Deuteronomy 30 Study Notes

30:1-3 The grammatical structure of this passage suggests that Israel’s repentance and return to the Lord would be at his initiative, an act of his grace wherein God’s promises and Israel’s need to be obedient to the conditions of the covenant would be reconciled—one of the hidden mysteries of the mind of God (29:29).

30:4-5 God said he would bring a nation “from the ends of the earth” against his people (28:49). Now he will gather them from the farthest horizon. Verse 4 is quoted in Neh 1:9. See Is 41:9; 43:6; Mk 13:27.

30:6-8 The image of circumcising the heart derives from the occasion of Abraham’s having been physically circumcised, along with his household, as a sign of his covenant relationship with the Lord (Gn 17:9-14). Jeremiah also spoke of this mark of covenant reality in terms of spiritual circumcision (Jr 4:4; cp. Jr 31:33; Ezk 36:26), and Paul compared it to the new life and relationship to God to be found in Christ (Rm 2:28-29; Col 2:11).

30:9-10 Israel’s return to the Lord would bring about a reversal of the curses they had suffered, and they would enjoy the blessings of covenant obedience rather than suffer the consequences of disobedience (28:4). The term for delight is the same as the one translated “be glad” in 28:63.

30:11-14 Lest Israel should protest that the demands of the covenant were too difficult to obey, Moses reminded them that the power to do so resided within them (v. 14). This refers to the revelation of the Lord’s mind and purposes to the Israelites at Sinai and now in the plains of Moab. Moses had instructed them about these matters (6:1), and they were to impress them upon their own hearts and souls as well as those of their children (11:18-19). Paul cited this text with reference to the proximity of the gospel and the ease with which it could be understood and appropriated; like the words of the OT covenant, those of the NT message of salvation are ready at hand and made available to all who will believe (Rm 10:6-10).

30:15-20 The topic of these verses is life, which is contrasted with death. The verses echo 11:26-32.

30:19 In a setting similar to a courtroom, the Lord summoned witnesses to his offer to Israel of life and death. Since these witnesses must be enduring and objective, he called not on humans or even angels, but on heaven and earth (cp. 4:26; 31:28; 32:1; Is 1:2; Mc 1:2). He appealed for Israel to choose a life of blessed obedience so they and their descendants might live.