How many covenants?

A sharp-eyed reader of the Bible noticed this verse and their question follows:

These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.  (Deut. 29:1)

Deuteronomy 29:1 makes it sound like there is another treaty/covenant that was agreed upon at Moab.  What is that about and what were the additions?

In the Hebrew text, 29:1 is really 28:69, and grammatically it probably refers to the words Moses is about to speak, not what he has already spoken.

Deuteronomy serves as a kind of summary of God’s communication to Moses regarding the Law and Moses’ communication of the Law to the nation.  In the early portions of Deuteronomy, there are two locations given as to where the Law was given:  Moab and Horeb.  A close reading indicates that while there were two locations and two declarations of a covenant given, there was only one covenant.

The bulk of Deuteronomy is really an exposition of the covenant originally given at Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, and along with the various affirmations and restatements of the covenant, revelations of additional stipulations and exhortations are given as a new generation is about to enter the Promised Land.

One Response to “How many covenants?”

  1. Stump the Pastor « Mike’s Place on the Web Says:

    [...] How many covenants were there? [...]

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