Deuteronômio 30
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Deuteronômio 30:1-5
30:1 "when all of these things have come upon you" Israel's future will be one of two realities based on their covenant obedience (i.e. Deut. 30:15,19; Psalm 1). YHWH desires "blessings," but their choices will determine which of the realities (i.e. blessings or cursings, cf. Leviticus 26) comes into being. Human choices are crucial! ▣ "the blessing and the curse" This is known in Wisdom Literature as "the two ways" (Psalm 1). They are described in Deut. 27; 28; 30:15,19. SPECIAL TOPIC: BLESSING (OT) ▣ "I have set before you" This VERB (BDB 678, KB 723, Qal PERFECT, cf. Deut. 30:15,19 and note at Deut. 11:26) is imagery for Israel's need to choose one of the two divine consequences related to His covenant. SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION vs. HUMAN FREE WILL ▣ "and you call them to mind" This is an idiom meaning "cause to return to your heart" (BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil PERFECT with waw, cf. Deut. 4:39; 1 Kgs. 8:47; Isa. 44:19; 46:8). ▣ "in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you" This is predictive prophecy of the choices Israel would make which would result in exile. Notice YHWH did this because of Israel's continual covenant violations and imitations of the Canaanite practices. 30:2 "return" This same VERB (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal PERFECT with waw) was used in Deut. 30:1 (Hiphil PERFECT with waw) in reference to Israel recalling YHWH's covenant. Here it is used in the sense of repentance. There is hope even for covenant violators! SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) 30:2-3 This context brings a needed theological balance to the stark judgment of Deut. 29:19. The problem is not rebellion, but sustained, continual rebellion (i.e. generation after generation). Repentance is always possible from God's side, but humans harden their own hearts with willful rebellion and disobedience! For "heart" see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART For "soul" see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH ▣ "Lord" YHWH is the covenant name of God that the rabbis say reflects His mercy (cf. Gen. 2:4; Exod. 3:13-14). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "God" Elohim is the general name for God which conveys power, might and strength (i.e. God as Creator, Provider, and Sustainer, Genesis 1). The rabbis say it is used of God's justice and righteousness. This distinction between these two names can be seen in Psalm 103, YHWH, and Psalm 104, Elohim. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. ▣ "obey" Notice that "returns to the Lord" is parallel to "obey Him" (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal PERFECT with waw). Obedience is described in personal terms: obey his voice ‒ BDB 876 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) with all your heart ‒ BDB 523 with all your soul ‒ BDB 659 This is parallel to Deut. 4:29-30; 6:5; 10:12 Notice the number of times and the different senses of the term shub (BDB 996, KB 1427): It is a key term in this chapter for hope and restoration. "call them to mind" is literally "cause them to return to your heart, Deut. 30:1 "you return to the Lord," Deut. 30:2 (i.e. repentance) "God will restore you from captivity," Deut. 30:3 "again," Deut. 30:3,8,9 "if you turn to the Lord," Deut. 30:10 SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) ▣ "with all your heart and soul" This is an idiom of one's whole being (cf. Deut. 30:2,6,10; 4:29; 6:5; 10:12; 11:13; 13:3; 26:16). ▣ "you and your sons" The ancient covenant is being renewed with the current generation (cf. Deut. 29:1). Israel was to educate the children as to the historical bases of their faith (cf. Deut. 4:9,10; 6:7,20-25; 11:19; 32:46) so that each new generation would be part of the ancient covenant. 30:3-4 "God will restore. . .God has scattered" Notice YHWH is in control of history. He uses nations and individuals but He is sovereign (cf. Isa. 10:5; 44:28-45:1). 30:3-9 Notice what YHWH promised to do for Israel (if they obey, Deut. 30:8,10): He will restore (Deut. 30:3, BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal PERFECT with waw) He will have compassion (Deut. 30:3, BDB 933, KB 1216, Piel PERFECT with waw) He will gather you (BDB 867, KB 1062, Piel PERFECT with waw, twice, Deut. 30:3 and 4) He will bring you back (Deut. 30:4, BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) He will bring you into the land (Deut. 30:5, BDB 97, KB 112, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) He will prosper you (Deut. 30:5, BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) He will multiply you (Deut. 30:5, BDB 915 I, KB 1176, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) He will circumcise your heart (Deut. 30:6, BDB 557 II, KB 555, Qal PERFECT with waw) He will inflict all the curses on your enemies (Deut. 30:7, BDB 678, KB 733, Qal PERFECT with waw) He will prosper you abundantly (Deut. 30:9, BDB 451, KB 451, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) the work of your hand the offspring of your body the offspring of your cattle the produce of your land (the opposite is in Deut. 28:38-42) He will again rejoice over you for good (Deut. 30:9, BDB 965, KB 1314 [twice], Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT and Qal PERFECT) 30:4 "at the ends of the earth" "to the farthest parts under heaven" NRSV, JPSOA, REB "to the ends of the world" "to the farthest corners of the earth" NJB, LXX "to the very sky's end" "in the outmost parts of heaven" This is literally "to the end of the heavens," which is a hyperbole (cf. Deut. 4:32; 28:64; Jer. 31:8). It refers to the farthest civilizations they knew (i.e. the ANE and Mediterranean cultures). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH 30:5 "which your fathers possessed" This could refer to: the Patriarchs (Moses' day) the return from the exile (post-exilic editor) From my study #1 seems best. Verse 9 speaks of the same group. ▣ "He will prosper you and multiply you" This is part of YHWH's promise to Abraham (cf. Genesis 12; 15; 17, etc).
Deuteronômio 30:6-10
30:6 "God will circumcise your heart" This is imagery for an open and accessible hearing of God's word. The opposite is stated in Deut. 30:17. In Deut. 10:16 and Jer. 4:4; 9:25-26, the Israelite is called upon to perform this spiritual act (cf. Rom. 2:28-29), yet here God must do it. This same tension between God's sovereignty and human action is seen in Ezek. 18:31 vs. Ezek. 36:26. Here, circumcision is imagery for a proper spiritual attitude. See full note at Deut. 10:16. SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION (Calvinism) VS. HUMAN FREE WILL (Arminianism) ▣ "heart" For the Hebrews this was the center of intellectual activity. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART ▣ "descendants" This is literally "seed" (BDB 282). This term is used in this figurative sense several times in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 1:8; 4:37; 10:15; 11:9; 28:46,59; 30:6,19; 31:21; 34:4). ▣ "soul" This is the Hebrew word nephesh (BDB659). See notes at Deut. 11:13 and Gen. 35:18; Lev. 17:11 online. SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH 30:8-9 This reflects what YHWH wanted to do for Israel and for the whole world! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 30:10 "if. . .if" This shows the conditional nature of the covenant. Notice that obedience (listen and keep) are paralleled with sincere and total commitment (with all your heart and soul). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP
Deuteronômio 30:11-14
30:11-14 YHWH's will for Israel was not impossible (cf. Deut. 28:29). This verse seems to depreciate the reformers doctrine of "total depravity." There are several places in the OT where human resistence to sin is possible (e.g. Gen. 4:7; Deut. 30:15,19). The church (i.e. Paul) picks up on Genesis 3 as the origin of sin in mankind, while Rabbinical Midrash picks up on Genesis 6 as the source of the conflict. As Christianity asserts the fallenness of all creation (i.e. Rom. 8:18-19), including humanity (Rom. 3:23), Judaism asserts the basic goodness of humanity. For them the evil is in the choice (i.e. yetzer), not the basic nature. However, it seems to me that moral accountability is based on the real possibility of comprehending God's will and the ability to act on it. Without the possibility of appropriate action, divine accountability is inappropriate! Can I be held responsible for that which I cannot do? 30:12 "'Who will go up to heaven'" Paul uses this in Rom. 10:6-9. It possibly reflects the Sumerian legend of Etana, but probably relates to the Hebrew view of God's sovereignty. There are several VERBS used in an imperatival sense in this verse (according to OT Parsing Guide): "to get it" ‒ BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERFECT, but JUSSIVE in meaning "make us hear" ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Hiphil IMPERFECT, but JUSSIVE in meaning "we may observe it" ‒ BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERFECT, but COHORTATIVE in meaning 30:13 "beyond the sea" Some see this as related to the Babylonian flood account called the Gilgamesh Epic, but it probably relates to the Jewish fears of sailing or imagery of the ends of the earth. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CREATION ACCOUNTS AND FLOOD TEXTS 30:14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart" This refers to YHWH's revealed covenant. The ancients read Scripture aloud! They had to appropriately respond inwardly to what they had heard (i.e. read themselves or read aloud). ▣ "that you may observe it" Humans must make the decision. It is in his ability to do so. God initiates but mankind must respond and continue to respond in repentance, faith, obedience, worship, and perseverance! This is the nature of "covenant." SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT
Deuteronômio 30:15-20
30:15 "See" This (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE) VERB is used as an idiom for "pay close attention to" (cf. Gen. 27:27; 31:50). It is used several times in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 1:8,21,35; 2:24,31; 4:5; 11:26; 30:15; 32:39. ▣ "I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity" Even covenant Israel had to choose (i.e. conditional covenant)! This is referring to covenant blessing and cursing (cf. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27-28). Remember, the choice is set in a covenant of grace. This is very similar to Wisdom Literature's idiom of the "two ways" (cf. Psalm 1; Prov. 4:10-19; Jer. 21:8; Matt. 7:13-14). Our choices show who we are! How we respond to life's inexplicable "in and outs" reveals our spiritual orientation! Eternal life has observable characteristics! 30:16-18 These verses are a summary of covenant conditions and consequences: the responsibility (cf. Deut. 8:6; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9) "to love the Lord," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 12, KB 17, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) "walk in His ways," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 229, KB 246, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) "keep His commandments," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal INFINITIVE; see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) the consequences of obedience "you may live," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 310, KB 309, Qal PERFECT with waw) "you may multiply," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 915, KB 1156, Qal PERFECT with waw) "your God may bless you," Deut. 30:16 (BDB 138, KB 159, Piel PERFECT with waw) the conditions and consequences of disobedience if your heart turns away," Deut. 30:17 (BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) "if you will not obey," Deut. 30:17; (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) idolatry (1) drawn away (BDB 623, KB 673, Niphil PERFECT with waw) (2) worship (BDB 1005, KB 295, Hishtaphel PERFECT with waw) (3) serve (BDB 712, KB 773, Qal PERFECT with waw; see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP) "you shall surely perish," Deut. 30:18 (BDB 1, KB 2, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Qal IMPERFECT of the same root, which expresses intensity) "you shall not prolong your days," Deut. 30:18 (BDB 73, KB 88, Hiphil IMPERFECT) Notice how Deut. 30:20 reinforces these covenant responsibilities so that the Patriarchal blessing can be fulfilled! This terminology is characteristic of Deuteronomy. SPECIAL TOPIC: DEGREES OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness" These witnesses were not unique to Israel's covenant, but are found in several ANE texts. These two permanent aspects of God's creation (cf. Gen. 1:1) function as God's two required witnesses (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Num. 35:30). This legal emphasis occurs several times in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1). For "Earth" see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH. ▣ "So choose life in order that you may live" God has given humans the right and responsibility to make moral choices. It is part of His image and likeness in mankind (i.e. Gen.1:26-27)! The Hebrew VERB, "to choose" or "to elect," is used 70% of the time for mankind's choice (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 639). We must choose (cf. Ezek. 18:30-32)! ▣ "you and your descendants" Deuteronomy characteristically emphasizes the need to pass on the covenant history and responsibilities to the succeeding generations (cf. Deut. 4:9,10; 6:7,20-25; 11:19; 32:46). Our children are affected by our lifestyle choices and instruction (cf. Exod. 20:5-6; Deut. 5:9-10; 7:9). 30:20 There is a series of Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS which summarize the covenant: responsibilities loving obeying holding fast consequences ‒ that you may dwell in the land See note at Deut. 30:16-18. YHWH's covenant demanded an initial and a continual faith, love, obedience, and perseverance. YHWH promised the land to Israel's patriarchs (cf. Gen. 12:7; 13:14-17; Deut. 9:4-6), but Israel must obey His covenant requirements or the land would be forfeited (cf. Deut. 11:31-32; 28:36,63-68; 30:19-20). The grace gift (unconditional covenant) must be responded to and maintained (conditional covenant)!