Deuteronomy: The Last Speech of Moses

In Exodus, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. In this opening lecture, Dr. Goodman shows how in Deuteronomy, Moses seeks to take Egypt out of Israel.

Deuteronomy is not just a repetition of the Torah. It is Moses's unique interpretation of it—his own Oral Torah.

For the Book of Deuteronomy, religious ritual is most powerful only when we understand its limits.

The monotheistic revolution was about more that reducing the number of gods. It was about removing magic from religion.

Deuteronomy presents the Torah's only laws about kingship. And, as Dr. Goodman explains, they are all about limiting his power.

In this lecture, Dr. Goodman take a look at the history of ancient Israel and asks whether the religious and political revolutions of Deuteronomy succeeded or failed.

Dr. Goodman tells the story of King Josiah's religious revolution, and explores what the tragic end of his reign teaches us about the relationship between piety and politics.

In this concluding lecture, Dr. Goodman offers some final thoughts on King Josiah's fatal mistake and summarizes the key messages of Moses's last words to the People of Israel.