From the excursion into his own denial from the land, Moses now returns to warn his audience once again of the peril of idolatry. Although there are similarities with the earlier discourse in vv.9-20, the speech here extends his thoughts. If the idea that Israel saw no form of God served to shape the previous warning, here the controlling notion is the character of Yahweh as both jealous and merciful. The movement of his warning may be seen in the structure:
A. Watch yourselves lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, v.23.
B. For Yahweh your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God, v.24.
C. If you become corrupt . . . you will quickly perish, v.25-26a.
D. You will not live long but will certainly be destroyed, v.26b.
E. Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, v.27a.
D'. You will be left few in number among the nations, v.27b.
C'. If you seek Yahweh your God you will find him, v.29
B'. For Yahweh your God is a merciful God, v.31a.
A'. Yahweh will not forget the covenant, v.31b.
The two halves of the chiasma contrasts sharply between the ease with which Israel can forget the covenant with Him and the mercy with which Yahweh will persist in his covenant faithfulness ("you forget" vs "Yahweh will not forget"), between Israel's quick destruction when they forget and Israel's sure return to divine favour if they repent ("you will quickly perish" vs "you will find him"). Centered at the core is the warning of loss, of exile and decimation as a people if Israel should abandon Yahweh's covenant if she ever turns to idols.
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, 2017