Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Christ is Risen!
Hieromartyr Simeon, Kinsman of the Lord
Kellia: Deuteronomy 1:1-5 Apostle: Acts 8:5-17 Gospel: St. John 6:27-33
Deuteronomy 1:1-5, especially vs. 5: "Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to
explain this law." Beginning today, we turn from the Old Testament readings upon which we reflected during the first
sixteen days of Pascha - all from the Vigil of Great and Holy Pascha - and we undertake a course of readings through the
fifth book of the Prophet Moses, that "divinely instructed servant of God" (Heb. 8:5; Rev. 15:3).
The book commonly called Deuteronomy is not a second or new Law given to the ancient People of God, despite the fact
that the word translates as "Second Law." Rather, it is an expounding of the essential contents of the ancient covenant
revelations found in the first four books of Holy Scripture. This is the point of the leading verse quoted above. Having
served God in transmitting His Law to the People of Israel, Moses, in Deuteronomy, undertakes to explain the Law,
focusing on its underlying spiritual principles. One could well characterize this book as Moses' farewell address or
deathbed instructions on the already given Law.
The brief opening selection for today gives the context for the explanations and exhortations of Moses that follow. The
five verses 1) identify where he gave the teaching, 2) provide the briefest review of how Israel came to be encamped there,
and 3) disclose when it was that the Prophet gave these final teachings. The verses are important contextual notations
given for the careful reader as he reflects on God's word - to seek the Lord's will for his own life.
Jewish Rabbis and Christian scholars alike agree that most of the place names, with the exception of the imprecise "beyond
the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah....in the land of Moab" (vss. 1,5), seem to allude to critical locales dating back
to the wilderness journey of Israel over the forty years following their flight from Egypt.
Hence, "Suph," which means "reed," appears to refer to the earliest stage of the flight from Egypt even before the crossing
at the Red Sea (compare Ex. 12:37 and Is. 19:1-6). Kadesh-barnea lies 50 miles below Beer-sheba, a town far south in the
Holy Land on the edge of the Negev wilderness. Kadesh seems to have served as the headquarters for the Israelites during
most of their forty years of their time in the desert (Num. 13:26-14:36; 32:8-12). Paran is the name of the desert around
Mt. Sinai (Num. 10:12) where God gave the Law. Tophel and Laban apparently were specific locations within that region.
Hazeroth was the place of encampment in the Paran desert where Miriam and Aaron stumbled in rebellion against Moses
(Num. 12). Dizahab, suggesting "gold," appears to refer to the incident of the golden calf (see Ex. 32).
Today's reading states: "It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea" (Dt. 1:2).
Horeb is an alternate name for Mt. Sinai, which is far south in the Sinai Peninsula. By proceeding northward parallel to the
Gulf of Aqaba, one comes into the ancient territory of Edom or Seir, which, on an east-west plane, adjoins Kadesh-barnea
and would be the eventual, final route of the People as they continued north into Moab.
The mention that it was "the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month" when "Moses spoke," alerts the reader to
the fact that these words were given at the end of the wilderness era, shortly before God commissioned Joshua to assume
leadership (Dt. 31:14-23), and shortly before the Prophet Moses reposed. Deuteronomy is Moses' final word to the People.
As we read through this last commentary on the Law for ancient Israel, let us esteem in reverence the great Prophet who
helped shape the descendants of Israel into the People for God.
O Holy Prophet Moses, who led Israel through the Sea, gave them the Law of God, and didst appear on Mt. Tabor with the
Lord Jesus, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
