← Contents The Gospel According to Moses

The Gospel According to Moses

I. Moses’ First Address: Remembering the Grace of Yahweh (1:1–4:43)

A. The Preamble to Moses’ First Address (1:1–5)

B. The Essence of Moses’ First Address: The Grace of Calling (1:6–4:40)

1. Recollections of Yahweh’s Grace to the Exodus Generation (1:6–2:1)

a. Recollections of Mount Horeb (1:6–18)

b. Recollections of the Journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea (1:19)

c. Recollections of Kadesh Barnea (1:20–46)

d. Recollections of the Desert (2:1)

2. Recollections of Yahweh’s Grace to the New Generation (2:2–3:29)

a. Recollections of Israel’s Encounters with their Transjordanian Relatives (2:2–23)

b. Recollections of Israel’s Encounters with the Amorite Kings (2:24–3:11)

c. Moses’ Personal Recollections (3:12–29)

3. Recollections of Yahweh’s Grace with the Future in Mind (4:1–40)

a. Recollections of the Grace of Torah (4:1–8)

b. Recollections of the Grace of Covenant (4:9–31)

c. Recollections of the Grace of Salvation (4:32–40)

C. The Epilogue to Moses’ First Address (4:41–43)

II. Moses’ Second Address: Explaining the Grace of Yahweh (4:44–29:1[28:69])

A. The Preamble to Moses’ Second Address (4:44–5:1a)

B. The Essence of Moses’ Second Address: The Grace of Covenant (5:1b–26:19)

1. The Revelation of the Principles of Covenant Relationship (5:6–6:3)

a. The Context of the Revelation (5:1b–5)

b. The Content of the Revelation (5:6–22)

c. The Response to the Revelation (5:23–6:3)

2. Proclaiming the Privilege of Covenant Relationship (6:4–11:32)

a. The Essence of Covenant Relationship: A Call to Covenant Love (6:4–8:20)

(1) The Call to Exclusive Covenant Commitment (6:4–9)

(2) The Tests of Covenant Commitment (6:10–8:20)

(a) The Trial of Faith, Part I: The Internal and External Tests of Covenant Commitment (6:10–25)

• The Nature of the Tests (6:10–19)

• The Response to the Tests (6:20–25)

(b) The Trial of Faith, Part II: The External Test of Covenant Commitment (7:1–26)

• The Nature of the Test (7:1–16)

• The Response to the Test (7:17–26)

(c) The Trial of Faith, Part III: The Internal Test of Covenant Commitment (8:1–20)

• The Nature of the Test (8:1–10)

• The Response to the Test (8:11–20)

b. The Sheer Grace of Covenant Relationship (9:1–10:11)

(1) Disputing False Claims to Divine Favor (9:1–24)

(a) The Nature of the Claim (9:1–6)

(b) The Refutation of the Claim (9:7–24)

(2) Pleading for Renewal of Divine Favor (9:25–29)

(a) The Nature of Moses’ Plea (9:25–29)

(b) Yahweh’s Response to the Plea (10:1–11)

c. The Fundamental Demands of Covenant Relationship (10:12–11:1)

d. The Importance of Covenant Relationship (11:2–28)

(1) A Lesson from History: Reviewing the Mighty Acts of Yahweh (11:2–7)

(2) A Lesson from Economic Geography: Recognizing the Provision of Yahweh (11:8–28)

e. Anticipating the Completion of the Covenantal Triangle: Yahweh–Israel–Land (11:29–32)

3. Proclaiming the Dimensions of Covenant Relationship (12:1–26:19)

a. Celebrating Covenant Relationship with Yahweh: Part I (12:2–14:21)

(1) Responding to Yahweh’s Invitation to Worship in His Presence (12:2–14)

(2) Responding to Yahweh’s Generosity at Home (12:15–28)

(3) Responding to Yahweh’s Call for Exclusive Relationship (12:29–13:18[19]

(4) Responding to Yahweh’s Invitation to Feast at His Table (14:1–21)

b. Demonstrating Covenant Relationship with Yahweh (14:22–15:18)

(1) Soft Hearts and Open Hands, Part I: Generosity in Worship (14:22–29)

(2) Soft Hearts and Open Hands, Part II: Generosity at Home (15:1–18)

(a) Showing Kindness to the Poor (15:1–11)

(b) Showing Kindness to Debt–Slaves (15:12–18)

c. Celebrating Covenant Relationship with Yahweh: Part II (15:19–16:17)

(1) Unscheduled Feasting in the Presence of Yahweh and at Home (15:19–23)

(2) Scheduled Feasting in the Presence of Yahweh (16:1–17)

(a) The Festival of Passover (16:1–8)

(b) The Festival of Weeks (16:9–12)

(c) The Festival of Booths (16:13–15)

(d) The Summary Statement (16:16–17)

d. Covenant Relationship and the Pursuit of Righteousness (16:18–18:22)

(1) The Judiciary as the Executors of Covenant Righteousness (16:18–17:13)

(2) The King as the Embodiment of Covenant Righteousness (17:14–20)

(3) The Levites as Community Barometers of Covenant Righteousness (18:1–8)

(4) The Prophets as Agents of Covenant Righteousness (18:9–22)

e. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Matters of Life and Death (19:1–21:9)

(1) Righteousness in Cases of Manslaughter (and Greed) (19:1–13)

(2) Righteousness in Courts of Law (19:15–21)

(3) Righteousness in Military Engagement (20:1–20)

(4) Righteousness in the Face of Unsolved Crime (21:1–9)

f. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Marriage and Family: Part I (21:10–23)

(1) Righteousness in the Treatment of War Brides (21:10–14)

(2) Righteousness in the Treatment of the Firstborn (21:15–17)

(3) Righteousness in the Treatment of a Rebellious Son (21:18–21)

(4) Righteousness in the Treatment of a Criminal’s Remains (21:22–23)

g. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Marriage and Family: Part II (22:1–30[23:1])

(1) Righteousness in the Treatment of Animals and Other Domestic Issues (22:1–12)

(2) Righteousness in the Face of Marital Infidelity (22:13–21)

(3) Righteousness in the Face of Sexual Promiscuity (22:22–30[23:1])

h. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness as the Holy People of Yahweh (23:1–14[2–15])

(1) Righteousness in the Assembly of Yahweh (23:1–8[2–9])

(2) Righteousness in the Camp of Israel (23:9–14[10–15])

i. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Social and Economic Relationships: Part I: (23:15–25[16–26])

j. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Marriage and Family: Part III:

(1) Righteousness in the Face of Divorce (24:1–4)

(2) Righteousness in the Face of a Call to Arms (24:5)

k. Pursuing Covenant Righteousness in Social and Economic Relationships: Part II (24:6–25:16)

l. Interlude: Taking Care of Unfinished Business: The Amalekite Question (25:17–19)

m. Celebrating Covenant Relationship with Yahweh: Part III (26:1–15)

(1) Celebrating the Faithful ness of God (26:1–11)

(2) Affirming Fidelity to the Covenant (26:12–15)

n. Accepting the Mission of Covenant Relationship (26:16–19)


C. Interlude: A Call for Covenantal Renewal in the Promised Land (27:1–26)

1. Completing the Covenantal Triangle: Yahweh–Israel–Land (27:1–8)

2. Appealing for Covenant Fidelity in the Promised Land (27:9–26)

a. The Charge of Moses and the Levites (27:9–10)

b. The Imprecations for Infidelity (27:11–26)


o. The Two Ways of the Covenant: Blessing or Curse (28:1–29:1[28:69])

(1) The Way of Blessing (28:1–14)

(2) The Way of the Curse (28:15–68)

D. The Epilogue to Moses’ Second Address (29:1[28:69])

III. Moses’ Third Address: Trusting in the Grace of Yahweh (29:2–30:20)

A. The Preamble to the Moses’ Third Address (29:2a)

B. The Essence of Moses’ First Address: The Grace of Covenant Renewal (29:2b[1]–30:20)

1. Today: Celebrating Covenant Grace (29:2–13[1–12])

a. Remembering Yahweh’s Past Grace Today (29:2–9[1–8])

b. Claiming Yahweh’s Grace Today (29:10–13[9–12])

2. Tomorrow: Despising Covenant Grace (29:14–28[13–27])

3. Today: Wondering about Covenant Grace (29:29[28])

4. Tomorrow: Trusting in Covenant Grace (30:1–10)

5. Today: Responding to Covenant Grace (30:11–20)

IV. The Death of Moses (31:1–34:12)

A. Preparing for the Death of Moses (31:1–32:47)

1. The Installation of Joshua as Moses’ Successor: Part I (31:1–8)

2. The Deposition of the Torah (31:9–13)

3. The Installation of Joshua as Moses’ Successor: Part II (31:14–15, 23)

4. The Preamble to Israel’s National Anthem: Part I (31:16–22)

5. Moses’ Concluding Speech (31:24–29)

6. The Recitation of Israel’s National Anthem (31:30–32:1–47)

a. The Preamble to Israel’s National Anthem: Part II (31:30)

b. The Lyrics of Israel’s National Anthem (32:1–43)

c. The Epilogue to Israel’s National Anthem (32:44–47)

B. Announcing the Death of Moses (32:48–52)

C. The Benediction of Moses (33:1–29)

D. Recounting the Death of Moses (34:1–12)