Summary of the Book of Deuteronomy - Chapter by Chapter

What is the Book of Deuteronomy About?

The book of Deuteronomy is a record of a series of speeches Moses gave to the Israelites before his death on Mount Nebo. The Israelites had just finished 40 years wandering in the wilderness, during which time, the older generation of Israelites died. The new generation was about to cross the Jordan River and conquer the Promised Land, but before they crossed, Moses wanted to remind them of God’s laws one last time. Deuteronomy is a record of his words.

Moses stressed the importance of the Israelites keeping covenant with God. God promised to make Israel successful, so long as they respected Him and kept His commands. But God also warned them of the curses that would befall their nation if they turned away from Him and worshipped idols. Moses hoped his repetition of the law would affect the hearts of the Israelites in a positive way, as they prepared to march into the land God promised to their forefathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

When was the Book of Deuteronomy Written?

Moses’ speech, recorded in the opening chapters of Deuteronomy, occurred immediately following the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C. The book of Deuteronomy opens on the 1st day of the 11th month in the 40th year (Deu 1:3) following the Israelites departure from Egypt (approximately 1450 B.C.).

Where was Moses When He Spoke the Words Recorded in Deuteronomy?

Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab, probably on the plains of Moab near Pisgah (Numbers 22:1).

A Short Summary of each Chapter of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1

Moses began a series of speeches, reminding the Israelites of God’s laws. He recounted the history of Israel since leaving Egypt, and their faithlessness the first time God told them to conquer Canaan.

Deuteronomy 2

Moses recounted the history of Israel wandering in the wilderness for nearly 40 years. He reminded Israel how God had given them victory over king Sihon in the land of the Amorites. 

Deuteronomy 3

Moses recounted Israel’s victory over Og of Bashan, and how the land east of Jordan had been divided up between the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. Moses asked the Lord for permission to enter the Promised Land, but his request was denied.

Deuteronomy 4

Moses reminded the Israelites to keep God’s laws and forbid them from crafting physical images of God or worshipping idols. He reminded the Israelites that they had a unique relationship with God that no other nation enjoyed. At the end of the chapter, Moses established cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.

Deuteronomy 5

Before entering the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people of the 10 Commandments, and how God gave His law to their fathers in the wilderness at Mount Sinai.

Deuteronomy 6

Moses insisted the Israelites teach the laws of God to their children so they would not be forgotten in future generations.

Deuteronomy 7

God forbid the intermingling of the Israelites and the pagan Canaanite people. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were to drive out all the former inhabitants of the land.

Deuteronomy 8

God disciplined Israel in the wilderness, but He planned to bless them with a land of abundance. Moses warned the people against complacency. He knew they would be tempted to forget God when their lives became more comfortable.

Deuteronomy 9

Moses reminded the Israelites of their past rebellion against God. He told them God was going to give them the Promised Land, but it wasn’t because they were super righteous people. God’s intention to give Israel the land was largely motivated by His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Additionally, God needed to punish the wicked nations that inhabited the land, and He was going to use Israel to do it.

Deuteronomy 10

Moses reminded Israel of God’s mercy and patience towards them. God reaffirmed His covenant with them even after they sinned and made an idol, a golden calf. He also gave them a new High Priest after the death of Aaron. God wanted His law to penetrate His people’s hearts and change them from the inside (circumcision of the heart).

Deuteronomy 11

Israel was under a blessing and a curse. They would be blessed with the wonderful land of Canaan if they followed God’s commands. They would be cursed if they neglected God’s instructions.

Deuteronomy 12

God informed the Israelites He would appoint a central place of worship in the Promised Land. God wasn’t to be worshiped like the pagan gods. All the pagan places of worship were to be destroyed when the Israelites conquered the land.

Deuteronomy 13

Moses gave instruction for how to deal with someone who enticed others into idolatry. A person who encouraged another person to worship a false god was to be put to death.

Deuteronomy 14

Chapter 14 is a record of God’s dietary laws for the Israelites. The people were allowed to eat certain animals (clean animals) but were forbidden from eating others (unclean animals). The second half of the chapter is about tithing. The Israelites were required to tithe a certain portion of their income to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 15

The Israelites were to observe a year of release every 7th year. Debts were to be forgiven and Hebrew slaves were to be given their freedom. Moses also commanded the people to dedicate all their firstborn male animals to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 16

Moses reminded the Israelites to observe the holy feast days: the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. The Israelites were also told to select upright men as judges and officers to guide the nation in civil matters.

Deuteronomy 17

God established a “supreme court” over Israel to rule on difficult legal cases. In the second half of the chapter, God gave His laws pertaining to the future kings of Israel.

Deuteronomy 18

Moses discussed income for the priests and Levites who served God. He prophesied that the Lord would someday send another prophet who resembled him. The chapter concludes with a test for discovering if a prophet was genuine or a fraud.

Deuteronomy 19

The Israelites were told to establish 3 cities of refuge west of the Jordan River. The remainder of the chapter discusses property rights, and the number of witnesses required to convict someone of a crime.

Deuteronomy 20

God assured Israel he would fight with their army and give them victory over their enemies. This chapter is about God’s rules for war. It also contains a list of exemptions, clarifying those exempt from military service.

Deuteronomy 21

Chapter 21 covers a wide variety of topics, including: making atonement for unsolved murders, rules for marrying foreign female captives, laws pertaining to birthrights, punishments for rebellious children, and the curse of hanging on a tree.

Deuteronomy 22

Moses continued teaching God’s laws to the people. The bulk of the chapter contains laws about sexual misconduct.

Deuteronomy 23

Moses reminded the Israelites of God’s laws regarding people who were to be excluded from the assembly of the Lord. When the Israelite men went to war, they were to keep the war camp free of uncleanliness. The second half of this chapter is a series of laws dealing with everything from runaway slaves to restrictions on eating a neighbor’s crops.

Deuteronomy 24

Moses gave instructions to the people about: divorce, farming, kidnapping, newlyweds, borrowing money, collecting debts, leprosy, parenting, harvesting olives, and many other things.

Deuteronomy 25

This chapter documents more of God’s laws. Moses taught the people what God commanded on the following topics: punishing criminals by whipping, muzzling oxen, what to do if a man died without a son to carry on his family name, and other topics. God instructed the Israelites to destroy the Amalekite nation when they entered the Promised Land, because the Amalekites attacked Israel when they left Egypt.

Deuteronomy 26

When the Israelites moved into the Promised Land, they were to bring some of the first fruits of their harvest to the priests as a tithe to God. On the third year, they were to take their tithes into their cities and share them with the Levites, sojourners, orphans, widows, and poor.

Deuteronomy 27

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and came to Mount Ebal, they were to build an altar, plaster stones, and write a copy of God’s law on the stones. Then half of Israel was to stand on Mount Ebal, while the other half stood on Mount Gerizim, and the Levites were to read the curses that would befall those who broke God’s laws.

Deuteronomy 28

In the first part of the chapter, God goes into detail about the blessings the Israelites would receive if they obeyed Him. In the second part of the chapter, God goes into even more detail about the curses that would plague the Israelites if they disobeyed Him.

Deuteronomy 29

God reaffirmed His covenant with the Israelites people. The Israelites were to be God’s special people. But God’s promise to bless Israel was dependent on their obedience to His law.   

Deuteronomy 30

If Israel went astray, God promised to be merciful to them and forgive them, so long as they repented with genuine hearts. Moses told the people they needed to make a decision, a decision between life (with God) or death (without God).  

Deuteronomy 31

Moses prepared the Israelites for Joshua’s leadership. God selected Joshua to lead Israel after Moses death. Every 7th year, the Levites were to read God’s law to all the people. God prophesied that the Israelites would turn away from Him shortly after Moses’ death. He taught Moses a song of witness, to witness against the people when they turned to evil.  Moses wrote all of God’s commands in the Book of the Law. The book was given to the Levites and kept by the Ark of the Covenant.

Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32 contains the words of the song God gave to Moses to teach to the children of Israel (31:22). The song was to be passed down through the generations, and it would act as a “witness” if the Israelites broke their covenant with God.

Deuteronomy 33

Moses spoke a blessing over each of the tribes of Israel before his death.

Deuteronomy 34

Moses died on Mount Nebo at the age of 120. God buried Moses’ body in the land of Moab. Joshua took over as God’s appointed leader in the nation of Israel.