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Deuteronomy, 31

1. When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel,

1. Moses went and spoke to all Israel as follows,

2. he said to them, "I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.

2. 'Today, I am one hundred and twenty years old, and can no longer act as leader. Yahweh has told me, "You shall not cross this Jordan."

3. It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may supplant them. (It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised.)

3. Yahweh your God himself will lead you across, he himself will destroy and dispossess these nations confronting you; Joshua too will lead you across, as Yahweh has said.

4. The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed, and with their country.

4. Yahweh will treat them as he has treated Sihon and Og the Amorite kings and their country -- he destroyed them.

5. When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you, you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you.

5. Yahweh will put them at your mercy, and you will deal with them exactly as prescribed by the commandments which I have laid down for you.

6. Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you."

6. Be strong, stand firm, have no fear, do not be afraid of them, for Yahweh your God is going with you; he will not fail you or desert you.'

7. Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must being this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage.

7. Moses then summoned Joshua and, in the presence of all Israel, said to him, 'Be strong, stand firm; you will be the one to go with this people into the country which Yahweh has sworn to their ancestors that he would give them; you are to be the one who puts them into possession of it.

8. It is the LORD who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed."

8. Yahweh himself will lead you; he will be with you; he will not fail you or desert you. Have no fear, do not be alarmed.'

9. When Moses had written down this law, he entrusted it to the levitical priests who carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel,

9. Moses committed this Law to writing and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of Yahweh's covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.

10. giving them this order: "On the feast of Booths, at the prescribed time in the year of relaxation which comes at the end of every seven-year period,

10. And Moses gave them this command, 'At the end of every seven years, at the time fixed for the year of remission, at the feast of Shelters,

11. when all Israel goes to appear before the LORD, your God, in the place which he chooses, you shall read this law aloud in the presence of all Israel.

11. when all Israel assembles in the presence of Yahweh your God in the place chosen by him, you must proclaim this Law in the hearing of all Israel.

12. Assemble the people--men, women and children, as well as the aliens who live in your communities--that they may hear it and learn it, and so fear the LORD, your God, and carefully observe all the words of this law.

12. Call the people together, men, women, children, and the foreigner residing with you, so that, hearing it, they may learn to fear Yahweh your God and keep and observe all the words of this Law.

13. Their children also, who do not know it yet, must hear it and learn it, that they too may fear the LORD, your God, as long as you live on the land which you will cross the Jordan to occupy."

13. Their children, who as yet do not know it, will hear it and learn to fear Yahweh your God, all the time you live in the country which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.'

14. The LORD said to Moses, "The time is now approaching for you to die. Summon Joshua, and present yourselves at the meeting tent that I may give him his commission." So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the meeting tent.

14. Yahweh said to Moses, 'And now the time is near when you must die. Summon Joshua and take your places at the Tent of Meeting, so that I can give him his orders.' Moses and Joshua went and took their places at the Tent of Meeting,

15. And the LORD appeared at the tent in a column of cloud, which stood still at the entrance of the tent.

15. and Yahweh showed himself at the Tent in a pillar of cloud; the pillar of cloud stood at the door of the Tent.

16. The LORD said to Moses, "Soon you will be at rest with your fathers, and then this people will take to rendering wanton worship to the strange gods among whom they will live in the land they are about to enter. They will forsake me and break the covenant which I have made with them.

16. Yahweh said to Moses, 'You will soon be sleeping with your ancestors, and this people is about to play the harlot by following the gods of the foreigners of the country, among whom they are going to live. They will desert me and break my covenant, which I have made with them.

17. At that time my anger will flare up against them; I will forsake them and hide my face from them, so that they will become a prey to be devoured, and many evils and troubles will befall them. At that time they will indeed say, 'Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have befallen us?'

17. That very day, my anger will blaze against them; I shall desert them and hide my face from them. A host of disasters and misfortunes will overtake them to devour them, and when that day comes they will say, "If such disasters overtake me, surely Yahweh my God cannot be with me?"

18. Yet I will be hiding my face from them at that time only because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods.

18. Yes indeed, I shall hide my face that day, on account of all the evil which they will have done by turning to other gods.

19. Write out this song, then, for yourselves. Teach it to the Israelites and have them recite it, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.

19. 'Now write down this song for you to use; teach it to the Israelites, put it into their mouths, for it to be a witness on my behalf against the Israelites:

20. For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey which I promised on oath to their fathers, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, if they turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant;

20. against Israel, whom I am bringing into the country which I swore to his ancestors that I would give him, a country flowing with milk and honey: against Israel, who will eat to his heart's content and grow fat, and will then turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant.

21. then, when many evils and troubles befall them, this song, which their descendants will not have forgotten to recite, will bear witness against them. For I know what they are inclined to do even at the present time, before I have brought them into the land which I promised on oath to their fathers."

21. When a host of disasters and misfortunes overtakes him, this song, like a witness, will give evidence against him, since his descendants will not have forgotten it. Yes, even today, before I have brought him to the country which I have promised him on oath, I know what plans he has in mind.'

22. So Moses wrote this song that same day, and he taught it to the Israelites.

22. So, that day, Moses wrote out this song and taught it to the Israelites.

23. Then the LORD commissioned Joshua, son of Nun, and said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for it is you who must bring the Israelites into the land which I promised them on oath. I myself will be with you."

23. To Joshua son of Nun, Yahweh gave this order, 'Be strong and stand firm, for you are to be the one to bring the Israelites into the country which I have promised them on oath, and I myself shall be with you.'

24. When Moses had finished writing out on a scroll the words of the law in their entirety,

24. When Moses had completely finished writing the words of this Law in a book,

25. he gave the Levites who carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD this order:

25. he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of Yahweh's covenant:

26. "Take this scroll of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD, your God, that there it may be a witness against you.

26. 'Take the book of this Law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God. Let it lie there as evidence against you.

27. For I already know how rebellious and stiff-necked you will be. Why, even now, while I am alive among you, you have been rebels against the LORD! How much more, then, after I am dead!

27. For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If today, while I am still alive and with you, you rebel against Yahweh, how much more will you rebel against him after my death!

28. Therefore, assemble all your tribal elders and your officials before me, that I may speak these words for them to hear, and so may call heaven and earth to witness against them.

28. 'Gather all your tribal elders and scribes round me, so that I may be sure that they hear these words, as I call heaven and earth to witness against them.

29. For I know that after my death you are sure to become corrupt and to turn aside from the way along which I directed you, so that evil will befall you in some future age because you have done evil in the LORD'S sight, and provoked him by your deeds."

29. For I know that after my death you are certain to grow corrupt; you will leave the way which I have marked out for you; in the final days disaster will befall you for having done what is evil in Yahweh's eyes, for having provoked his anger by your behaviour.'

30. Then Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end, for the whole assembly of Israel to hear:

30. In the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel, Moses then recited the words of this song to the end:



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Footnotes:

31:1-3 - Moses, now elderly, prepares Joshua to lead Israel. This transition of leadership is an important aspect of God's continuing mission and highlights the importance of spiritual and practical preparation for the future (see also Numbers 27:18-20 and 1 Timothy 4:14).

31:4-6 - God's promise to be with Joshua as He was with Moses emphasizes God's faithfulness in leadership. Trust in God is essential for facing challenges and adversity (see also Isaiah 41:10 and Hebrews 13:5).

31:9-13 - Moses commands that the law be read every seven years, emphasizing the importance of teaching God's Word. Spiritual education is crucial to maintaining faith and obedience in the community (see also 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Psalm 119:11).

31:14-23 - God tells Moses that He will raise up a prophet among the people, showing that He will continue to guide Israel through anointed leaders. Continuity of divine revelation is essential to the life of the people (see also Acts 3:22 and Hebrews 1:1-2).

31:24-30 - Moses records the law and warns Israel of future rebellions. The gravity of sin and the need for repentance are emphasized, indicating that disobedience brings serious consequences (see also Deuteronomy 28:47-48 and Romans 6:23).

Verses related to Deuteronomy, 31:

Deuteronomy chapter 31 marks the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. How does Moses prepare Israel for the future? This moving text records Moses' final words of encouragement, Joshua's public commission, and instructions for preserving and reading the law. The chapter also includes a divine warning about Israel's future apostasy. Deuteronomy 31 emphasizes the importance of continuity in leadership and faithfulness to the Word of God. Consider with us five biblical passages that correlate with the succession themes of this crucial chapter.

Joshua 1:6-7: "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors. Just be strong and very courageous! Be careful to obey all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may succeed wherever you go." - This passage echoes Moses' words of encouragement to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:7-8, showing continuity of leadership.

Hebrews 13:5: "Keep yourselves free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God himself said: 'I will never leave you, I will never forsake you'." - This verse quotes God's promise in Deuteronomy 31:6,8, applying it to New Testament believers.

2 Timothy 3:14-15: "As for you, however, stick to the things you have learned and are convinced of, for you know from whom you learned it. Because since childhood you have known the sacred letters, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." - This passage reflects Moses' command in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 about teaching children the law.

Revelation 15:3: "and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: 'Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of nations'." - This verse references the song of Moses mentioned in Deuteronomy 31:19-22.

Nehemiah 8:2-3: "The priest Ezra brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and everyone who could understand. He read it aloud from sunrise until noon, facing the square, in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of men, women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the reading of the Book of the Law." - This scene echoes Moses' instruction in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 about the public reading of the Law.

FAQ:

What was Moses' instruction to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31?

Moses instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous, ensuring that he would lead the people into the Promised Land and follow God's law. (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)

How did Moses transmit the Law to the people of Israel?

Moses wrote the Law and gave it to the priests and leaders to read publicly every seven years, ensuring that everyone knew and followed God’s laws. (Deuteronomy 31:9, 11)

What did God reveal to Moses about Israel's future?

God revealed to Moses that the people would turn away from His ways and face hardship because of their disobedience, but that He would continue to be merciful. (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)

What was the role of the song that Moses composed?

The song composed by Moses would serve as a testimony against the people, reminding them of God’s laws and the consequences of their disobedience. (Deuteronomy 31:19-21)

What did Moses do before his death?

Moses climbed Mount Nebo to view the Promised Land and then handed over leadership to Joshua, preparing the people for the conquest of the land. (Deuteronomy 31:1-3)


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