Deuteronomy 4:41-49
Summary for Deut 4:41-49: 4:41-49 a Moses was ready to set forth the covenant in all its magisterial authority. This section bridges the review of the past (1:6–4:40 b) and the presentation of the covenant text proper (5:1–26:19 c).Summary for Deut 4:41-43: 4:41-43 d When Israel settled in Canaan and adopted an urban lifestyle, crimes such as homicide would inevitably need judicial resolution. In order to protect alleged perpetrators from premature vengeance and to guarantee them a fair trial, they needed safe haven in accessible cities of refuge. These towns were first assigned east of the Jordan and later in Canaan (see Num 35:9-28 e). The laws governing these matters occur again in Deut 19:1-13 f, but they appear here because of the just-mentioned promise of a long and safe life in the land (4:40 g). Establishing places of refuge to protect the innocent from false accusations would help secure that promise.
4:43 h Bezer (probably modern Umm al-‘Amad) lay some six miles east of Heshbon.
• Ramoth in Gilead was thirty-five miles east-southeast of the Sea of Galilee.
• The town of Golan was about forty miles north of Ramoth in Gilead.
4:44 i body of instruction (Hebrew torah): The Hebrew noun is derived from the verb yarah, “to teach”; its basic meaning is instruction. The Greek Old Testament understands the term to mean “law.” In this context, the term introduces the body of instruction in the remainder of Deuteronomy (see study note on 5:1–26:19).
4:48 j Mount Sirion: The Sidonians used the name Sirion for Mount Hermon.
4:49 k conquered the eastern bank of the Jordan River as far south as the Dead Sea (Hebrew took the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the sea of the Arabah): The Arabah (“wilderness” or “wasteland”) usually refers to the Great Rift Valley south of the Dead Sea; in Deuteronomy, it also pertains to the lower Jordan Valley (see 1:1 l; 3:17 m).
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