Deuteronomy Part 2
Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore
December 17, 2017
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1:6-8
Last Sunday we studied the introduction to the whole book of Deuteronomy, the first five verses. These five verses previewed the words that Moses spoke and wrote to all Israel just before his death and their entrance into the territory west of the Jordan River where the other Canaanite nations lived. This entire book was spoken by Moses 40 years and ten and one-half months after the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. And Moses was forty-five years older than I am right now—he was 120 years old! It was his birthday. And when he finished his speech (ended the book), he died.
The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell address to his people. What do you think he told the Israel people before he died? Moses had led the people into two mighty successful campaigns against Sihon and Og. They had annihilated all the strangers who lived on the eastern part of the Jordan River. This territory was given to 2½ tribes. The remaining 9½ tribes were to be given land not yet conquered. The land was on the other side of the river. Moses was to die that day, so he would have to tell them who their leader would be that they should follow after he was gone.
The book was written and spoken about 1645 B.C., in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River near Jericho, just before their miraculous entrance into Canaan. The name of the book, Deuteronomy, means Second Law, because it records the repetition of the 10 commandments. It contains the parting counsels of Moses to Israel in view of: