Fl – Summary of the Covenant Demand 29:1 to 30:20

Summary of the Covenant Demand
29:1 to 30:20

Moses begins this section by reminding the children of Isra’el of YHVH’s faithfulness to them in bringing them from Egypt to the plains of Mo’ab, as well as of the covenantal relationship into which they are entering with God – a relationship that promises cursing for disobedience and blessing for obedience. In the light of those realities, Moshe challenges Isra’el to renew this covenant and choose life and blessing rather than death and cursing.

Chapter 29 is a summons to the covenant oath which is finally taken in Chapter 30. It reflects the overall pattern of the Near Eastern Treaty (to see link click Ah – Treaty of the Great King), with a review of ADONAI’s past works and deliverance (see Fm – Renewal of the Covenant), a call to enter into the covenant (see Fn – All of You Are Standing), a warning that the curses of the covenant will fall on the rebels (see Fo – Do Not Worship Other Gods), although ultimate restoration is intended (see Fp – Restoration After Repentance), and finally a call to the firm decision to accept the covenant (see Fq – Choose Life). So, this whole section is a kind of summary of the total covenant demand.⁶²⁴

This section picks up and summarizes much of the earlier material, condensing the message of the whole book in two chapters. It concludes with almost evangelical fervor, and it’s not surprising that the second half of Chapter 30 finds echoes in the teaching of both Yeshua and Paul.⁶²⁵