In this continuation of Moses’ farewell messages, he reassures the Israelites of God’s blessings as a reward for observance of the commandments. Similarly they will be led to victory over the Canaanite inhabitants of the Land of Israel if they remain faithful. Conquest of the land must be followed by purging it of all remnants of idolatrous practice.

Many were the lessons to be learned from the Israelites’ forty-year sojourn in the wilderness: they were tested in terms of their loyalty to God’s commandments, they had achieved a measure of discipline through the hardships they endured, and they learned that God would see them through their difficulties. Most importantly, they must remember that their impending victory over the Canaanites should not be viewed as a sign of their virtue and piety - it was a fulfillment of the promise made to their ancestors.

To illustrate this last point, Moses recalls the sinfulness of the nation in making the Golden Calf and at Tav’erah, Massah, Kivrot HaTa’avah and Kadesh Barne’a.

Their future was entirely dependent on their obedience to the Torah and love for God.