The holiness of the people is another chief thought, the prominence of^ which is a marked feature in this oook, resulting from the conception of the close relationship between Israel and J" the Holy One. The people are holy to J", and cannot therefore join themselves to ' other gods ' (7'). It is this ' holiness ' which should prevent them from bodily mutilation as a sign of mourning ; for such behaviour was the mark of a nation serving ' other gods' (14'). This 'holiness' is the reason for which the people must refrain from food that would render unclean those who were J'"s pos- session (14"'). God has chosen His people, not only to make them ' high above all nations which be hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour ' ; but also that they may be ' an holy people' unto J" (26'"). The 'holiness' of the people depends upon its obedience (28°). The spirit of 'holiness' to J" is ethically to be ex- pressed by the observance of love towards the neighbour, and by kindness and charity towards the poor, the wicfow, the orphan, the Levite, and the stranger (lO'"-'" 24""'). The millstone was never to be taken in pledge ; the garment taken in pledge was to be returned before nightfall (24'- "■''•). Feelings of humanity were to be ex- tended towards the animals ; the ox treading out the com was not to be muzzled {25') ; and thought was even given to the bird and its young ones (22«-').
In outward worship the ' holiness ' of the people can be adequately safeguarded only by worsliip at the central sanctuary chosen by J". This regu- lation, which is laid down in ch. 12, is repeated In connexion with the laws of tithe (14"" etc.), the firstliom (IS""), the festivals (16'- "• "), the Urstlings (26";, the judges (17'- '"). So long as worship was carried on at local shrines, on the high-places, and under trees (12"), it was inevitably tainted with heathenism ; the hearts of the people would be alienated from the service of J" ; and the moral purity of the nation would bo corrupted by the assimilation of idolatrous practices.
Thus the relationship oi Israel to J" is asserted as the spiritual priiicijile which must animate the people's whole existence. The laws which are mentioned illustrate how the high mission of Israel is to be interpreted in daily life. Thene laws are no formal code. The blessing for obedience is promised as a reward for particular acts, and for the whole regulation of life; and the blcssin;^ promised is expressed in terms which Israel could understand ami appreciate, — outward prosperity and length of life (12"-"8 13" 14=» 15'»-'» 16* 19'»
23-' 24'" 25"). It is to preserve unimpaired the recollection of their spiritual relation to J " that so much stress is laid upon the training of the children (4» e'-*;"* 11"); while provision is also made, that even in the dress and the dwellings of individuals (C»- " ll"-™ 22'-) the people should be reminded of their spiritual duties.
v. Language and Style of Deuteronomy. — The style in which the book is written has very clearly marked characteristics of its own. It is quite distinct, and easily recognizable. It bears no resemblance to the style of r, nor does it show any likeness to the narrative style of JE. In certain hortatory passages of JE there may be noticed ' an approximation to the stvie of L)t ; and these sections [Gn 26», Ex 13'"' 15"° l9»-», parts of 20"-" 23-';-^ 34"'-^] appear to have been the source from which the author of Dt adopted some of the expressions currently used by him' (Driver).
The style of Dt is remarkable for its command of rich and efl'ective periods, in which the sen- tences are framed with great oratorical skill. They are rhythmical without being tedious ; and copious without being shallow and rhetorical. Some of the writing of Jeremiah approaches most closely in style to Dt ; and the influence of Dt upon subsequent Heb. literature was very marked. The Deut. style was imitated and adopted by a group or succession of writers in and after the days of the exile. The Deut. passages in Jos, Jg, and K are easily distinguishable ; they are gener- ally of a hortatory character, and represent a particular attitude of fervent patriotism and religious thought, expressed witu considerable redundancy of language, and with the use of certain characteristic phrases.
Very full and complet* lists of the characterifltic Deut words aod phnises have tjeen drawn up hy Driver {Deut. Introd. p. Ixjts iii If.) and llulzinger (iiVn/Wf. in d. Hex.). The following are instances of words perfectly simple in themselves, but used with great frequency or with marked effect in Dt, though else- where not found, or only used with ^reat rareness, in the Uexateuch : —
Thif {your) gaU4 ( = citie8)L
A miijMu hand and a stretched out arm.
The land whiihfr thou goejit in to pogsesi it.
Statute* and jmlijm^ntt : cointnajuttnentt and ttatuU*.
With all youT heart and vith all i/ifur toui.
the priejitjt the Levitet.
observe to do.
that it may be well for thee.
a peculiar people.
to make- his name to dwell there.
to do that ichich u ri^ht {good or evil) in the eye* of J*