Obedience and Loyalty to Israel’s Unique God: These verses are the climax, not just of chapter 4, but of the whole first discourse of Moses in the book. They are fittingly exalted, in content and style. As mentioned earlier, this whole section mirrors the opening eight verses but elevates the theme tremendously. The stylistic device of rhetorical questions that expressed the incomparability of Israel in verses 6–8 is employed again to affirm the incomparability of Yahweh, and for a similarly combined ethical and missiological purpose. The supreme point is a monotheistic acclamation wreathed in cosmic language, demonstrated in historical experience, and demanding ethical response.

4:32–34 A research project is proposed of truly cosmic scale, encompassing the whole of human history hitherto (…