah is that tree. We learn about both good and evil, right and wrong, about God and about ourselves, and get some wrong thinking right, such as who is ‘ha satan’. Wisdom comes from devoting ourselves in the study of Torah but wisdom that remains in the mind is useless unless it is applied to life.
The introduction to the last book of Torah is from Pentateuch and Haftorahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz. This MUST OWN book belongs to every bible student’s resource library. We started featuring its running commentary and notes while navigating through the difficult-to-comprehend-much-less-explain books of Wai-qrah and Bemidbar.
Dr. J.H. Hertz was the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain; his full name: Rabbi Joseph Herman Hertz 91872-1946). A blogger has written this piece which about sums up why it is a valuable resource:
The Pentateuch & Haftorahs by the late Rabbi Dr. J H Hertz is a masterpiece of a biblical resource. It is bound oriental style so reads from right to left (the reverse of our modern English books) due to the fact it contains Hebrew script, with English verses to the side and a vast ocean of commentary to the bottom. The commentary gives a feel for the original Jewish context of the first 5 books of the bible, while drawing on some Christian commentators where relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in wanting to know more about the Old Testament, and understand the Jewish aspect of the Bible.
Ditto. — Admin1.]
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NAME. The name of the Fifth Book of Moses literally means ‘these are the words,’ from the opening phrase in the Hebrew text. This title has been shortened in current use to Devarim, ‘Words.’ The oldest name of the Book, however, was ‘the Repetition of the Torah,’ a phrase based on XVII,18. The Greek-speaking Jews translated this name by Deuteronomion, i.e. ‘Second Law’; and this title was taken over by the Latin Bible as Deuteronomium, and thence by the English Versions as Deuteronomy.
CONTENTS. A full title might be, Moses’ Farewell Discourses and Song to Israel. The Lawgiver had brought his People to the borders of the Holy Land. He then recounts in three Discourses the events of the forty years’ wanderings; and warns against the temptations awaiting them in Canaan, with promise of Divine judgment for disobedience, and Divine blessing for faithful observance of God’s commandments. Included in the second Discourse is a rehearsal of the principal laws (XII-XXVI), as these were to be observed in the new Land. These laws are given in three reproduction, with hortatory amplification, abbreviation,or even modification to meet new conditions. In his Farewell Song, the dying Leader celebrates God as the Rock of Israel. This is followed by the Farewell Blessing. Standing on the brink of the grave, he gives his parting benediction to the tribes whose religious and political welfare had been the devoted labour of his life. He then ascends the height to the sepulchre which no man knoweth. ‘And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses.’
NATURE AND INFLUENCE. Deuteronomy is a unique book — distinct from the narrative and historical, the legal, prophetic, and devotional writings of Holy Writ, though it has affinities with each of them. In its literary aspect, it is oratory; and as such it is unsurpassed in its rush of rhythmic sentences, its ebb and flow of exalted passion, its accents of appeal and denunciation: Moses’ speech shines as well as his face. And this noble language gives utterance to truths which are always and everywhere sovereign—that God is One, and that man must be wholly His; that God is Righteousness and Faithfulness, Mercy and Love. The central declaration of all this oratory, enshrined by Judaism in its daily devotions, is the Shema—which, as we shall see, teaches the unity of the Creator, the unity of Creation, and the unity of mankind.
The God proclaimed by Deuteronomy stands in a relation to Israel and humanity not merely of Judge or Ruler, but of Friend and Father. ‘And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.’ This whole-souled love and devotion to God is to be accompanied by a large-hearted benevolence towards man, and indeed towards all sentient beings; by the recognition of retributive righteousness of God; and by the insistence on the vital importance of family life, and of religious instruction within the home. The influence of this Book of the Farewell Discourses of Moses on both domestic and personal religion in Israel throughout the millennia has never been exceeded by that of any other Book in Scripture.
DIVISIONS. Chapter I,1-5. Introductory.
I,6-IV,40. First Discourse—a review of Israel’s journeying, with an appeal not to forget the truth promulgated at Horeb.
IV,44-XXVI. Second Discourse--on the religious foundations of the Covenant, together with a Code of Law, dealing with
worship (XII,1-XVI,17),
government (XVI,18-XVIII),
criminal law (XIX-XXI,1-9),
domestic life (XXI,10-XXV),
and rituals at the Sanctuary (XXVI).
XXVII-XXX. Third Discourse—the enforcement of the Law, and the establishment afresh of the Covenant between Israel and God.
XXXI-XXXIV. The Last Days of Moses—the charge to Joshua, the delivery of the Law to the Priests, the Song, the Blessing, and the death of Moses.