If you’re not careful, you’ll jump right through Deuteronomy 3 and go to four with almost no thought as to the very deliberate transition that is made here.
Why do I say that? Because it’s almost exactly what I did.
I keep a Jewish Commentary on these books close by as I write these blogs, and, after I read, I skim through the pages to see if I missed anything (which is all the time). There was a lengthy note on Deuteronomy 3:29; when I read it, everything clicked.
The verse deliberately mentions that Israel stopped in the “valley opposite Beth-Peor.” If that sounds familiar, it’s because Baal of Peor is the god mentioned in Numbers 25, when Israel—at Balaam’s teaching—“joined themselves” in worship to a false deity. Sexual immorality abounded, and a plague ran through the nation of Israel. 24,000 people died as a result.
Most scholars believe that the hometown of Baal of Peor is Beth-Peor—or, more precisely, “Beth-Baal-Peor.”
This means that when the people are camped in Deuteronomy, listening to Moses’ final address, they’re doing so within view of the very site where thousands of people died as a result of idolatry and disobedience (Deuteronomy 4:46; 34:6).
It’s hard to believe this location was chosen by accident. In Deuteronomy 4:3, when Moses begins the exhortative part of his speech, he tells them “Your eyes have seen what the Lord has done in the case of Baal-Peor.”
Of course they did. And if they don’t remember, just take a quick glance across the way and look at the place yourself. It’s not far. Everyone can see it.
The physical setting of Deuteronomy—the physical reminder of Baal worship—reaffirms the teaching of Deuteronomy. The main point of this book is to worship God and Him alone. To never turn to the right or to the left. To follow Him with your whole heart. That’s the thrust of Deuteronomy—that’s what they need to remember.
And it’s why the visual reminder of Baal-Peor is so important. As they listened to Moses’ words, more than one glanced over and were reminded of what was at stake. Intermingling, idolatry, sexual immorality, false worship—all of it led to their death. Only faithful obedience to God brings life.
What choice would they make?
What choice will you make?