17
certainty of reward for obedience. The people of Israel rightly believed that heaven was
only accessible to Yahweh and that they could not hope to rely on human wisdom to
understand his ways;
access to heavenly matters. Moses takes a common Mesopotamian proverb and turns it
on its head, speaking starkly against the notion that these ANE conceptions of deity apply
to Yahweh. The people of Israel are not resigned to an uncertain fate, nor must they
wonder whether they understand the mind of God concerning what he requires of them.
In giving the law to Israel, he speaks plainly and publicly what they need to know to live
in covenant relationship with him. Contrary to notions that the gods and their ways are
far removed from humans, Moses says, "the word is very near you, in your mouth and in
your heart" (v. 14). The "word,"
UE'K, refers back to WD=K KZ[0K, "this command," in
v. 11, and so represents the law of God revealed to the people. It would seem to be a
matter of faith to accept and respond to this revelation of the law of God, while an
expression of unbelief to ask such questions as "who will ascend to heaven?" or "who
will cross the sea?" Such questions would betray a conception of Yahweh that is no
different than other ANE gods, who are far off and have not revealed themselves in a
covenant relationship with their people.
After reminding Israel of the nearness and clarity of God's law (vv. 11-14),
Moses calls the people to obey God's commands (vv. 15-20). The exhortations to
obedience which run through the whole book of Deuteronomy finally come to a climax in
this call to decide between life and death, good and evil (v. 15). Because God has made
his law so clear and understandable to the human mind, Israel has no excuse for failing to
21
The idea that ascending to heaven is something only God can do is found in Is. 14:13; 30:4.