‘Deuteronomy’ is a misnomer, it means ‘the second law’. The name is taken from Deuteronomy 17:18 where the expression really means having a copy of the law. Deuteronomy is therefore not a second, different, law but a renewal of the covenant made on Mount Sinai. For a people on the brink of entering their promised land Deuteronomy confirmed God’s gracious promises as they prepared for new horizons and adventures.
Allan Harman shows the covenant structure of Deuteronomy throughout its 5 key sections
- Historical introduction (1:1 to 4:49)
- The Foundation of the Covenant Relationship (5:1 to 31)
- The Exposition of Ten Commandments (6:1 to 26:15)
- The Re–affirmation of the Covenant (27:1 to 30:20)
- The Continuation of the Covenant (31:1 to 34:12)
Focus on the Bible commentaries are popular level commentaries especially useful for pastors and small group leaders. They are also useful for personal devotions and spiritual growth. The series holds to the inerrancy of scripture and the uniqueness of Christ in salvation.
Endorsements
"... students of the Bible will be thankful for years to come for Professor Harman's labours." - Reformed Theological Review
"Allan Harman's exposition is as clear as crystal... This is a work of fine scholarship lightly worn." - Geoffrey Grogan, (1925-2011), Principal of Glasgow Bible College and well-respected author
"May we beg from israel's God that kind of spiritual-mindedness that will enable us to prepare for the heavenly Land of promise that he has bequeathed us through the death of his Beloved son." - Peace and Truth
"Allan Harman has written a fine exposition of Deuteronomy. He places the book in its literary, canonical and historical contexts without compromising evangelical convictions about Scripture. A particular delight here are the tools Harman brings to bear from time to time: a word study here, a comment on the wider biblical background there, a reference to the archaeological background somewhere else. These are gems, and models of the judicious use of critical tools to shed light on God's word. Cross-references to other parts of the Bible set this auth or apart from non-evangelical commentators: all the important New Testament quotations and allusions are mentioned in the commentary, and New Testament passages are allowed to act as interpretative controls. Never is this a dry book, however, because the willing reader encounters the living God through opening the biblical text. Highly recommended. - Churchman Journal
"He keeps the connectedness of the text before us and yet can dash off to capture a Hebrew participle or suffix, pilfer a bit of Near Eastern background, or serve up the succinct result of a word study - all to light up a passage." - Dale Ralph Davis, Respected Author and Old Testament Scholar
Allan Harman has had a life-time interest in exposition of the biblical text. He is Research Professor at the Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. He has lectured and preached in many countries and served as the senior editor of the Reformed Theological Review, Australia's oldest theological journal until he retired at the end of 2013.
