Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Deuteronomy 31
Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
This verse is a powerful reminder that our bravery isn't based on our own strength, but on the fact that God is walking right beside us. He promises never to walk away or give up on us, no matter how scary the situation looks.Deuteronomy 31:8It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Moses reassures Joshua that he doesn't have to be the first one into the unknown because God has already gone ahead to prepare the path. This takes the pressure off the leader and places the focus on God's guidance.Deuteronomy 31:12Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
God emphasizes that His Word is for everyone - men, women, children, and even foreigners living among them. It shows that spiritual growth is a community effort that starts with listening and learning together.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Final Farewell and a New Beginning
As the book of Deuteronomy nears its end, Moses is 120 years old and realizes his time as Israel's leader is over. He has led them from Egypt through the desert, but God has made it clear that he will not be the one to lead them across the Jordan River. In these opening verses, Moses gathers the nation to offer them final words of encouragement and to officially introduce their new leader. He reminds them of past victories over kings like Sihon and Og to build their confidence for the battles ahead.
Securing the Future Through the Written Word
After encouraging the people and Joshua, Moses turns his attention to the preservation of God's instructions. He writes down the Law and entrusts it to the priests, commanding that it be read publicly every seven years during the Feast of Booths. This ensures that even after Moses is gone, the people will have a constant reminder of their identity and their responsibilities toward God. The scene then shifts to the Tabernacle, where God Himself appears in a cloud to commission Joshua and give a sobering warning about Israel's future.
The Transition of Leadership and Law
In Deuteronomy 31:1-30, the scene is set on the plains of Moab where the Israelites are camped. Moses stands before the massive assembly one last time to hand over the mantle of leadership to Joshua and to place the written Law in the hands of the priests for safekeeping.
Encouragement for the Nation and Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)
1 So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel.
2 And he said to them, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.'
3 It is the Lord your God who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
4 And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.
5 And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Commentary:
Moses encourages Israel and Joshua to be brave because God is the one truly leading them into the land.
The Public Reading of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)
9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
10 And he commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,
11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.
Commentary:
Moses commands that the Law be read to everyone every seven years to ensure future generations know God.
God's Warning and Joshua's Commission (Deuteronomy 31:14-23)
14 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
15 Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.
16 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.
17 Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, 'Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?'
18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.
19 "Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.
21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.
22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
23 And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you."
Commentary:
God commissions Joshua as the new leader and warns Moses that the people will eventually rebel.
The Law as a Witness (Deuteronomy 31:24-30)
24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end,
25 that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord,
26 "Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
29 For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.
30 Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:
Commentary:
Moses places the Book of the Law by the Ark and prepares to teach the people a song of warning.
Related Verse Analysis
Spiritual Pillars for a Nation in Transition
The Unfailing Presence of God
The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that God goes 'before' and 'with' His people. This reveals that God is not a distant observer but an active participant in our journeys, providing the security we need when earthly circumstances change.
The Responsibility of Spiritual Legacy
Through the command to read the Law every seven years, the passage shows that faith is not accidental. It requires intentional effort to teach the next generation so they can develop their own relationship with God.
Human Frailty vs. Divine Faithfulness
God's prediction of Israel's future rebellion contrasts sharply with His promise to be with Joshua. This theme highlights that God's commitment to His promises is based on His own character, not on the perfect behavior of His people.
Applying Ancient Wisdom to Modern Life
According to Deuteronomy 31:3-8, you should focus on the fact that God is the one who goes before you. Just as Israel had to look past Moses to God, you can find peace in knowing that while your boss, pastor, or circumstances might change, God's leadership in your life is constant.
You can apply the command in Deuteronomy 31:6 to 'be strong and courageous' by reminding yourself of God's track record. Moses reminded the people of past victories to build their faith. You can look back at how God has helped you before to find the courage to move forward now.
Deuteronomy 31:12-13 suggests that regular engagement with God's Word is the key. By making the Bible a central part of your life and sharing it with your family or community, you create a 'witness' that helps keep everyone on the right path even during difficult times.
God's Presence Outlasts Every Leader
Deuteronomy 31 delivers the message that God's work is never dependent on a single person. As Moses prepares to exit the stage, he points the people toward the two things that will sustain them: the written Word of God and the personal presence of God. The transition from Moses to Joshua proves that while leaders are instruments, God is the true Architect of our destiny. We are invited to step into our own 'Promised Lands' with confidence, knowing that the same God who was with Moses is already standing in our future.
What This Means for Us Today
Life is full of hand-offs and new chapters that can feel overwhelming. Deuteronomy 31 invites us to trade our anxiety for a courage that is rooted in God's promise to never leave us. By holding onto His Word and trusting His lead, we can face any transition with a steady heart.
- What 'Jordan River' are you currently facing that requires you to be strong and courageous?
- In what ways can you more intentionally share God's Word with the next generation in your life?
- How does the promise that God 'goes before you' change your perspective on next week's challenges?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Moses offers the people a choice between life and death, urging them to choose God.
Moses recites the song he was commanded to write, which serves as a poetic witness to God's faithfulness.
Connections Across Scripture
God repeats the command to 'be strong and courageous' as Joshua officially begins his leadership.
The New Testament quotes Deuteronomy 31:6 to reassure Christians that God will never leave them.
A historical example of the people gathering to hear the Law read aloud, fulfilling Moses' command.
Discussion Questions
- Moses was 120 years old and had to step down. How do we distinguish between our personal roles and God's ultimate plan when it's time for us to move on?
- God told Moses that the people would eventually fail. Why do you think God still encouraged Joshua and sent them into the land anyway?
- The Law was to be read to everyone, including children and foreigners. How can we make our spiritual communities more inclusive and focused on learning today?