Deuteronomy 31:10

Deuteronomy 31:10, in plain English

Moses commands them that every seven years, at a specific time during the Feast of Tabernacles, they are to read this law publicly to everyone.

Why it's here

The 'year of remission' was when debts were cancelled and slaves freed—it was a year focused on remembering God's generosity and justice. Moses ties the reading of the law to that year intentionally. He's saying: remember God's grace, and remember the law that shows you how to live in response to that grace.

Who's speaking

Moses is speaking to the priests and elders, though the command applies to all Israel.

Where it sits in the story

This creates a rhythm of remembrance. Every seven years, a generation that wasn't at Sinai gets to hear the law. Every seven years, the whole community is reminded of their covenant with God.

The scholarly reading

Moses institutes a practice of reading the law publicly every seven years during the Jubilee year at the place YHWH designates, ensuring cyclical renewal of covenantal commitment.

Language and setting

The 'year of remission' (שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה, sh'nat ha-sh'mita) connected reading cycles to the sabbatical structure, binding legal recitation to economic justice cycles. The Feast of Tabernacles (סֻכּוֹת, sukkot) served as pilgrimage occasion when 'all Israel' gathered (Deuteronomy 16:16), maximizing attendance. The specific interval—seven years—mirrors cosmic rhythm language familiar from Priestly creation theology. Rabbinic tradition (Mishnah Sotah 7:8) details this Hakhel ceremony's liturgical structure. The Deuteronomic historian understands law not as static code but as living reality requiring periodic reenactment and reaffirmation.

Voice

Moses, now articulating institutional procedures.

Significance

This establishment of recurring public reading creates liturgical structures that sustain covenantal identity across generations, a practice later Judaism would develop into the annual Torah reading cycle (siyum Torah).

8The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

9So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

10Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,

11when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.

12Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.

Read all of Deuteronomy 31 — Moses commissions Joshua and writes the law in a book. He knows they'll rebel — and writes a song to remind them why.