Faith And Unity in Times of Danger: Devarim.22

 Faith And Unity in Times of Danger: Devarim

By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

August 2, 2022

This week’s Torah portion, Devarim (“Words,” Deuteronomy 1:1—3:22) is the first in the book of Deuteronomy and takes its name from the first distinctive word that appears in the text.  

Most Biblical scholars today agree that Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah, is a much later work than the first four books. There is reason to believe that it corresponds with The Book of the Law that was “discovered” in the Jerusalem temple in the days of King Josiah (mid-to-late 7th century BCE). 

Outwardly, Deuteronomy is to a large extent a repetition of earlier stories, told from a more personal perspective—a journal as it were, kept by Moses himself and reflecting his own point of view. In fact, its English title is derived from the Greek translation of the Hebrew term Mishne Torah, “The Second Law.” Yet despite the many similarities, it doesn’t take much to perceive also the differences, both in style and content. The wording here is crisper, more terse and at times even harsh. Moses likewise is of changed character. He appears more austere, more an angry prophet than the compassionate visionary of the earlier books. In Deuteronomy Moses spares no opportunity to rebuke the Israelites, reproving them for betraying God over and over. God’s anger is inevitable, he chides the people. Even his own punishment—not being allowed to enter the Promised Land—is their fault. 

It's clear that there is a different purpose to this book. Set a century or so after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians, Deuteronomy addresses the denizens of the Southern Kingdom, Judah. Though the threat of destruction is great and imminent, Moses assures the people that it is not inevitable. God will defend Jerusalem—provided that the people bolster their faith in the one God and follow the laws and instructions given them by God and Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Archeological evidence shows that the worship of YHWH was not yet uniform at the time. Multiple artifacts point to the widespread practice of foreign rituals. National identity was also still in its nascent form, the people still divided socially and culturally. 

But it isn’t only religious practice that will need extensive reform; so will righteousness in everyday life. “Decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite or a stranger,” Moses reminds the people. “You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high alike. Fear no man, for judgment is God’s” (Deut. 1:16, JPS).

The themes that will recur throughout the book of Deuteronomy are already present in this first portion: God’s intervention in history as well as individual lives is constant, but must not be taken for granted. It’s dependent on our own choices and behavior. So too, Israel’s strength as a nation lies both in our unwavering faith in God and in our structure and unity as a people.

© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman