Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 30:2 (May 1968)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

---

WTJ 30:2 (May 68) p. 233

Book Reviews

Gerhard von Rad: Deuteronomy. Translated by Dorothea Barton. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press. 1966. 211. $5.00.

The studies of the structure of Deuteronomy made by von Rad twenty and even thirty years ago remarkably anticipated what has subsequently been revealed by the publication of evidence as to the form of ancient treaties. He had recognized in Deuteronomy the pattern of a covenant renewal ceremony, and the more recent investigation of the treaties has made it clear that the pattern identified by von Rad was indeed covenantal. Yet, now that there is objective confirmation that his form-critical analysis was pointing in the proper direction he seems more embarrassed than gratified. Apparently the evidence would lead him farther than he is prepared to go. For it shows that his covenantal pattern was not just cultic but documentary. Furthermore, it discloses a more comprehensive structuring of Deuteronomy according to this documentary paradigm and at the same time testifies to an earlier date for the book in the over-all integrity of its treaty form than von Rad’s historical-philosophical predilections will permit him to accept. The ironic result is that von Rad’s treatment of Deuteronomy today (the original German edition of this commentary was published in 1964) is as remarkably obscurant as it was brilliantly penetrant two and three decades ago.

Upon the basis of von Rad’s assumptions, Deuteronomy could not be what it claims to be and what the evidence of the treaties confirms that it is. It claims to be a renewal of the Sinaitic Covenant administered by Moses to Israel when transferring the leadership to Joshua. It claims, therefore, to be prophetic (in an anticipative sense) in its formulation of the stipulations as well as the sanctions of the covenant. In its stipulations it makes provision for the near future (when Jordan would have been crossed and Canaan possessed) and the more remote future (when a monarchy would have been established and God would have appointed a permanent location for the central sanctuary). In its sanctions it previews God’s dealings with Israel for the next millennium down to their exile and restoration (to say no more). Where such phenomena appear, and they are of course pervasive, von Rad repeatedly asserts his presuppositional convictions (“certainly”, “it is more than obvious”, etc.), dogmatizing that the particular stipulation or sanction was formulated after

WTJ 30:2 (May 68) p. 234

the historical development it purports to anticipate. The whole second millennium B.C., Mosaic-Transjordanian origin attributed to itself by Deuteronomy is thus reduced to a fiction.

Incidentally, von Rad finds theological meaning of enduring significan...

visitor : : uid: ()