Moses is retelling the story of Exodus and Numbers, but much less wordy than they first time through. No lists repeated three times. This is a better version, especially since we get to see some of the real goofiness.

For example, when retelling the story of the People being scared of the Amorites, we succinctly learn that their fear pissed off the Lord, since they didn’t trust his to protect them. So when they go to fight, He says He will not be with them. Damned if you don’t, and damned if you do.

Another retelling is the story of the attack on Heshbon. The Lord promises it to the Israelites, but they sent “messengers … with words of peace” to travel through their land. The Lord hardened the King’s heart, and he refused passage. So “we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain” (Deuteronomy 2:34 KJV)

That’s what you get when you don’t let the Israelites march through your town: genocide.

Note that the Lord had promised it to them, but they pretended they would peacefully walk through.

Next: Deuteronomy 3-4.