NOTES ON DEUTERONOMY

Deuteronomy 4:10,15  See Exodus 19.

Deuteronomy 5:6-21   See Exodus 20:1-17.

Deut. 5:16  This is a bridge between the commandments before and after: parents represent 

God to us and are also our closest neighbors. 

See Leviticus 19:1-4 for coupling this commandment with the first commandment.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 begins with our own relation with God and then turns toward children.

Deuteronomy 7:9 A slight variation on these words is found inscribed on tiny silver scroll dating from 

the late 7^th Century BC excavated in 1970's at Ketef Hinnom.

Deuteronomy 14 The antiquity of these regulations may be seen in the distinction between fish that 

have fins and scales (fast swimming) and those without which tend to be bottom feeders (eels). In 

muddy fresh water, like the Nile River, the latter are more susceptible to parasites. In salt water, the

distinction has no health reason.

Deut. 14:1-2 starts with hope in God—not grieving.

Deut. 14:21 shows that not all dietary laws are for health reasons.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 The description of the son as a glutton and drunkard may in fact point to the 

fact that “he was a religiously deviant consumer eating against the societal and ritual norms of his 

Yahwist community.” Rebekah Welton, BAR, Winter 2020, pp. 52-57

Deuteronomy 22:5 See Judges 5:24-27.

Deuteronomy 23:17-18 See Genesis 38:15.

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 Archeologists have found an ostracon (piece of broken pottery) in 7^th cent BC 

Hebrew reading, “May the official, my lord, hear the plea of his servant. Your servant is working in the 

harvest; your servant was at Hasaar-Asam.... Your servant did his reaping, finished and stored the grain 

a few days ago before stopping work. When your servant had finished his reaping and had stored it a 

few days ago, Hoshayahu ben Shabay came and took your servant's garment. When I had finished my 

reaping, at that time a few days ago, he took your servant's garment. All of my companions will vouch 

for me, all who were reaping with me in the heat of the sun; my companions will vouch for me that 

truly I am guiltless of any infraction. So please return my garment. If the official does not consider it 

an obligation to return the garment, then have pity upon me and return it from that motivation. You 

must not remain silent...”

Deuteronomy 29:10-15 Note the repeated "this day." Kaiser calls this "a graphic illustration of the 

scriptural phenomenon of contemporizing past events. It is very similar to what the Church does when 

it partakes of the Lord's Supper." (This is my body...)

Deut. 29:16-17 BAR Summer 2020, pp. 53-54: “detestable things” and “fetishes” The latter term can 

also mean dung. It may refer to Egyptian dung beetles (scarabs).

Deuteronomy 32:8 The Dead Sea scrolls and the Septuagint have what may be the original reading of 

this verse in which sons of Israel reads "sons of God" (i.e.. angels).

Deut. 32:10 “Apple” of one's eye is a KJV invention. The word means pupil or center of one's eye.