Jewish Traditions in the Book of Deuteronomy - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Deuteronomy Book of Deuteronomy (i.e. the Second Law) concentrates upon the basic teachings and belief system attributed to the House of Jacob, which have been expressively been mentioned in the Jewish literature, norms, values and traditions. In addition, this part of the Scripture specifically elucidates the concept of monotheism, which has been one of the most imperative beliefs of the earliest Jewish era. Deuteronomy defines man’s relation to his Creator Yahweh, where humans are not only created by the Lord as the most superior creature of the universe, but have also been granted superiority over the fish of the sea and fowl of the air (Genesis 1:26). It is therefore the Lord has declared man to be His image and glory (1 Corinthians 11:7). As a result, man’s relation to God looks for worshipping the Lord exclusively and complying with all the commandments manifestly described in the Scriptures. Book of Deuteronomy manifestly recounts the bounties of the Lord upon the Israelites, throughout the discussion, and in return requires His worship on the one side, and instructs them to be committed, dedicated and loyal towards Him on the other. Hence, the Biblical teachings in general and the Book of Deut in particular, clearly believe in monotheism, and preach the same to the Israelites that the Scripture does not allow having even the least suspicion about the singularity of divinity or monotheism altogether. The Old Testament (OT) reveals the very reality that since the House of Jacob is the favorite nation of the Lord, the Israelites should be the spiritual leader of the entire world in order to spread the holy message of the Lord to all human beings. Moreover, Almighty God had multiplied them many times from the era of their patriarchs onward (Deuteronomy 1:10-11); consequently, they became equivalent to the stars of heaven for multitude. He is the Lord, Who is actually the God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward (Deut10:17). Thus, since Almighty God is the God of all the gods and lords, all creatures are bound to worship Him only, and for seeking His support for obtaining worldly and eternal bliss eventually. In addition, God had promised the Israelites of blessing the wise men among them with power to rule over the world (Deut 1:13-15). As a result, the generations of the Israelites, beginning from King Joseph, ruled over Egypt for several decades till they turned their backs to the word of God, and thus were deprived of their previous status of rulers to the slaves of the Egyptians, who used to slain the sons of Israelites, while kept their daughters alive for their service. It was undoubtedly a very challenging and pathetic state of affairs for the beloved nation of God, and they impatiently waited for the arrival of the promised savior, who would rescue them from the life of humiliation and disgrace eventually. Thus, Almighty Lord fulfilled His promise, and appointed His servant Moses to set the Israelites free from the cruel clutches of Pharaoh, in whose service their generations had been leading a life of humiliation and slavery (Deut 5:15); consequently, the Israelites should not forget their Lord, and their responsibilities towards Him (Deut 6:12). Not only this that the Israelites should obey their Lord, but also they should love Him from the core of their heart (Deut 11:1-2) because of His countless favors and mercies upon them. It clearly demonstrates that the Lord commands the House of Jacob not only comply with His commands, but also remain obedient to the parents (Leviticus 19:2-3), kind to even strangers, as they were also strangers in Egypt (Deut 10:19) during their long stay consisted of generations. Hence, the love of One God demands for observing meekness, charity, honesty, integrity and fortitude. Nevertheless, belief in Oneness of God and unflinching and unabated loyalty to Him is the most primary issue in the Jewish faith (Deut 6:1-9). Similarly, priesthood and ministry serve as two most vital obligations to be performed by the Israelites. Since the Levites had been appointed for the religious services and Moses also belong(ed) to the same tribe, the Lord has directed the chosen seed to appoint ministry in His name only (Deut 18:7), which provides support to the very notion that the Lord does not allow the Israelites to get involved into any slightest tasks without taking His name, and seeking His help subsequently. On the contrary, they should keep in view the commands of their Lord clearly mentioned in the Scripture in order to be perfect to their Lord (Deut 18:13). Hence, elements of monotheism and submission to One God are evident in the text. The Lord commands the children of Israel to remember their Lord and worship Him only, as there is no lord beside Him (Deut 4:35). Since everything in heavens and on the earth belongs to God only, keeping His commandments and their statutes (Duet10:13-14) is essential for the worldly and eternal bliss. Hence, monotheism is the basic religious concept of OT, which restricts the House of Jacob to stick to having faith in one God instead of developing belief in false gods. Since monotheism is primary concept of Bible, and revolting against the teachings of Scripture certainly comes under the definition of deviation from the right path, declaring the idols of wood or stone to be the deity is strictly against the Jewish teachings altogether, and comes under the definition of disobedience to the word of God. The Scripture displays the relation between the Deity and Israelites as the association of a king and subjects respectively, where the Deity appears to be showering His favors and bounties upon the House of Jacob, and in return looks for their complete submission to the commands He has described in the Scripture. In other words, the Lord’s blessings multiply upon the Israelites provided they demonstrate complete and unconditional submission to their Lord. It is therefore God blessed them with priesthood, kingdom, multiplicity in descendants, wealth and power, and His favors that did not seek any roots in the previous nations. It is therefore worship of other god(s), including the sun, moon, or any other heavenly body or the host of heaven is strictly forbidden in the faith according to the teachings of the Scripture (Deut 17:2-4). Almighty God had found them in a miserable condition in Egypt under the Pharaoh’s subjugation, but He set them free from the age-old slavery at the time when the Israelites were far weaker than the Egyptians. He also favored His support to the Israelites during their struggle against many nations, more powerful and affluent than they were, because He loved their patriarchs and the services the patriarchs had rendered towards the Lord (Deut 4:36-38). In addition, God blessed them with manna and quails in the wilderness of the desert, which they ate for forty years (Exodus 16:35) about which neither the Israelites at the time of Moses nor their ancestors had known before (Deuteronomy 8:3). History provides the sound evidence about the granting of manna to the House of Jacob during their wandering in the desert after their release from slavery and subsequent migration from Egypt. Such a great and unprecedented favor had neither happened before the Israelites nor after them to any of the future generations to come altogether. Consequently, obedience to the Lord and leading a pious life under His commandments appears to be compulsory for the nation in order to pay homage to the countless bounties of the Lord upon them. In addition, God guided the Israelites to reach the Promised Land attributed to their patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Deut 7:8) i.e. Canaan. Almighty Lord commanded the Israelites to enter the land and fight against the Amorites (Deut 1:17-20). However, instead of complying with the command issued by their Lord, they started making false excuses that they did not have courage to fight against the stronger and powerful Amorites, and hence rebelled against the commandments of the Lord (Deut 1:43). God encouraged the Israelites in respect of fighting against the Anakims, as the former would turn out to be triumphant over the latter with the support of their Lord, even the Anakims look stronger in might than the Israelites (Deut 9:2-5), as the righteous people fighting against the Anakims would be rewarded the access to the promised land subsequently. Since there exists one and the only God in the universe, He assures His beloved nation a sure triumph over other nations provided they keep on believing in One God, and submitting to Him in prayers, meditation and their everyday life as well. On the contrary, the wicked and transgressors, putting aside the commandments of the Lord would undergo His wrath ultimately (Deut 9:6-10). Consequently, the style of diction and tone throughout the Scripture appears to be one and the same, where the monotheist God commands His favorite nation to worship Him and instructs to strive against the evil and transgressor individuals and nations in order to prove their dedication to the ways of God. OT strictly prohibits the children of Israel from turning to idols or making metal gods for themselves (Leviticus 19:4). It is due to the very reality that God always showered His countless bounties upon the Israelites, and blessed them with the spiritual as well as worldly supremacy over the rest of the communities and nations of the world. Since God is the King of indefinite time (Jeremiah 10:10), He is the Only One worthy of being worshipped (2 Kings 17:36). However, the Israelites designed the golden calf and started worshipping it to be their god, which was strictly contrary to the true teachings of Jewish faith (Deut 9:6-29). Deuteronomy openly and vehemently condemns the idol worship in a sonorous tone, and strictly criticizes the idolatry because God of Israel does not allow calling and making of false gods as deity, and it is acclaimed that no one could be deity other than Almighty God. To conclude, it becomes crystal clear that the Book of Deuteronomy vehemently condemns calling other gods, things, natural objects or celestial bodies to equivalent to the deity at any cost. It is therefore the Jewish traditions declare Judaism to be the monotheist faith according to its spiritual, social and cultural values on the one hand, and in the light of the sacred teachings narrated in the Scripture on the other. Furthermore, House of Jacob is the nation to witness the bounties of their Creator at the eve of difficulties, as the Scripture states that the moment Elijah called the Lord for help, and He responded to his request, which all the people of Israel observed, and immediately fell upon their faces and declared Yahweh as their true God (1 Kings 18:39). It completely endorses the Jewish teaching that the Israelites maintained their unflinching faith in One and Only God Almighty i.e. Yahweh, as Deut states that Moses, at the eve of receiving the tablets, was directed by the Lord to communicate to the Israelites to fear the Lord their God, and serve Him (and comply with His Commands) with full heart and soul (10:12). Thus, belief in Oneness of God actually serves as the most fundamental characteristic of the Israelite faith, evidence of which could be found in almost all chapters of the Book of Deuteronomy as well as in all other books and parts of the Old Testament. Read More