Deuteronomy 31

Deuteronomy 31 belongs to the closing section of Deuteronomy. Following chapters 29–30, in which the covenant is renewed in the land of Moab, it depicts Moses, as he faces death, handing over leadership and leaving behind the book of the law and a song. The song itself appears in chapter 32.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 Moses, now 120 years old, announces that he will not cross the Jordan. He tells the people that Joshua will lead them and that the LORD will go before them, as He did to Sihon and Og, and urges them to be strong and courageous.
• Verses 7–8 Moses summons Joshua in the sight of all Israel and encourages him with the same words.
• Verses 9–13 Moses writes down the law and entrusts it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carry the ark of the covenant, and to the elders. He commands that at the end of every seven years, in the year of release (the year in which debts are canceled), during the Feast of Tabernacles, the people be gathered—men, women, children, and the stranger within their gates—to hear it read aloud.
• Verses 14–15 The LORD calls Moses and Joshua to the tabernacle of the congregation and appears in the pillar of cloud.
• Verses 16–22 The LORD declares that once the people have eaten their fill in the land, they will go after other gods and break the covenant, and that He will then hide His face. He instructs that a song be written and taught as a witness. Moses writes the song that same day and teaches it to the people.
• Verse 23 The LORD personally commissions Joshua the son of Nun.
• Verses 24–29 Moses has the book of the law placed beside the ark of the covenant as a witness. Foreseeing that the people will corrupt themselves after his death, he has the elders and officers assembled.
• Verse 30 Moses recites the words of the song to the end in the ears of all the congregation of Israel.

Key Verses

• Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage … he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" is a promise of God's abiding presence and is quoted again in the New Testament.
• Deuteronomy 31:12 "That they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD" shows that instruction in the law was the responsibility of the entire community, including children and foreigners.

People and Places

• Moses: The leader who has guided Israel; in this chapter he is approaching his death.
• Joshua: The son of Nun and Moses' successor.
• Sihon and Og: Amorite kings east of the Jordan who were defeated by Israel.
• The Levites and the ark of the covenant: Those entrusted with the book of the law and the place where it is kept.
• The tabernacle of the congregation: The tent where God meets Moses, referring to the tabernacle.
• The Jordan River: The boundary Moses may not cross.

Points for Reflection

• Verses 9 and 24 state that Moses "wrote" the law. Traditional interpreters regard these verses as evidence supporting Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. Many critical scholars, by contrast, hold that Deuteronomy took shape at a later date, often placing it around the time of Josiah. Interpreters also differ on whether "this law" refers to all of Deuteronomy or only part of it.
• Moses' death is recorded not in this chapter but in chapter 34.
• The promise in verses 6 and 8 is quoted in Hebrews 13:5–6. The encouragement given to Joshua is taken up again as the word of the LORD in Joshua 1.

In the Korean Church

Deuteronomy 31:6–8 is known to be frequently cited on occasions marking new beginnings, such as the New Year, ordination and installation services, and commissioning services. The transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua is also often used as a sermon text at services marking the retirement of an outgoing senior pastor and the installation of his successor.