for pure worship, Deuteronomy contained regulations as to who could become a member of Jehovah’s congregation and when. No eunuch, no illegitimate son to the tenth generation, and no Moabite or Ammonite to time indefinite, could be admitted. However, Egyptians and Edomites of the third generation could become members of the congregation.—23:1-8.

Deuteronomy outlines the judicial arrangement for Israel when settled in the Promised Land. It sets forth the qualifications for judges and the arrangement of courts in the city gates, with the sanctuary as the supreme court of the land, whose judgments were to be followed by all Israel.—Deut. 16:18–17:13.

Deuteronomy emphasizes Jehovah as the unique God (Deut. 6:4), Israel as his unique people (Deut. 4:7, 8) and the establishment of one central place of worship. (12:4-7) It foretells the one who would be raised up as a prophet and leader like Moses and who would speak in Jehovah’s name and to whom all must be subject.—18:18, 19.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. Moses’ first discourse

A. Setting (1:1-5)

B. The history of the forty years’ wandering (1:6–3:29)

C. Exhortation to serve Jehovah alone by keeping the covenant (4:1-40)

D. Three cities of refuge set apart, E of the Jordan (4:41-49)

II. Moses’ second discourse

A. The Ten Commandments, together with a recounting of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (5:1-33)

1. Exposition of the first commandment, with exhortations to teach their sons (6:1-25)

B. Seven nations of the land of Canaan to be destroyed; no alliances of any nature to be made with them; their altars and idols to be destroyed (7:1-6)

C. Jehovah’s love and the requirement of love and faithfulness on Israel’s part for future success (7:7-26)

1. The need of being ever mindful of Jehovah’s dealings with them in the wilderness (8:1-20)

2. Jehovah’s faithfulness to covenant, not Israel’s righteousness, is reason for their possessing of land (9:1-6)

3. Golden calf and other instances of disobedience recalled; second set of tablets of law (9:7–10:11)

4. Love and fear of God from the heart essential for possession of land (10:12–11:12)

5. Blessings and cursings set before Israel (11:13-32)

D. Instructions applicable to Israel upon entry into the Promised Land

1. Regulations for eating meat and regarding blood (12:1-27)

2. Apostasy, false prophets and judgments of such (12:28–13:18)

3. Regulations concerning separateness, food, dead bodies and the tithe (14:1-29)

4. The year of release (15:1-15); voluntary, permanent slavery (15:16-18)

5. Presentation of firstborn animals (15:19-23)

6. The three yearly festivals (16:1-17)

7. Judicial system (16:18–17:13)

8. Regulations for kings (17:14-20)

9. Regulations for Levites (18:1-8)

10. Warnings against divination; prophet like Moses foretold; how a prophet of Jehovah can be identified (18:9-22)

11. Regulations for cities of refuge (19:1-13)

12. Boundary marks and rules of evidence (19:14-21)

13. Military laws (20:1-20)

14. Cleansing from bloodguilt for unsolved murder (21:1-9); marriage of captive women (21:10-14)

15. Right of firstborn; dealing with rebellious sons; hanging on a stake (21:15-23)

16. Regard for neighbor’s property; morality; kindness and consideration for life; purity (22:1-12)

17. Marriage relations (22:13-30)

18. Those ineligible for membership in the congregation (23:1-8)

19. Cleanness in army camp; laws regarding slaves, prostitutes, interest, vows and love for neighbor (23:9-25)

20. Divorce, loans, wages, kindness to fatherless and widows (24:1-22)

21. Administration of flogging; brother-in-law marriage; weights and measures; Amalek to be destroyed (25:1-19)

22. Firstfruits and tithing (26:1-19)

III. Moses’ third discourse

A. Law to be written on stones (27:1-10)

B. Blessings to be pronounced from Mount Gerizim and maledictions from Mount Ebal (27:11-26)

C. Prophecy of blessings for obeying God’s commandments and curses for disobedience (28:1-68)

IV. Moses’ fourth discourse; renewal of the covenant

A. Recounting of Jehovah’s care in the wilderness (29:1-9)

B. Warning against disobedience (29:10-29)

C. Mercy of God for those repenting (30:1-10)

D. Choice of life or death set before Israel (30:11-20)

V. Jehovah’s final instructions to Moses

A. Joshua commissioned as leader; prophecy of Israel’s rebelliousness (31:1-30)

VI. Moses’ song (32:1-52)

VII. Moses’ final blessings (33:1-29)

VIII. Moses’ death and burial (34:1-12)

See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 36-41.

DEVIL

From the Greek di·aʹbo·los, meaning “false accuser, misrepresenter, slanderer,” This descriptive name was given to Satan because he is the chief and foremost slanderer and false accuser of Jehovah’s good word and holy name.—See SATAN.

Down through the centuries the Devil has demonstrated that he is the arch-opposer of both God and man. He disputed with Michael over the body of Moses (Jude 9); showed he has power to ensnare others (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26); used people such as the false religious leaders, Judas Iscariot and Bar-Jesus as his children (John 8:44; 13:2; Acts 13:6, 10); oppressed persons beyond the cure of the physicians (Acts 10:38); had righteous ones thrown into prison (Rev. 2:10); and even had the means to cause death. (Heb. 2:14) Christians are, therefore, admonished not to give this Slanderer of God an opening by continuing in a provoked state. (Eph. 4:27) “Keep your senses, be watchful,” Peter warns. “Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.”—1 Pet. 5:8.

There are other instances in the original text of the Christian Greek Scriptures where the word di·aʹbo·los occurs, and in such cases, because it does not refer to Satan, the word is properly rendered “slanderer.” For example, in referring to Judas, Jesus said to the twelve, “One of you is a slanderer” (John 6:70); women in the congregation were cautioned not to be slanderous (1 Tim. 3:11; Titus 2:3); that “men will be . . . slanderers” is one of the evidences of the “critical times” that would mark the “last days.”—2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Jehovah’s law to the nation of Israel forbade them to slander one another. (Lev. 19:16) The tenor of the entire Bible is against such misuse of the tongue.—2 Sam. 19:27; Ps. 15:3; 101:5; Prov. 11:13; 20:19; 30:10; Jer. 6:28; 9:4.