I. Introduction: the covenant setting 1:1-5
II. Moses' first major address: a review of God's faithfulness 1:6-4:40
A. God's past dealings with Israel 1:6-3:29
1. God's guidance from Sinai to Kadesh 1:6-46
2. The march from Kadesh to the Amorite frontier 2:1-23
3. The conquest of the kingdom of Sihon 2:24-37
4. The conquest of the kingdom of Og 3:1-11
5. A review of the distribution of the conquered land 3:12-20
6. Moses' anticipation of future blessing 3:21-29
B. An exhortation to observe the law faithfully 4:1-40
1. The appeal to hearken and obey 4:1-8
2. God's appearance at Mt. Horeb 4:9-14
3. The prohibition of idolatry 4:15-24
4. The consequences of idolatry 4:25-31
5. The uniqueness of Yahweh and Israel 4:32-40
III. Historical interlude: preparation for the covenant text 4:41-49
A. The appointment of cities of refuge in Transjordan 4:41-43
B. Introduction to the second address 4:44-49
IV. Moses' second major address: an exposition of the law chs. 5-26
A. The essence of the law and its fulfillment ch. 5-11
1. Exposition of the Decalogue and its promulgation ch. 5
2. Exhortation to love Yahweh ch. 6
3. Examples of the application of the principles chs. 7-11
B. An exposition of selected covenant laws 12-25
1. Laws arising from the first commandment 12:1-31
2. Laws arising from the second commandment 12:32-13:18
3. Laws arising from the third commandment 14:1-21
4. Laws arising from the fourth commandment 14:22-16:17
5. Laws arising from the fifth commandment 16:18-18:22
6. Laws arising from the sixth commandment 19:1-22:8
7. Laws arising from the seventh commandment 22:9-23:18
8. Laws arising from the eighth commandment 23:19-24:7
9. Laws arising from the ninth commandment 24:8-25:4
10. Laws arising from the tenth commandment 25:5-19
C. Covenant celebration, confirmation, and conclusion ch. 26
1. Laws of covenant celebration and confirmation 26:1-15
2. Summary exhortation 26:16-19
V. Preparations for renewing the covenant chs. 27:1-29:1
A. The ceremony at Shechem 27:1-13
B. The curses that follow disobedience to specific stipulations 27:14-26
C. The blessings that follow obedience 28:1-14
D. The curses that follow disobedience to general stipulations 28:15-68
E. Narrative interlude 29:1
VI. Moses' third major address: an exhortation to obedience chs. 29:2-30:20
A. An appeal for faithfulness 29:2-29
1. Historical review 29:2-8
2. The purpose of the assembly 29:9-15
3. The consequences of disobedience 29:16-29
B. A call to decision ch. 30
1. The possibility of restoration 30:1-10
2. The importance of obedience 30:11-20
VII. Moses' last acts chs. 31-34
A. The duties of Israel's future leaders 31:1-29
1. The presentation of Joshua 31:1-8
2. The seventh year covenant renewal ceremony 31:9-13
3. The commissioning of Joshua 31:14-23
4. The preservation of God's words 31:24-29
B. The Song of Moses 31:30-32:44
1. The introduction to the song 31:30
2. The song itself 32:1-43
3. The conclusion to the song 32:44
C. Narrative interlude 32:45-52
1. Moses' exhortation to obedience 32:45-47
2. The announcement of Moses' death 32:48-52
D. Moses' blessing of the tribes ch. 33
E. Moses' death and burial: narrative epilogue ch. 34
You will notice that there is a general alternation between narrative (sections I, III, V, and VII) and didactic (sections II, IV, and VI) material. However there is some mixture of narrative and didactic material in sections V and VII.
We can also divide the revelation in this book according to the general arrangement of the typical form of a suzerain-vassal treaty that was common in the ancient Near East.13
I. Preamble: Covenant mediator 1:1-5
II. Historical prologue: Covenant history 1:6-4:49
III. Stipulations: Covenant life chs. 5-26
A. The Great Commandment chs. 5-11
B. Ancillary commandments chs. 12-26
IV. Sanctions: Covenant ratification chs. 27-30
V. Dynastic disposition: Covenant continuity chs. 31-34
