Read & explore together
Reading and Preserving the Law
This passage shows Moses writing the law, giving it to priests and elders, and commanding that it be read to all Israel. It also explains why the book was placed beside the ark and why that mattered.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the setting
In these verses, Moses delivers the written law to the priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant and to Israel’s elders. He commands a public reading every seven years at the Feast of Booths. After finishing the book, he tells the Levites to place it beside the ark as a witness and warns of future rebellion.
Deuteronomy 31:9–13; Deuteronomy 31:24–29Main takeaway
The law was to be carefully preserved and regularly read so the whole people, including children, could hear, learn, fear Yahweh, and keep his words.
Explore the instructions
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Moses writes and delivers the lawThe passage begins with Moses writing this law and delivering it to the priests, the sons of Levi who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
Explanation
The passage begins with Moses writing this law and delivering it to the priests, the sons of Levi who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel. The law is presented as written and handed over to those named in the passage.
02A regular public reading for all IsraelMoses commands that at the end of every seven years, in the year of release and at the Feast of Booths, the law must be read before all Israel.
Explanation
Moses commands that at the end of every seven years, in the year of release and at the Feast of Booths, the law must be read before all Israel. This reading happens when Israel comes before Yahweh in the place he will choose.
03The purpose of hearing the lawThe assembly includes men, women, little ones, and the foreigners within their gates. The purpose is stated clearly: they are to hear, learn, fear Yahweh, and observe the words of the law.
Explanation
The assembly includes men, women, little ones, and the foreigners within their gates. The purpose is stated clearly: they are to hear, learn, fear Yahweh, and observe the words of the law. Their children also are to hear and learn to fear Yahweh.
04The book beside the ark as a witnessAfter finishing the book, Moses commands the Levites to place it by the side of the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against the people.
Explanation
After finishing the book, Moses commands the Levites to place it by the side of the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against the people. He explains this by speaking of their rebellion, stiff neck, and future turning away from the commanded way.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Who was to be gathered to hear the law?
Use the list in the passage and notice that it includes adults, children, and foreigners within their gates.
02What results does the passage name for this public reading?
The text itself lists the purposes: hear, learn, fear Yahweh, and observe the words of the law.
03Why was the book placed beside the ark?
Answer from Moses’ own words about the book being a witness against the people and his warning about rebellion and turning away.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Deuteronomy 31:9–13
9Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
10Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of booths,
11when all Israel has come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
12Assemble 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,
13and that their children, who have not known, may hear and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 31:24–29
24When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
25Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, saying,
26“Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of Yahweh your God’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you.
27For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. How much more after my death?
28Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
29For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.”