Deuteronomy 32
The Song of Moses (Haazinu) stands as the biblical text's supreme poetic meditation on covenant history, moving from the invocation of heaven and earth as witnesses through Israel's growth and apostasy to God's hidden face and ultimate vindication. The theologically sophisticated poetry celebrates the LORD as a Rock whose works are perfect, Israel's discovery of God in the desert, the people's growth, self-satisfaction, and kicking against the goad, and God's hiding of his face in response to Israel's apostasy. The song's vision of the LORD's vengeance on Israel's enemies and vindication of his people, with the nations called to rejoice with God's people, eschatologically restores what appears broken and establishes ultimate divine triumph even through Israel's suffering. The affirmation I kill and make alive, I wound and I heal establishes the LORD as sovereign over death and life, theodicy itself, and the final restoration, while the song's citation in Revelation 15 as the song of the Lamb applies its promise of vindication to Christ's resurrection and the church's final triumph. This song encodes the entire covenantal narrative—call, blessing, apostasy, judgment, restoration—in memorable verse designed for communal recitation and theological formation.
Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day of their calamity is near, and their doom comes swiftly
Deuteronomy 32:36
Indeed, the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, neither bond nor free remaining
Deuteronomy 32:37
Then he will say: Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge
Deuteronomy 32:38
Who ate the fat of their offerings, and drank the wine of their libations? Let them rise up and help you, let them be your protection!
Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I, even I, am he; there is no god beside me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and no one can deliver from my hand — monotheistic assertion ('ani ani hu'): exclusive divinity. God alone kills and makes alive ('aharog v'achayeh'), wounds and heals ('atzim v-erpah'). No god rivals God's power.
Deuteronomy 32:40
For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear: As I live forever
Deuteronomy 32:41
When I whet my flashing sword, and my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me
Deuteronomy 32:42
I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh — with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired enemy
Deuteronomy 32:43
Praise, O heavens, his people, worship him, all you gods! For he avenges the blood of his children; he takes vengeance on his adversaries, and makes expiation for his land and his people — the doxology: heavens and 'gods' (divine council) praise God ('ronnu goyim amo'). God avenges ('nakam dam avadav') and expiates ('yichapper admato amo'). Cosmic worship closes the song.