David Arnovitz, "Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel: Deuteronomy" (Koren, 2025)

Summary

---

New Books Network: Interview with David Arnovitz – "Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel: Deuteronomy" (Koren, 2025)

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Michael Morales
Guest: David Arnovitz, Editor in Chief, Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel
Episode Date: December 23, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores the groundbreaking "Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel: Deuteronomy," the newest addition to a series that integrates recent archaeological, historical, and cultural scholarship into the study of the Hebrew Bible. Host Michael Morales interviews editor David Arnovitz about the aims of the series, the unique qualities of the Deuteronomy volume, and the revolutionary context the series provides for biblical texts.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel Series

(02:42–05:08)

• Accessibility and Context:
  David Arnovitz emphasizes that the series is designed to bridge the gap between traditional Jewish commentators and modern critical scholarship, offering insights from archaeology, linguistics, geography, and cultural studies.

  "If you understand what's going on at the time, culturally, linguistically, politically, militarily, legally, architecturally and economically [...] you can open up a whole new view to the Tanakh and understand its messages so much better." (04:34, David Arnovitz)

• Updating and Correcting Traditional Perspectives:
  Traditional commentators like Rashi operated with limited information; for example, Rashi's misunderstanding of Egypt's geography demonstrates the value of modern research.
  The purpose of the series is to expose readers to this contextual richness and thus illuminate the revolutionary aspects of the Bible compared to its contemporaries.

2. The Distinctiveness and Structure of Deuteronomy

(05:08–11:00)

• Literary and Historical Framing:
  Deuteronomy stands apart in style and is largely comprised of Moses' speeches on the plains of Moab. While scholars date its composition to a later period, the Koren series treats the Chumash as a unified text, focusing on explicating rather than dissecting authorship.

• Ancient Near Eastern Parallels: The Vassal Treaty Model:
  Deuteronomy mirrors the structure of ancient vassal treaties, such as those from the Hittite and Assyrian civilizations. These treaties' features—identification of sovereign, exclusivity, stipulations, rewards/punishments, public readings—map directly onto the book's structure:

  • Identification: "I am the Lord your God..." (God as sovereign)

  • Exclusivity: "You shall have no other gods before me."

  • Stipulations: Long legal sections (Chapters 5–26)

  • Rewards/Punishments: Prosperity for obedience; curses for disobedience (Ch. 29)

  • Public Rituals: Pilgrimage holidays, Hakhel ceremony

  • Theological Innovation:
    By appropriating the vassal-treaty model, Deuteronomy democratizes the relationship to God, making all Israelites—rather than just the king—vassals to the divine.

    "The Torah basically promoted every Israelite to the status of a king. That planted the seed of what would eventually become, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.'" (10:49, David Arnovitz)

3. Examples from the Deuteronomy Volume

(11:00–14:35)

• Legal and Political Innovations:

  • In contrast to Mesopotamian codes (like Hammurabi), the Torah’s laws are presented as coming directly from God, not a human king.

  "A God-given set of laws, especially from a monotheistic God—the only God—means that there's an absolute. A divine law cannot be questioned or overturned by any human, even another king." (11:46, David Arnovitz)

  • Ancient societies saw the gods as unpredictable; the Torah spelled out clear expectations and consequences.
  • Checks and Balances: The king is limited by a separation of religious, judicial, and political powers—unheard of in other ancient Near Eastern societies.

  "The king had no control over the cult. The priesthood was a separate institution with its own rituals and economic sustenance from an agricultural tax." (12:50, David Arnovitz)

• Archaeological Richness:
  The volume utilizes recent findings regarding ancient civilizations—Canaanite, Edomite, Moabite, Egyptian, Amalekite—plus knowledge about water systems, architecture, agriculture, and more, to make the biblical text come alive.

4. Series Progress and Future Plans

(14:35–15:34)

• Scope and Timeline:

  • The project began in 2016, with Deuteronomy as the sixth volume.
  • Completed: The five books of the Torah, Samuel (including 1 & 2 Samuel)
  • Next: A “Persian volume” on Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi—highlighting the return from Babylonian exile and Cyrus’s edicts.
  • Estimated total: About a dozen volumes.

  "I really hope I can live that long to complete this absolutely fascinating project." (15:24, David Arnovitz)

• Upcoming Release:
  A visually stunning, context-rich Passover Haggadah by Joshua Berman, linking the Exodus narrative to ancient Egypt, to be released in time for the next Passover.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We take so much for granted about the Bible because we look at it through 20th or 21st-century eyes. There's so many innovations in the Bible that were a complete change from the norms at the time, but we can't understand them unless we actually know what was commonplace in the surrounding cultures."
  (11:14, David Arnovitz)

• "Compared to the ancient world, it was absolutely revolutionary."
  (13:47, David Arnovitz, discussing Torah’s political and social reforms)

• "The Torah speaks in the language of people. God expressed his message in a language that the people of time would understand."
  (Deuteronomy’s use of treaty language, 09:53, David Arnovitz quoting the Talmud)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:42 — Arnovitz introduces the vision and context for the series
• 05:25 — Overview of Deuteronomy’s distinct style and message
• 08:21 — Parallels between Deuteronomy and ancient Near Eastern vassal treaties
• 11:10 — Examples of how historical context transforms understanding
• 14:38 — Status update and future plans for the series
• 15:37 — Sneak peek: Innovative Passover Haggadah announcement

---

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The discussion is thoughtful, enthusiastic, and scholarly, while remaining accessible. Arnovitz frequently pivots from detailed academic insights to broader societal implications, grounding ancient history in contemporary relevance—particularly the Bible’s foundational role in ethical and political equality.

This episode is ideal for:

• Readers interested in the intersection of historical scholarship and religious tradition
• Students of biblical studies seeking accessible, context-rich resources
• Anyone curious how modern archaeology and historical knowledge reshape our view of ancient texts

---

Transcript

[A]

Go beyond the verses and achieve a deeper understanding of Scripture with the Rebind Study Bible App. An audio experience of the Bible interwoven with expert commentary. The Rebind Study Bible App reads Scripture to you, enriching your comprehension with insights from the world renowned New International commentary on the Old and the New Testament in an accessible podcast episode format.

[B]

Be not therefore anxious for the morrow. Matthew chapter 6 each day will have its troubles, but by God's grace they can be survived.

[A]

Use the Rebind Study Bible App's chat function to ask questions and get answers in real time. That's thought provoking discussion and analysis rooted in decades of research and wisdom from more than 40 scholars at your fingertips. The Rebind Study Bible App is a new way to experience the Bible with enhanced depth at your own pace in the moments you have. Search the Apple App Store for Rebind Study Bible or go to Rebind App for a free seven day trial.

[C]

When the holidays start to feel a bit repetitive, reach for a Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and put your twist on tradition. A bold cranberry and winter spice flavor Fusion Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry is a refreshing way to shake things up this sipping season and only for a limited time. Sprite Obey your thirst.

[D]

And Doug Here.

[A]

We have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[D]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us? Cut the camera.

[A]

They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[D]

Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[A]

Welcome to the New Books Network.

[B]

The Korintanakh of the Land of Israel breathes new life into the biblical narrative by incorporating the latest discoveries from archaeology, Near Eastern studies, Egyptology and more to connect the ancient world with modern scholarship, offering readers a deeper and more informed understanding of the Bible. Tune in as we speak with Editor in Chief David Arnovitz about the latest volume of the Korintanakh of the Land of Israel, Deuteronomy. You're listening to New Books in Jewish Studies, a channel of the New Books Network, and I'm your host, Michael Morales. David Arnovitz is Editor in Chief of the Koran Tanakh of the Land of Israel. David, welcome to New Books and Jewish Studies.

[D]

Thank you, Michael. It's a pleasure to be with you again.

[B]

Tell us about the Koran Tanakh of the Land of Israel. What makes this edition of Tanakh so.

[D]

Special, I think that most people think that Tanakh, the Hebrew and some Aramaic Bible as either unapproachable or as something parts of which they've studied as part of the Jewish upbringing. There's an entire academic world out there that are looking at the Bible through a scholarly lens. And there are traditionals who read the Bible through the eyes of the Jewish commentators. The scholars tend to be mostly critical to try to figure out who wrote the Bible, how many versions there were, and which perturbations did it go through in order to reach the form that is taken today, and applying literary analysis to draw from the text their own scholarly agenda. In the past 200 or so years, there's been a tremendous amount of scholarship in many areas that help understand the context of the text. Archaeologists have uncovered civilizations and texts from the time of the events of the Bible, and linguists have deciphered inscriptions and textual records produced in the area. We're talking roughly about the time of Abraham, who lived sometime in the middle Bronze age, about 3,700 years ago, until the return of the exiles from Babylon to Judea in the late 6th century BCE, about 2500 years ago. If you're a traditional Jew studying the Bible from the great commentators, you're reading people who not only didn't have access to the scholarship in the last 200 years, but they lived over two millennia after the exodus from Egypt and a thousand years after the destruction of the second Temple. Rashi, the most famous commentator who lived in the 11th century in France, created a map in his commentary that put Egypt to the south of the land of Israel. He just didn't know the geography. Egypt is southwest, not south. He just didn't know that. The purpose of the series is to expose the Bible's context to a general audience. If you understand what's going on at the time, culturally, linguistically, politically, militarily, legally, architecturally and economically, and understand the geography, the plants and animals and the weather of the region that we know now because we live here, then you can open up a whole new view to the Tanakh and understand its messages so much better. When you compare the Tanakh to what was going on around us at the time, you realize how revolutionary the project that formed the Jewish people was to the world as it existed at the time.

[B]

The Deuteronomy volume we're looking at today not only completes the Chumash volumes, but is weighty in itself. Since Deuteronomy is such an important book within Tanakh, would you explain for our Audience Something of the significance of Deuteronomy perhaps explain the book's structure and message.

[D]

Deuteronomy is the last book of the Chumash, the five books of Moses, and has a completely different style than the other four books. Because of this, scholars of course state that the book was composed much later than the other four books, probably in the time of the Babylonian exile or much later, and was written by an author of the Deuteronomic History, which included the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. For our purposes, it really doesn't matter who wrote it and when. Corhon is an orthodox Jewish publishing house and there's plenty to say about the Tanakh without going into all the various theories of who wrote various parts of it. And when we treat the Chumash as a unified text dated to the time of the wilderness wanderings, when they were in the desert between Egypt and the land of Israel, roughly the 13th to the 11th centuries BCE. We say that in the series introduction and leave it at that. Structurally, Deuteronomy is primarily a set of speeches that Moses gave on the plains of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan, in the current country of Jordan, before the Israelites cross over into the land. It's a recap of many of the high points of the 40 years in the desert, although certainly not all of them. A review and expansion of many, but not all of the laws from the earlier books and warnings and admonitions of what the people should focus on as they build their new society and their new home. The earlier books include narrative stories, laws and ritual practices stated by either a narrator or the words of God or Moses. The book of Deuteronomy is mostly the words of Moses. I think that the most interesting parallel with the ancient near east is the comparison of the structure of Deuteronomy to the ancient vassal treaties that have been discovered from the civilizations of the Hittites, who were powerful for a few centuries before the exodus in what is today Turkey and the Assyrians, who were active when some of the first temple kings ruled in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel in what's today Iraq. In the vassal trees, a stronger king would offer a potential vassal two choices. Either you would acquiesce to becoming a tribute paying loyal vassal or be destroyed. Usually the Uyghur king saw the writing on the wall, would take the first option. The two kings would sign a treaty which had a very similar structure. The stronger king would identify himself and state why the vassal should agree to the arrangement. The stronger king would State that the relationship is exclusive. You're my vassal, not anyone else's. There would be a set of stipulation and rules that the vassal would have to follow. There's a set of rewards for keeping the terms of the agreement and a set of severe punishments if you didn't. The vassal was required to visit the stronger king periodically, usually bringing tribute and gifts. The treaty was placed in the temple of the vassal king to show that the treaty was to be enforced by the vassal's gods. And finally, the treaty was publicly read to the vassal subjects periodically. Now let's look at the structure of the book of Deuteronomy. Near the beginning of the book, Moses lists the Ten Commandments. So he identifies God, identifies himself. I'm the Lord your God. And why? Who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of a house of bondage? The second commandment, exclusivity. You shall have no other gods before me. Step three stipulations. The longest speech, chapters five to 26, just after the Ten Commandments, are a very long list of laws, mostly those which have to be kept in the land itself. Rewards and punishments. The Tochicha, the list of rewards and punishments follow the long speech in chapter 29. The rewards promise success and flourishing for loyalty and severe punishments, which unfortunately have been realized over the course of Jewish history. For disobedience. When listing the holidays, the Israelites were required to visit the cultic center, the temple, on the pilgrimage holidays. Shalosh, Pamim, Bashana, Yere, Ekol, Zechurcha. Three times a year, you have to appear with gifts according to the economic status of each person. Where are the tablets of the Ten Commandments? Placed in the Ark of the Covenant? In the Holy of Holies, the equivalent of the temple of the ancient Near Eastern gods. The end of Deuteronomy, there's a huge ceremony called Hakel where the Torah is read to all of the people every seven years during Sukkot. What you see in the example, among many, many others described in the series, that the Bible basically had a policy of cultural appropriation. The Talmud states dibrator Achill Shon b' ne Adam. The Torah speaks in the language of people. God expressed his message in a language that the people of time would understand. The concept of a vassal was something that was known at the time, but the treaties back then were between kings. God took that structure and expressed the relationship that he wanted with the Israelites in a revolutionary way. Instead of a relationship between kings, the sovereign, the powerful king, was God himself. The vassal wasn't a king. All of the people were in individual relationship with God. The speeches of Moses and even the revelation at Sinai were public events. All of the people were present and were part of the treaty. I think that's the real meaning of the term. A kingdom of priests and a holy nation. From the book of Exodus, the Torah basically promoted every Israelite to the status of a king. That planted the seed of what would eventually become. We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.

[B]

David, would you offer an example or two from this Deuteronomy volume of how the Land of Israel edition helps explain or illustrate a section or parsha?

[D]

You asked me to give a couple of examples of how the Land of Israel edition helps explain or illustrate some of the text of Deuteronomy. And that's basically what the whole book is about. But let me give you a couple of examples. I think that we take so much for granted about the Bible because we look at it through 20th century, 1st century eyes. There's so many innovations in the Bible that were a complete change from the norms of the time. But we can't understand them unless we actually know what was commonplace in the surrounding cultures. The Torah's laws come directly from God. That's an important point. No other culture had that concept. Laws like the Hammurabi laws came from a king, not the God. In the prologue to Hammurabi's law collection, the God gives Hammurabi the objective of creating a system of just laws. But the law's initiator and enforcer was the king. A God given set of laws, especially from a monotheistic God. The only God means that there's an absolute. A divine law cannot be questioned or overturned by any human, even another king. In ancient societies, the gods were capricious. Since the gods didn't set down their expectations of humans, people didn't know why they were being punished. If something bad happened to them, it must have been because they violated some unknown prohibition from their God or gods. Unless, unlike the Torah, they had no idea what they have violated. So they could only give a sacrifice to their God to appease whatever it was that they offended, or give a sacrifice to prevent a future punishment for something. They didn't know why they were doing it wrong in the future. The Torah, on the other hand, very specifically sets expectations and gave punishments and practices for atoning for violations. The whole concept was unique, but you would never know from the text itself. You have to look at it through the context of the world at the time. Given that the laws were divine. The political and judicial system that the Torah dictates also broke with the Moors of the other cultures in the ancient Near East. The king was all powerful. He had absolute political power and controlled the cult, the religion and its rituals. He had unlimited power to tax and was the commander in chief of the army. The Torah introduced the whole notion of checks and balances that became the foundation of modern democracy. The king had no control over the cult. The priesthood was a separate institution with its own rituals and economic sustenance from an agricultural tax. The king was limited in his power. He was limited in military power. He couldn't have too many horses, the tanks of the ancient world, economic power, he can't acquire too much gold. And diplomatic power. Wives were often ways to create treaty relationships with other cultures. The judicial system was separate. They were appointed not by the king. And they had to be spread out throughout the entire land, in every town. Compared to a modern system, it seems only fair. But compared to the ancient world, it was absolutely revolutionary. I could go on and on. We have archaeological evidence of the Canaanites, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and even the Amalekites who are mentioned in Deuteronomy. We know about water systems, city architecture, agricultural practices and weights and measures from the agricultural digs. From archaeological digs. The text comes alive through what we know about the ancient world.

[B]

So how many volumes until the Tanakh of the land of Israel is complete?

[D]

This really is a long term project. I've been at it since the end of 2016 and up to now. Deuteronomy is the sixth volume in the series. We finished the five books of the Torah and we did a single volume on the book of Samuel, both books one and two. We're now working on a Persian volume. The books at the end of the Tanakh that deal with the period of Shivatzion, the return to Zion, when the people returned from exile after the Babylonian destruction, when Cyrus, the King of Persia, allowed them to come back to return. We even have archaeological evidence of his proclamation allowing exiles to return. So the books that are included in this volume are Ezra, Nehemia, Haggai, Zechariah, Zechariah and Malachi. Malachi. It looks like there'll be about a dozen volumes until we finish the entire Tanakh. I really hope I can live that long to complete this absolutely fascinating project.

[B]

Fantastic. David, thank you so much for spending time with us today.

[D]

Thanks, Michael. It was totally my pleasure. Let me just put in one final plug. We've just completed another book in the series that's part of it, but not really. That's an innovative Haggadah for Passover, written by Professor Joshua Berman, which relates the exodus to ancient Egypt. Like the series itself, it's visually absolutely breathtaking and fascinating and it's going to be out for next year's Passover Seder. Stay tuned.

[B]

That's great to hear. Always appreciate Josh Berman's work. Friends, thank you for joining us on New Books in Jewish Studies, a channel of the New Books Network. Goodbye.

[C]

Starting a business can seem like a daunting task unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website to marketing to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need. There's a reason millions of companies like Mattel, Heinz and Allbirds continue to trust and use them. With Shopify on your side, turn your big business idea into Sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] specialoffer.