Deuteronomy (Understanding the Bible Commentary | UBC)

Top Highlights

“The incontrovertible emphasis was that Yahweh (alone) was God in covenant relationship with Israel; that Yahweh had done what no other god had done or could do; that Yahweh was one, not many.” (Pages 96–97)

“But who, in this wonderful doxological definition, are the beneficiaries of Yahweh’s supreme lordship? The fatherless and the widow and … the alien! Nothing could be more characteristic of Israel’s ‘counter-cultural’ faith. The majestic monotheistic superlatives of verses 14 and 17 are harnessed, not to the glory and power of the wealthy and strong, but to the needs of the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable (cf. the same pattern in Isa. 40:28–31).” (Page 149)

“The list of possible ‘shapes’ that idols might take (vv. 16–19) is given in an order that precisely reverses the order of the creation narrative: human beings, land animals, birds, fish, the heavenly bodies. The point, probably being made deliberately through this literary feature, is that idolatry not only corrupts God’s redemptive achievement for God’s people (v. 20), but perverts and turns upside-down the whole created order.” (Page 51)

“Deuteronomy 10:12–22 is unquestionably one of the richest texts in the Hebrew Bible, exalted and poetic in its language, comprehensive and challenging in its message. It purposely tries to ‘boil down’ the whole theological and ethical content of the book into memorable phraseology, packed and pregnant, rich and resonant of all the surrounding preaching. Indeed, there are not many dimensions of ‘ot theology,’ that are not directly expressed or indirectly echoed in this mini-symphony of faith and life.” (Page 144)