Deuteronomy, New International Bible Commentary Series, Volume 4

Written by Christopher Wright Reviewed By David H. Jackson

Oh, that rare breed: a commentary which combines investigative biblical scholarship with engaging cultural relevance to today’s world. Intellect and faith go hand-in-hand in Chris Wright’s worthy contribution to the New International Biblical Commentary series.

The book is 350 pages and paperback, an ideal size for the busy student or pastor for easy reference on the go. In addition, it has a very detailed table of contents, subject index, and scripture index, enabling direct referencing. Individual chapters are divided into two parts: a hermeneutical approach on a verse-by-verse basis, followed by additional notes which delve more deeply into the Hebrew Massoretic Text, Greek Septuagint, and other sources. Wright writes the book with layman, pastor, and scholar in mind, allowing it to be used either as an aid to private devotions or as an exegetical tool for a sermon or an essay.

Wright lives up to the aim of the series’ editors: ‘We have sought to align this series with what has been labelled believing criticism. This approach marries probing, reflective interpretation of the text to loyal biblical devotion and warm Christian affection’. Wright draws parallels between the polytheistic world of the Israelite readers of Deuteronomy and the ‘ambient cultural idolatries of our age’. He affirms that Deuteronomy challenges Israel’s degree of loyalty in the midst of cultural change, and thus challenges the degree of loyalty of today’s western church in the midst of its postmodern, multi-faith society. Wright further explains the nature of Deuteronomy’s steadfast adherence to monotheism in a cultural context of Canaanite polytheism: ‘The reason, therefore, for the totally uncompromising attitude to all forms of idolatry was not a racist hatred of foreign religions, but a total commitment to the saving truth’.

Later in his book, Wright further expands on Deuteronomy’s theme of the superiority of the God of Israel over the other gods of the surrounding peoples. Although Deuteronomy 33 may seem on the surface as simply Moses giving random blessings on the tribes of Israel, Wright points out that the agenda of the opening verses of chapter 33 is to establish the uniqueness of the God of Moses, who would be the one to grant the tribes of Israel the blessings pronounced by Moses, if they would hold steady to their devotion to God. God’s uniqueness is grounded in three aspects found in these verses: (1) God’s transcendent power as demonstrated in the Sinai theophany; (2) God’s covenantal commitment to the people of Israel as a promise of love on the side of Yahweh and reciprocal obedience of the part of Israel; and, (3) God’s kingship in the form of his ‘military’ power in defence of Israel and in the form of God’s role as lawgiver. These qualities of power, love, and protection are the traits which make the God of Israel worthy of devotion over the false gods of the neighbouring peoples.

Finally, commenting on verse 26 (‘There is no one like the God of Jeshurun’), Wright reasserts the purpose of the book of Deuteronomy: ‘The challenge of Deuteronomy is not simply monotheism (the singularity of deity), but the uniqueness specifically of God as Yahweh, revealed and known in Israel.’ Students, clergy, or university Christian workers who seek a better biblical understanding for answering the challenge which post-modernism poses in our age, this commentary is for you.


David H. Jackson

Thame