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Deuteronomy 31 The Covenant Renewed

1 Joshua to Succeed Moses
Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:

2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’

3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.

4 And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land.

5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

9 The Reading of the Law
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles,

11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.

12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.

13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

14 Israel’s Rebellion Predicted
The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

15 Then the Lord appeared at the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the Tent.

16 And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.

17 On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?’

18 And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

19 “Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.

20 When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

21 And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”

22 So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

23 The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

24 After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,

25 he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord:

26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.

27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!

28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them.

29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.”

30 The Song of Moses
And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

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Analysis of Deuteronomy Chapter 31

Deuteronomy Chapter 31 is a significant part of the final discourses that Moses delivers to the Israelites before his death. It is a chapter filled with forewarnings, assurances, and the commissioning of new leadership. As a transitionary text, it not only prepares Israel for the imminent shift in leadership but also outlines God’s enduring presence among His people. Let’s delve deeper into the chapter, exploring its core themes, verses, and their implications.

Moses Prepares for His Departure (Verses 1-2)

The chapter opens with Moses addressing the Israelites:

“Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: ‘I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, “You shall not cross the Jordan.”’” (Deuteronomy 31:1-2, NIV)

Moses, who has served as the leader and prophet of Israel for many decades, announces his impending departure. He acknowledges his advanced age and the divine decree that he will not cross the Jordan River. This sets a tone of transition and change. It emphasizes the human limitations of even the greatest leaders, reminding the Israelites that no individual, no matter how respected or powerful, is indispensable for God’s plan to prevail.

God’s Continued Guidance (Verses 3-6)

Moses assures the people of God’s continued guidance:

“The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.” (Deuteronomy 31:3, NIV)

Here, Moses appoints Joshua as the new leader. God’s promise to be with His people remains unchanged despite the leadership change. God’s personal involvement in leading Israel shifts the focus away from reliance on human leaders to reliance on divine presence and faithfulness. This reassures the Israelites that their success and prosperity are contingent on God’s power, not merely on human ability.

Be Strong and Courageous (Verses 7-8)

Moses then directly addresses Joshua in front of all the Israelites:

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.'” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8, NIV)

Moses’s words to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous,” reverberate through the ages as an affirmation of faith and leadership. Joshua is given a dual charge: to lead the people into the Promised Land and to ensure its division among the tribes. These verses encapsulate a recurring biblical theme where divine presence is the ultimate source of strength and courage. The reminder that God will never leave nor forsake them serves as a cornerstone for Joshua’s leadership and the people’s confidence.

The Reading of the Law (Verses 9-13)

Moses writes down the law and gives it to the priests and all the elders of Israel:

“Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 31:9, NIV)

Moses emphasizes the importance of the law by mandating its public reading every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles:

“Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 31:12, NIV)

This instruction highlights both the accessibility and the inclusive nature of God’s law. It is meant for all Israelites, including women, children, and even foreigners residing among them. The purpose of this reading is to ensure that every generation understands God’s expectations and His covenant with them. The communal reading strengthens social cohesion and moral guidance, fostering a collective identity rooted in divine instruction.

God’s Forewarning and Promise (Verses 14-23)

God summons Moses and Joshua to the Tent of Meeting to commission Joshua:

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.’ So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.” (Deuteronomy 31:14, NIV)

This divine commissioning underscores the legitimacy of Joshua’s leadership. It is not merely a human decision but divinely ordained. God also gives a sobering forewarning about Israel’s future apostasy:

“And the Lord said to Moses: ‘You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.’” (Deuteronomy 31:16, NIV)

This prediction of Israel’s future unfaithfulness serves a dual purpose. It prepares Joshua and the Israelites for the harsh reality of their spiritual journey and the consequences of disobedience. It also underscores God’s omniscience and the conditional nature of the covenant: blessings in obedience and curses in rebellion. However, despite this grim outlook, God does not abandon His people. He instructs Moses to write a song as a witness for future generations:

“Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.” (Deuteronomy 31:19, NIV)

Music and poetry become tools for spiritual instruction and remembrance. The song serves as a testament to God’s faithfulness and the people’s future failings, functioning as both a warning and a reminder of divine grace and justice.

Moses’s Final Charge (Verses 24-29)

With the completion of writing the law, Moses gives further instructions:

“After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord: ‘Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.’” (Deuteronomy 31:24-26, NIV)

The placement of the law beside the Ark of the Covenant symbolizes its sacredness and its role as a perpetual witness against Israel. It serves as a divine mirror reflecting the people’s adherence—or lack thereof—to God’s commands. Moses then addresses the assembly, warning them again of their tendency toward rebellion:

“For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!” (Deuteronomy 31:27, NIV)

This blunt assessment aims to remind Israel of their weaknesses and the critical need for vigilance in their spiritual walk. It underscores the vital role of memory and communal responsibility in upholding the covenant.

The Song of Witness (Verse 30)

The chapter concludes with an introduction to the song Moses wrote:

“And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:” (Deuteronomy 31:30, NIV)

This anticipates the full recitation of the song in the following chapter, rounding off Chapter 31 with a focus on remembrance and preparation. The song encapsulates the narrative and theological essence of Deuteronomy, providing a lyrical summary of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s obligations.

Conclusion

Deuteronomy Chapter 31 is a pivotal text filled with transitions, warnings, and divine assurances. It not only prepares Israel for a change in leadership but also reaffirms the unchanging presence of God among His people. The chapter underscores the critical role of memory, communal responsibility, and divine faithfulness in the life of God’s people.

This analysis reveals that the chapter is not merely a historical account but a rich theological text that speaks to themes of leadership, divine guidance, faithfulness, and the importance of Scripture. Moses’s words to Joshua, his instructions for the reading of the law, and the commission to write a song all serve to fortify Israel’s spiritual and social fabric as they stand on the cusp of entering the Promised Land.

Ultimately, Deuteronomy Chapter 31 invites readers to reflect on their own journey of faith, highlighting the indispensable nature of divine guidance and the ever-present call to be strong and courageous in the face of change and uncertainty.