Today, I am reading and commenting on Deuteronomy 1-2.
The Book of Deuteronomy describes how Moses prepared the Israelites to work together after he was no longer with them by laying out God’s Laws for their nation as in a comprehensive manner. The previous accounts of God’s Laws for the Israelites laid them out as circumstances led them to come up. That context was, and is, very useful for understanding how they were intended. This context, where the Laws are listed more or less all together, also offers valuable context for understanding them. The first part of that context is the major events which occurred from the time they left Mount Sinai until they reached this point. This context includes why it was important to have many judges spread out throughout the nation: one man cannot handle that burden. It also includes the importance of those judges refraining from showing partiality and passing judgement that they would be willing to defend standing before God. It also includes recognizing how the people allowed the results of a good idea, sending scouts into the land, to diminish their trust in God, and the consequences of doing so. Finally, Moses described how, despite that, God was faithful to lead the Israelites to victory.
I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.