Chapters 12–26, the Deuteronomic code: Laws governing Israel's worship (chapters 12–16a), the appointment and regulation of community and religious leaders (16b–18), social regulation (19–25), and confession of identity and loyalty (26).Heads of families are urged to instruct those under their care in the law, warnings are made against serving gods other than Yahweh, the land promised to Israel is praised, and the people are urged to obedience. Chapters 4– 11: After a second introduction at 4:44–49 the events at Mount Horeb are recalled, with the giving of the Ten Commandments.Chapters 1–4: The journey through the wilderness from Horeb (Sinai) to Kadesh and then to Moab is recalled.(The following "literary" outline of Deuteronomy is from John Van Seters it can be contrasted with Alexander Rofé's "covenantal" analysis in his Deuteronomy: Issues and Interpretation. Moses receiving the Law (top) and reading the Law to the Israelites (bottom) The structure is often described as a series of three speeches or sermons (chapters 1:1–4:43, 4:44–29:1, 29:2–30:20) followed by a number of short appendices – Miller refers to this as the "literary" structure alternatively, it is sometimes seen as a ring-structure with a central core (chapters 12–26, the Deuteronomic Code) and an inner and an outer frame (chapters 4–11/27–30 and 1–3/31–34) – Miller calls this the covenantal substructure and finally the theological structure revealed in the theme of the exclusive worship of Yahweh established in the first of the Ten Commandments ("Thou shalt have no other god before me") and the Shema. Miller in his commentary on Deuteronomy suggests that different views of the structure of the book will lead to different views on what it is about. 6 Influence on Judaism and Christianity.5 Judaism's weekly Torah portions in the Book of Deuteronomy.One of its most significant verses is Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema Yisrael, which has become the definitive statement of Jewish identity: "Hear, O Israel: the L ORD our God, the L ORD is one." Verses 6:4–5 were also quoted by Jesus in Mark 12:28–34 as the Great Commandment. The final four chapters (31–34) contain the Song of Moses, the Blessing of Moses, and the narratives recounting the passing of the mantle of leadership from Moses to Joshua and, finally, the death of Moses on Mount Nebo. And the third sermon offers the comfort that, even should Israel prove unfaithful and so lose the land, with repentance all can be restored. The second sermon reminds the Israelites of the need to follow Yahweh and the laws (or teachings) he has given them, on which their possession of the land depends. The first sermon recounts the forty years of wilderness wanderings which had led to that moment, and ends with an exhortation to observe the law. Ĭhapters 1–30 of the book consist of three sermons or speeches delivered to the Israelites by Moses on the plains of Moab, shortly before they enter the Promised Land. The Book of Deuteronomy (literally "second law" from Greek δεύτερος deuteros + νόμος nomos ) is the fifth book of the Torah, where it is called Devarim ( Hebrew: דְּבָרִים), "the words ", and the fifth book of the Christian Old Testament, where it is also known as the Fifth Book of Moses. For other uses, see Deuteronomy (disambiguation).