Deuteronomy 10 Study Notes

10:1-5 God’s answer to Moses’s prayer was in the form of these instructions. The fact that the new tablets had the same words as the first suggests that Moses was not free to improvise and capture just the essence of their wording. This attention to precise detail lays the foundation for a verbal plenary view of inspiration. God’s Word may have come through human instruments, but it was written down without error of the slightest kind (2Tm 3:16-17; 2Pt 1:20-21). The commandments were engraved on two tablets because each party to a covenant must have a copy. Both copies were deposited in the ark of the covenant (Ex 25:16), probably because it was a location held in common by both parties.

This passage gives greater detail than Exodus regarding the origin of the ark. The whole pericope of Ex 32:1-34:35 is probably out of chronological order, the apostasy of the golden calf having occurred sometime after the manufacture of the tabernacle and its furnishings was complete (see Ex 40:20).

10:6-7 Like the office of king, that of the priesthood was hereditary. Aaron and his sons were selected first, as members of the priestly tribe of Levi (Nm 17:3,8). Two of Aaron’s four sons died because of an act of sacrilege (Lv 10:1-5). Of his two surviving sons, Eleazar was next in line for the office of chief priest (Nm 20:25-26).

10:8-9 All the tribes of Israel except Levi received allotments of territory; the Lord was Levi’s inheritance. Levi was to devote itself fully to the service of the Lord, at first in the tabernacle in the wilderness and then in the temple in Jerusalem. This was because of Israel’s redemption from Egypt, which demanded in turn that Israel dedicate to the Lord the firstborn son of every family in lieu of the firstborn who were spared in the tenth plague (Ex 13:1-2,14-16).

10:10-11 Now the people of Israel were a gift not only of God’s power but also of his faithfulness and mercy. They should be ready to enter the land in faith and humility.

10:12-13 Note the resemblance of these verses to Mc 6:8.

10:14-15 The Lord’s choice of Israel is a mark of inexplicable and discretionary grace, because Israel had no moral or theological claim to the Lord’s favor (7:7-11; Ex 19:5).

10:16 Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, a rite to be followed by all succeeding generations of the faithful (Gn 17:9-14). This symbolized a cutting off of the previous life and a willingness to propagate sons and daughters who would also enter into covenant with the Lord. Circumcision of the flesh alone could not guarantee a right relationship to the Lord because that relationship was one of faith springing from the heart. Moses therefore commanded Israel, Circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer, an exhortation picked up in the NT as well (Rm 2:25-29; Col 2:8-15).

10:17-19 The OT is clear that those who take advantage of defenseless people can expect the Lord’s swift and severe judgment (24:17-18; Ex 22:21-24; Ps 146:9; Jr 7:3-8). The Israelites were resident aliens themselves in the land of Egypt; those delivered from difficult and oppressive situations should be the first to deal kindly with others in similar circumstances.

10:20-22 The conclusion to this unit echoes its beginning in vv. 12-13. Israel’s explosive growth was an overwhelming sign of the Lord’s faithfulness to his promises to Abraham (Gn 15:5; Ex 1:1-5). Though comparison to the stars of the sky is hyperbolic, so large a population growth within 430 years is miraculous (Ex 12:37,40).