Deuteronomy 9

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, rendered LORD; the premortal Christ

Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Deuteronomy 9:3

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, goes ahead of Israel and fights for them. Verses 4 to 6 add that the gift comes from His goodness, not from Israel's righteousness, a picture of grace.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · proposed by the reading

• alluded to by Hebrews 12:29 — For our God is a consuming fire.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, rendered LORD; the premortal Christ

When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: Deuteronomy 9:9–11

The one who wrote the law and spoke from Sinai was Jehovah. The resurrected Jesus told the Nephites, "I am he that gave the law."

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by 3 Nephi 15:5 — Christ: I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel.
• the same event in Exodus 31:18 — The tables of stone written with the finger of God.

Moses as a type of Christ

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Deuteronomy 9:18–20

Moses fasts forty days and pleads with God because of the people's sins, and God spares them. This foreshadows Jesus, who fasted forty days and now pleads with the Father for us as our Advocate.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Matthew 4:2 — Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights.
• a type of what is in D&C 45:3-5 — Christ the Advocate pleads with the Father: spare these my brethren.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 7:25 — He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
• the same event in Exodus 32:11 — Moses beseeches the LORD for the people after the golden calf (footnote 18a).

Jehovah the Redeemer

I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Deuteronomy 9:26–29

Moses calls Israel the people Jehovah redeemed. Redeeming is Christ's work: the God who bought Israel out of slavery is the same Redeemer who buys us back from sin and death.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by 1 Nephi 17:30 — The Lord their God who led Israel out is called their Redeemer.
• interpreted by D&C 136:22 — I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; and my arm is stretched out.