Deuteronomy 9:7 b - Deuteronomy 10:11 (or Deuteronomy 10:9). Narrative of the legislation on Mount Horeb; for the purpose apparently of illustrating Deuteronomy 9:7 a. This historical survey suddenly thrust into a hortatory context closely resembles Deuteronomy 1-3, and is thought by Horst and Bertholet to be by the same author. They agree with Steuernagel (who, however, says its closest affinities are with Deuteronomy 5) in holding it to be an interpolation here. But surely the history in this section is didactic and therefore hortatory. Deuteronomy 10:6 f. is, however, evidently an editorial addition. The narrative in Deuteronomy 9:7 b, ff. follows JE (Exodus 24:12 f; Exodus 32:10; Exodus 32:15; Exodus 32:19; Exodus 34:1).
Deuteronomy 10:1-3. Follows Exodus 34:1 f., Exodus 34:4 (JE), adding the allusion to the Ark, which, according to Exodus 37:1-10 (P), was made by Bezalel a proof that D is independent of P and at times even of JE.
Deuteronomy 9:6 f. A fragment of a lost itinerary, perhaps from E (Numbers 33:31-33 (P)). These verses are obviously an interpolation.
Deuteronomy 9:6. there: i.e. at Moserah; according to the fuller account in Numbers 20:22-29 (P) Aaron died on Mount Hor. The Levitical priesthood characteristic of D (see Deuteronomy 17:9; Deuteronomy 17:18, etc.) is here implied. If with Dillmann and Driver we refer Deuteronomy 9:6 f. to E and Deuteronomy 9:8 f. to JE we have evidence of the existence of the Levitical and even of the Aaronic (see Deuteronomy 9:6) priesthood about 800 B.C. The duties imposed upon the Levites in Deuteronomy 9:8 belong exclusively to the Aaronites in P (see Numbers 4:1 f; Numbers 3:10; Numbers 6:23). The words unto this day prove that the writer knew nothing of the Priestly Code or of Ezekiel 40-48.
Deuteronomy 9:9. The Levites are to be supported out of the Temple gifts (see Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 14:27; Deuteronomy 14:29, and especially Deuteronomy 18:1 f.; cf. Joshua 13:14; Joshua 13:33). They are often commended to the practical sympathy of Israel, but more especially the disestablished Levites (the Levites) of the local sanctuaries (Deuteronomy 18:1-8 *).
Deuteronomy 9:10 (render, And I, even I, had stayed) summarises Deuteronomy 9:18 f., Deuteronomy 9:11 concluding the Horeb narrative, though it is doubtful whether Deuteronomy 9:10 f. belongs to what precedes (Dillmann, Driver) or to what follows (Bertholet). Perhaps it should be omitted.