When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment, he cited a passage from Deuteronomy 6 as the fundamental and first tenet of Scripture. The purpose of Deuteronomy is to teach the people of God how to behave in every area of life. And the two main principles of that teaching are to fear God and to obey his commandments.
Using his own translation from the original Hebrew, Dr John Currid ably demonstrates that the book of Deuteronomy is an official document ratifying the formal covenant relationship between God as the sovereign King and his covenant people, Israel. At the close of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and on the eve of the entry into the promised land, Moses summons the Israelites to a solemn reaffirmation and ratification of the covenant first made at Sinai and promises great blessings to the people if only they will remain faithful to the covenant and obey God’s Word.
Christians too need to remember that God has made a covenant with the church. And, therefore, we need to ask the question: ‘What does Yahweh your God ask from you?’ The answer is found in Deuteronomy: we need to fear God; we need to walk in his way; we need to love him; we need to serve him; and we need to keep his command-ments. And, like Israel of old, if we live in obedience to the Word of God then we shall be wise and understanding and, indeed, God will greatly bless his people if they obey his Word.
Dr John D. Currid is Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament at the Reformed Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He received his PhD degree in archaeology from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. He has several books in print, including the Study Commentaries on Genesis (2 vols.), Exodus (2 vols.) and Leviticus in the same series.
'Commentaries tend to fall roughly into two sorts. There is the spiritual, and there is the practical. This is practical, with New Testament references and spiritual comment nearly all confined to the application at the end of each section. This method of comment is really a necessity today, as our faith is so under fire. So best use this alongside one of the older commentaries like Calvin’s or John Cumming’s The Book of Deuteronomy, by Kregel Publications. But use both, for archaeology and scholarship not available in past days shed new light on Deuteronomy.'
Review from The Gospel Magazine (July-August 2007)
'Evangelical Press is to be commended for this fine addition to its series of Old Testament commentaries. The author, who is Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, has written on Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus. These are good in-depth commentaries and will be a great help to those who are serious about studying the Old Testament.'
Review from The Evangelical Presbyterian (September-October 2007)
'I thoroughly recommend not only this volume but the whole series on the Pentateuch by this author ... This really is a most helpful and useful commentary which could be dipped into as required or, better still, read through to gain the overall perspective of this last book of Moses.'
Review from The English Churchman (6th & 13th July 2007)
'Dr Currid's expertise in Biblical Archaeology comes to the fore time and again, helpfully providing external testimony to the objective truth of the text of Deuteronomy as a covenant document, and moreover, as the word of God.'
Review from Grace Magazine (October 2007)
