Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy takes place entirely in one location: the Plains of Moab. The Israelites are camped just outside the Promised Land, ready to enter. The title effectively means "second law," but it is actually a retelling of the covenant. Moses, who is now very old, addresses the new generation. Since he will not cross the river with them, he wants to ensure they know their history and laws before they enter the new land without him.

The structure of the book consists of a series of three speeches or sermons given by Moses. He reviews the mistakes their parents made in the wilderness and urges the new generation not to repeat them. A central part of this book is the "Shema," a famous call for the people to love God with all their heart. Moses presents them with a clear choice: obedience leads to life and blessing, while disobedience leads to trouble and exile.

The book concludes the Torah (the first five books of the Bible). At the end, Moses climbs a mountain to view the land he is forbidden to enter, passes his leadership to Joshua, and then dies. This marks the end of an era. Now, under Joshua's command, the people are finally prepared to cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest, which is the story told in the next book, Joshua.