Deuteronomy 31: Moses' Final Charge and Song

Short answer: Deuteronomy 31 records Moses' final words to Israel, his commissioning of Joshua, and the writing down of the law. God tells Moses that Israel will rebel after his death, so Moses teaches them a song as a witness against them.

What Deuteronomy 31 says

Moses, now one hundred twenty years old, addresses all Israel. He acknowledges that he cannot enter the land and that Yahweh will go before them and destroy the nations. He encourages the people to be strong and courageous because Yahweh will not fail or forsake them. Then Moses calls Joshua and commissions him in the sight of all Israel, repeating the charge to be strong and courageous, for Joshua will bring the people into the land. Moses assures Joshua that Yahweh himself goes before him and will be with him. This opening section sets the stage for the transition of leadership and emphasizes God's faithfulness.

Moses writes down the law and entrusts it to the priests and elders. He commands them to read it publicly every seven years at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel gathers before Yahweh. The purpose is that all people, including men, women, children, and foreigners, may hear, learn, fear Yahweh, and obey the law. Their children who have not known it may also hear and learn to fear Yahweh as long as they live in the land. This instruction highlights the importance of communal reading and transmission of God's word to every generation, ensuring that the covenant is not forgotten.

Yahweh tells Moses that his death is near and instructs him to bring Joshua to the Tent of Meeting for commissioning. Yahweh appears in a pillar of cloud and predicts that after Moses' death, the people will prostitute themselves after foreign gods, forsake Yahweh, and break the covenant. God's anger will burn against them, and He will hide His face, allowing many evils to come upon them. They will then ask if these disasters are because God is not among them. Yahweh says He will surely hide His face because of their turn to other gods. This section reveals God's foreknowledge of Israel's failure and the consequences of breaking covenant.

Yahweh commands Moses to write a song and teach it to the Israelites as a witness against them. When they enter the land flowing with milk and honey, eat, and grow fat, they will turn to other gods and despise Yahweh. When many troubles come, the song will testify against them because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. Moses writes the song that same day and teaches it. Then Yahweh commissions Joshua, assuring him of His presence. Moses finishes writing the law and commands the Levites to place it beside the ark as a witness, for he knows the people's rebellion. He assembles the elders and officers to speak these words and call heaven and earth as witnesses. Finally, Moses speaks the song to all Israel.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”” (Deuteronomy 31:6) — This verse contains the central exhortation to courage based on God's presence. It grounds the people's confidence not in Moses or their own strength but in Yahweh who goes with them.
• “Yahweh himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”” (Deuteronomy 31:8) — Moses repeats the promise to Joshua personally, emphasizing that Yahweh goes before him and will not fail or forsake him. This personal assurance strengthens Joshua for the daunting task ahead.
• “Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and the foreigners who are within your gates, that they may hear, learn, fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law,” (Deuteronomy 31:12) — This verse commands the assembly of all people, including the vulnerable, to hear and learn to fear Yahweh. It shows God's desire for every member of the community to know His law.
• ““Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 31:19) — God instructs Moses to write a song as a witness against Israel, anticipating their future rebellion. This verse highlights the role of song in preserving testimony and teaching future generations.

Gospel connection

Deuteronomy 31 points forward to the gospel by showing the need for a mediator who can truly save. Moses, the great leader, cannot enter the land and cannot prevent Israel's rebellion. Joshua is commissioned to lead, but even he cannot change the people's hearts. The song serves as a witness to their failure, but it also foreshadows the ultimate witness, Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the law and bore the curse for our rebellion. Where Israel broke covenant, Jesus established a new covenant in His blood. The promise that God will not forsake His people finds its yes in Christ, who is with us always, even to the end of the age.

Application

This chapter asks us to consider where we place our trust. Like Israel, we are prone to forget God when things go well and to turn to other comforts. The public reading of the law reminds us that we need regular, communal engagement with Scripture, not just private devotion. The song teaches us that we need reminders of God's faithfulness and our own tendency to wander. We are called to teach these things to our children and to live with courage because God goes before us. Ultimately, we look to Jesus, who did not fail or forsake us, and who empowers us to persevere.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Moses entered the promised land, nor does it describe his death. It does not say that Joshua was already leading before Moses' death, nor does it give the content of the song. It does not explain how the people would rebel, only that they would. It does not state that the law would be read only once, but every seven years. It does not promise that Israel would remain faithful, but rather predicts their failure. The text is silent on the exact timing of Moses' death and on the details of the commissioning ceremony beyond what is stated.

Questions for study

1. Why does Moses emphasize that Yahweh will go before the people and destroy the nations? What does this reveal about the source of their success?
2. What is the significance of writing down the law and reading it publicly every seven years? How does this practice shape the community's identity?
3. God predicts Israel's rebellion and says He will hide His face. How do you reconcile this with His promise never to forsake them?
4. Why does God command a song to be taught to the people? What role does music and memory play in your own spiritual life?
5. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses against Israel. What does this imagery suggest about the seriousness of covenant faithfulness?

Keep reading

Related studies: Deuteronomy 1 Bible Study, Deuteronomy 10 Bible Study, Deuteronomy 11 Bible Study, Deuteronomy 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why could Moses not enter the promised land?

The chapter states that Yahweh had told Moses he would not go over the Jordan, but it does not give the reason here. Earlier passages explain that Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it.

What was the purpose of the song Moses taught Israel?

The song was to serve as a witness against Israel when they later rebelled and turned to other gods. It would remain in their mouths and testify to God's faithfulness and their unfaithfulness.

Who was to read the law every seven years?

Moses commanded the priests, the sons of Levi, and all the elders of Israel to read the law before all Israel at the Feast of Booths. The entire assembly, including women, children, and foreigners, was to hear it.