The Book of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy more than any other book of the Hebrew Bible centers the relationship between Israel and God. Also unique is its status as oratory and interpretation, the beginning of Israel’s love-affair with exposition of its own history. Finally, Deuteronomy represents Israel’s first dalliance with the reform of religious tradition. Whoever wrote down Moses’ exhortations to the people—this person is often referred to as the Deuteronomist—was deeply committed to a covenantal theological perspective. We will take great care in following Alter’s insightful, accessible commentaries and trying to discover both the character of the Deuteronomist as an author and of Moses as a leader.