Sheffield Old Testament Guides: Deuteronomy

Clements presents this book as a central law-book (Chapters 12–26) surrounded by a framework (Chapters 1–11 and 27–34). The framework consists of a historical introduction in Chapters 1–3, a series of speeches and exhortation and admonition in Chapters 4–11, and a historical epilogue in Chapters 27–34. The central law-book of Chapters 12–26, says Clements, appears as a recognizable whole, a series of laws, many of which elaborate on earlier laws preserved in the book of Exodus. The author also investigates the central theological themes, authorship, historical background and the social development of Israel and its connections to the book of Deuteronomy.