Deuteronomy

Settings

Narrative setting (how the book presents itself)

• Moses’ farewell address

Compositional setting (when the book was written)

• 2 Kings 22:8, Josiah renovates the temple in 621 BCE

Canonical setting (where it appears in the Bible)

• Conclusion of Pentateuch
• Introduction to historical books

Major dates

722 Assyria destroys northern kingdom, dominates south

• Security of the land
• Explanation of suffering
• Vassal treaties

621 Josiah renovates temple

597 Babylon conquers Jerusalem, first wave of exile

587 Babylon destroys Jerusalem, second wave of exile

538 Persia defeats Babylon, ends exile

Explanation of suffering

Cycle of sin, punishment, repentance, and restoration

• Suffering is chastisement from God
• Collective on a national scale
• Collective across generations

Alternatives

• Wisdom literature - God’s plan is unknowable
• Apocalyptic literature - supernatural evil forces

Advantages

Disadvantages