Includes indexes.

Bibliography: p. 69-72.

Author’s Preface 7 Principal Abbreviations 13 INTRODUCTION 17 I. Title 17 II. Background 18 III. Unity of Composition 20 IV. Date and Authorship 24 V. Occasion 30 VI. Canonicity 32 VII. The Hebrew Text 34 VIII. Theology 36 IX. Problems in the Interpretation of Deuteronomy 46 X. Analysis of Contents 67 XI. Select Bibliography 69 Appendix I: A Perspective for the Study of Deuteronomy 73 Appendix II: A Proposed Egyptian Background for the Treaty Form of the Hebrew Covenant 79 Appendix III: Concordance of Principal Qumran Manuscripts Relating to Deuteronomy 84 TEXT AND COMMENTARY 87 I. Introduction to Deuteronomy (1:1-5) 89 II. The Address of Moses: Historical Prologue (1:6-4:43) 93 III. The Address of Moses: The Law (4:44-26:19) 146 IV. The Address of Moses: Blessings and Curses (27:1-28.69 [Eng. 29:1]) 326 V. The Address of Moses: A Concluding Charge (29:1 [Eng. v. 2]-30:20) 354 VI. The Continuity of the Covenant from Moses to Joshua (31:1-34:12) 367 INDEXES I. Subjects 408 II. Authors 410 III. Persons and Places 415 IV. Scripture References 418 V. Ugaritic Texts 424

Deuteronomy is a book of surprising contemporary relevance; its length and centrality in the flow of the Old Testament also make it one of the most debated books in the canon. In the present volume Professor Craigie at tempts to do justice to both of these facets of this important and fascinating part of the Old Testament. The author espouses a conservative cos -tion regarding the date and unity of the book of Deuteronomy. What we have today as the fifth book of the Old Testament he takes to be substantially a record (perhaps edited in Joshua’s time) of the words of Moses to the Hebrews gathered for a ceremonial renewal of the Sinai covenant before entering Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. Critical scholars have pointed out difficulties with this traditional viewpoint, and the author — though his intention is not polemical — develops his own position in dialogue with those who would place the origins of the book much later in Israelite history. Theologically, the overarching theme of Deuteronomy is the covenant. It is in the language of the renewal of the Sinai covenant that Deuteronomy, as part of God s word for all ages, speaks its message to the people of the New Covenant. In its simplest phrasing that message is Commit yourself to God wholeheartedly.