How I Love Your Torah, O LORD!

Studies in the Book of Deuteronomy

Daniel I. Block

CASCADE Books • Eugene, Oregon

HOW I LOVE YOUR TORAH, O LORD!

Studies in the Book of Deuteronomy

Copyright © 2011 Daniel I. Block. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

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isbn 13: 978-1-61097-342-7

Cataloging-in-Publication data:

Block, Daniel Isaac, 1943–.

How I love your torah, o Lord!: studies in the book of Deuteronomy / Daniel I. Block.

xxviii + 242 p.; 23 cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

isbn 13: 978-1-61097-342-7

1. Bible. O.T. Deuteronomy—Criticism, interpretations, etc. 2. Ten Commandments—Criticism, interpretations, etc. 3. Shema. I. Title.

bs1275.52 b57 2011

This book is dedicated

to my doctoral students and research assistants

who have inspired me with their love for the Torah

Jenny Lowery

Timothy Wu

Richard Holland

D. Jeffrey Mooney

Jason DeRouchie

Gregory Smith

Kenneth Turner

James Harriman

Bryan Cribb

Rebekah Josberger

Steven Guest

J. Nathan Elliott

Philip Marshall

Myrto Theocharous

Christopher Ansberry

Jerry Hwang

Charles Trimm

Jason Gile

A. Rahel Schafer

Matthew Newkirk

Matthew Patton

Daniel Owens

Carmen Imes

Austin Surls

Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

Credits

List of Abbreviations

1 The Grace of Torah: The Mosaic Prescription for Life (Deut 4:1–8; 6:20–25)

2 Reading the Decalogue Right to Left: The Ten Principles of Covenant Relationship in the Hebrew Bible

Excursus A: How Shall We Number the Ten Commands? The Deuteronomy Version (5:1–21)

3 Bearing the Name of the LORD with Honor

4 How Many Is God? An Investigation into the Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:4–5

5 The Joy of Worship: The Mosaic Invitation to the Presence of God (Deut 12:1–14)

6 The Burden of Leadership: The Mosaic Paradigm of Kingship (Deut 17:14–20)

7 The Privilege of Calling: The Mosaic Paradigm for Missions (Deut 26:16–19)

8 The Power of Song: Reflections on Ancient Israel’s National Anthem (Deuteronomy 32)

Excursus B: Text-Critical Issues in Deuteronomy 32:43

Bibliography

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Selected Subjects

Index of Scripture References

Illustrations

1. Jesus’ Understanding of the Decalogue

2. The Evolution of Israel’s Constitutional Tradition

3. A Comparison of Exodus 20:3–6 and Deuteronomy 5:7–10

4. The Psychological Interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:5

5. The Literary Interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:5

6. The Structure of Deuteronomy 6:4–8:20

7. Centripetal and Centrifugal Paradigms for Missions

8. The Levels of Discourse in the Song of YHWH

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About How I Love Your Torah, O Lord!: Studies in the Book of Deuteronomy

Like the book of Romans in the New Testament, the book of Deuteronomy provides the Old Testament’s most systematic and sustained presentation of theology. And like the Gospel of John, it represents mature theological reflection on God’s great acts of salvation—in this case associated with the exodus of Israel.

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Table of Contents