The Compilation and Incorporation of the "Blessing of Moses": A Reading of Deuteronomy Chapter 33
Author: MO Zhengyi, Associated Professor, College of English, Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages
Abstract:
Studies of the “Blessing of Moses” have revealed that this poem harbors fragments of Israelite poems from different historical periods, and is presented in a chiastic structure. “Law” and “Deliverance” are the main threads connecting the two major parts of the poem. By comparing the theological similarities between the “Blessing of Moses” and the Deuteronomistic school, this paper holds that the poem is the product of the Deuteronomistic school. It took form in the late Kingdom of Judah, and was not fully compiled until the insertion of the theme “the LORD reigns” during the Exilic Period. The poem became an articulation of ethnic belief and identity for the exilic Israelites and was incorporated into the Book of Deuteronomy as this was reconciled with the Deuteronomistic Historical view. The incorporation of poetry not only promoted the establishment of the Deuteronomistic History, but also endowed Deuteronomy with a higher authority. This study further verifies that the compilation of Deuteronomy was a process of selecting, processing and absorbing historical documents in accordance with the needs of the Israelites in different periods.
Keywords:
"Blessing of Moses", Deuteronomistic Movement, Exilic Period, Deuteronomistic History
Full Text (International Version):
Full Text (Simplified Chinese Version):
