Deuteronomy can be a problematic good to understand. The book of Deuteronomy seems to repeat much of what happened in the book of Numbers. The reader asks, why are we re-reading information we already read? It helps to understand the purpose of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is primarily a document to outline the covenant agreement between God and his people. We see in Deuteronomy 1:3 that Moses told us his purpose for the book: “Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them” (Deut 1:3, ESV).
The Preamble (1-3)
The first part of the book recaps the events that had come before. In this part, Moses shows how God has already begun to keep his part of the covenant. This part of the book is establishing the two parties of the treaty and their current roles.
The Contract (4-26)
The middle of the book is dedicated to the outline of the agreement between God and his people. The deal is simple: God will bless and take care of the people if they keep his commandments. Chapter 4 start with the words,
And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Deut 4:1, ESV
God has promised through Moses that if the people keep his commandments, he will bless them.
The Signing (27-30)
The people of God agree to God’s covenant. They do so publicly by affirming the curses for failing to keep the covenant and the blessing for keeping it on two different mountains, Ebal and Gerizim.
The Wrap-up (31-34)
Chapters 31-24 Moses transfers leadership and leaves his final exhortation, and then Moses dies, setting the stage for the next part of Israel’s journey.